Poster #93 - Preparing for a Water-Scarce Future: Texas Drought Policy Analysis

• In Event: Saturday Poster Luncheon

Abstract

Texas is experiencing its worst drought on record since 2011 with no relief in sight. Urgency from the state is lacking and there is need for comprehensive policy to manage worsening conditions and encourage sustainable water use.

            Drought in Texas affects the environment and is also a major economic and social risk. Texas’ population is expected to grow 70 percent by 2070, bringing industrial expansion, construction already slated for industries like data centers which are high-water users. Creating higher water demand and straining an already strained water system.

This project seeks to answer: What policy options, based on data and evidence, should Texas pursue to reduce water consumption and build long-term drought resilience, while supporting continued population and economic growth?

            The analysis draws from secondary data sources, including reports from the Texas Water Development Board, academic literature on drought management (Russell, 2022; Water for Texas, 2022; Donald & Grubbs, 2022), and policy reviews from states with similar water challenges (PG&E, 2023; New Law California Landscapes, 2023; Residential Water Rebates, 2023). Bardach’s Eightfold Path (2023) was used to identify and analyze options based on their feasibility, scalability, and alignment with environmental and economic priorities in Texas.

Early results show there are five strategies that target the effects of the drought and that promote efficiency in water usage across Texas:  

1. Rebates for Water Use – Implements a statewide rebate program, facilitated through water utilities rewarding customers that consume less than the average of their community. This drives long-term behavior changes and shifts social norms around water usage.


2. Expand Agricultural Grants – Through the Texas Water Development Board grant programs already in place can be expanded, allowing farmers to upgrade outdated irrigation systems. Agriculture is a major water consumer in Texas and so these updates would be significant.


3. Xeriscaping Incentives – Xeriscaping, landscaping that is drought resistant, used in new development projects helps reduce water demands. Giving tax incentives encourages the use of this and would be beneficial in areas that are growing rapidly.


4. Corporate Water Accountability – High-water-use industries would be required to offset consumption through restoration projects helping the environment or local water replenishment. Incentivizing this when new industry moves into Texas creates a sustainable balance between economic growth and environmental stewardship.


5. Non-Potable Water Use for Cooling – Mandates data centers and similar facilities use graywater or treated wastewater for cooling. This could reduce the draw on potable water supplies dramatically.

Texas’s water future depends on solid, evidence-based policymaking. By aligning incentives and regulations, these strategies promote resilience in a rapidly changing climate. The proposal highlights the importance of not only adopting new technologies and infrastructure, but also reshaping behavior and responsibility through policy. Future research could look at implementation costs and potential tradeoffs of each option. As water scarcity intensifies, these findings underscore the need for transformative drought policies that are environmentally sustainable and economically pragmatic.

The findings have the potential to inform environmental policy changes in Texas, aligning with the APPAM 2025 theme of forging collaborative, transformative policy solutions at the state level.

Author

• Bryana C Stephens, Southern Methodist University
  Presenting Author