Water

Collin County is part of Region C and has grown by about 36 percent from 2010 to 2020, continuing to put pressure on our existing supplies. With our population projected to double by 2070, our available water supplies will also need to double. This will require an additional supply of around 100,000 acre-feet of water every decade to serve the increased demand.

What is Being Done?

The State Water Plan, developed by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), seeks to provide region-specific solutions to the growing water crisis in Texas. In 2013, the Texas Legislature passed HB 4 that restructured the TWDB and voters approved a constitutional amendment (Proposition 6) to provide additional funding to support new projects consistent with the Plan.  Using this new authority, in 2014, the TWDB received $2 billion from the Rainy Day Fund and created a revolving loan fund, or “infrastructure bank,” called the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT).  SWIFT financing mechanisms are expected to provide $700 million annually in support of local water projects to address priority water needs identified in the State Water Plan.

The North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) serves as the local authority providing water to most Collin County communities.  The 2021 Region C Water Plan included a number of proposed NTMWD projects that will be important to future water supplies for Collin County.  These include continued conservation and reuse efforts, construction of a new reservoir and infrastructure to increase the supply levels from existing sources.  The local share of capital costs for these projects is estimated to be $10 billion. These are proposed strategies with several projects still undergoing feasibility studies.

After 15 years of planning and permitting, construction began in May of 2018 on Bois d’Arc Lake, the first major reservoir to be built in Texas in nearly 30 years. The lake, located northeast of Bonham in Fannin County, will provide the water needed to serve a growing population of 2 million North Texans. Water delivery is scheduled to begin in 2022.

CCBA Engagement

The Collin County Business Alliance understands that the benefits of implementing our State Water Plan are clear: Ensuring that we have an adequate supply of clean, affordable water protects public health and the economy. We recognize water infrastructure is a critical linchpin to the vital functioning of our local community, and therefore fully supported the passage of Proposition 6 in 2013.

CCBA also lent its voice to successful efforts in 2012 to change federal law, called the Lacey Act, which would have blocked a vital source of water for Collin County because of the presence of zebra mussels in water pumped from Oklahoma to Texas. CCBA members wrote letters to the Texas congressional delegation urging passage of legislation that exempted our water district from the regulation, explaining the far-reaching effects of a water shortage on businesses in Collin County.

CCBA will continue working to identify opportunities to engage our local, state and federal leaders to provide the additional water supplies that will be needed as the population of North Texas grows. An adequate water supply is not only important to a community’s functioning, but also is absolutely required for Collin County businesses to thrive.

RESOURCES:

• NTMWD Planning for Water - https://www.ntmwd.com/our-water-system/planning-for-water-future/

• NTMWD Water Supply Update 2021 - https://www.ntmwd.com/documents/board-work-session-presentation-august-19-2021/

• TWDB 2021 State Water Plan - https://www.twdb.texas.gov/waterplanning/swp/2022/index.asp

• TWDB SWIFT program - http://www.twdb.texas.gov/swift/index.asp

• Region C Water Planning Group - http://www.regioncwater.org/index.cfm

• H2O4Texas - https://h2o4texas.org/h2o4texas-about-us/

After a successful campaign to back funding for Proposition 6, the CCBA Water Committee is continuing to monitor for water issues as the county continues its rapid growth. The focus continues to be on mobilizing support from the business community for large infrastructure projects that will secure a steady water supply to meet the upcoming growth. Most recently, the CCBA has teamed up with statewide advocacy group H204 to ensure implementation of the state water plan.