Texans are becoming more acutely aware that water and our water infrastructure are critical for our health and safety — and our economic prosperity. Population growth coupled with aging infrastructure, persistent drought conditions and failed international treaties have recently garnered more attention and continue to underscore the importance of water in our everyday lives.
In the last several years, negative water headlines have become all too common with high-profile aging water infrastructure failures, boil-water notices and recently released statewide water-loss figures approaching almost 88 billion gallons of water annually. Texas communities that have experienced significant infrastructure failures have felt this firsthand, leaving businesses and schools shuttered, placing public health at risk and disrupting our daily lives.
However, congressional spending and cuts to vital state-run federally assisted programs are threatening to further diminish our ability to invest in our water future.
Over the last decade, Texas has made significant progress to address our water needs with the creation of the enormously successful SWIFT program and the recently approved Texas Water Fund, which are administered by the world-class Texas Water Development Board. These funding mechanisms were created with strong bipartisan support and approved by Texas voters with the goal of making critically needed water infrastructure projects viable and more affordable.
Unfortunately, the cost of both water and water projects continues to increase making the role of the state to provide financial assistance for water more crucial than ever. Historically, two of the most effective programs have been our state-run and operated Clean Water State Revolving Funds, often referred to as the SRFs. These state-federal partnerships offer fiscally responsible low-interest loans to build infrastructure that provides safe drinking water and wastewater services to households across our state.
The projects funded by the SRFs reflect local priorities and projects that are thoroughly evaluated and ranked before receiving funding. The SRFs make projects financially viable in communities large and small, which means more affordable water bills for families and small businesses already struggling with historic inflation. The “revolving” nature of these funds coupled with significant leveraging can increase the impact of federal dollars substantially, and demand for these programs far exceeds their capacity.
Despite increased funding promised under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, federal funds have been in decline. Congressionally directed spending, also known as earmarks, are being drawn from already critically underfunded federal SRF accounts rather than seeking alternative means of funding.
Even more concerning is that federal funding meant for Texas is being diverted to other states. Over the last three years, West Virginia has gained more than $150 million while Texas has lost more than $100 million. With Texas’ population approximately 17 times greater than that of West Virginia, something is seriously wrong here.
The House of Representatives last week passed HR 8998, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for 2025. Not only does this legislation in its current form slash SRF funding but it also allocates approximately half of SRF dollars to earmarks of which Texas receives only a pittance.
Unfortunately, what is politically expedient to keep the wheels from falling off in Congress does not translate into good policy or dependable funding to address Texas’ critical water infrastructure needs.
According to a bipartisan group of lawmakers and the Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities, which represents state SRF authorities, current earmark spending is threatening to cut off funding for projects across the nation, and no other state stands to lose more funding than Texas.
Recently, Texas Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz have weighed in on water issues related to the water deficit Mexico owes Texas in violation of international treaties, which is greatly needed and appreciated. Now, more than ever, we need our senators to turn their eyes to saving the SRF programs by fully funding the SRFs and restoring the integrity of these programs and our ability to leverage limited federal funds effectively.
Perry L. Fowler is the executive director of the Texas Water Infrastructure Network, a nonprofit trade association.
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