LUBBOCK, Texas (KVII) — It takes air and water to survive; everything else is a quality-of-life issue.
This week, Monday through Wednesday, is the third annual Agricultural Water Sustainability Summit (AWSS). It’s an event that brings stakeholders from the Texas Panhandle and across the South Plains to Lubbock to discuss how to create a new vision for water use and water conservation for the future.
“We utilize about 60% of water resources in agriculture, so we need to make certain that we conserve that resource as much as possible,” said Kevin Buxkemper, Ag producer.
“Data Centers are a mixed bag of goods, just like anything else; some are good, some are bad,” said Charles Perry, state senator, District 28. “The bad ones aren’t going to get power from the grid in Texas by default; we don’t have it to dole out, so we’re just going to give it to the ones who are responsible.”
When it comes to looking to the future 50 years and beyond, it’s difficult to gauge how much groundwater is left for the next generation and beyond to have.
When it comes to water conferences like the AWSS, conservation is at the forefront.
“I recommend that we become more diligent in developing crops that are more water efficient,” said Buxkemper.
“14 of our 16 water regional planning groups in Texas say they’re going to run out of water and about half of those have legitimate supply water replenishment opportunities,” said Perry. “Were in a bind; we see it were starting to address it. We started a billion dollars a year to address it. If the tap is running today, most people just assume there’s no issues.”
The dates have already been released for the 2027 AWSS conference, Aug. 16-18.
As the cities in Texas continue to grow rapidly in population and with new industry scheduled to come in, municipal water use is projected to surpass irrigation use by 2070 as cities continue to increase in population.
Texas cities’ water use projected to surpass irrigation by 2070, leaders say (KVII)