Editorial: Oil crisis, meet water crisis

DALLAS, Texas – In an op-ed, The Dallas Morning News’ staff warns that ignoring the looming water crisis in America, will leave Texas dry:

This oil crisis brings to mind shortages of an even more critical natural resource: water.

Last week, the U.S. government released a detailed scientific report (www.climate science.gov) projecting how climate change will affect the U.S. water supply over the next 30 to 50 years. For the West and the Southwest, the outlook is dire.

Though we’re in better shape than some states, Texas is forecast to lose 5 to 10 percent of its current annual rainfall – this, on top of the fact that state demographers say Texas’ population could more than double.

Reduced carbon emissions won’t affect these numbers. Texans will simply have to make do with less water.

The good news is that state officials don’t intend to be caught high and dry. They’re making plans to provide for the state’s anticipated water needs over the coming decades. Conservation is a key part of the overall strategy. In North Texas, 28 percent of our future water supplies will come from reuse and conservation.

Read the entire editorial here.

Source : The Dallas Morning News