For decades, the news about water infrastructure in the United States hasn’t been good. Development, treatment facilities, delivery systems, and restoration of natural systems have all been severely underfunded. But now, there is good news. There is a lot of funding available for infrastructure improvement, including water infrastructure.

Texas 2036 has created a water legislative blueprint titled the Water Infrastructure Crisis. While prepared by Texas 2036, the Texas Water Foundation and the Water Finance Exchange collaborated on a series of stakeholder meetings to discuss the challenges and opportunities for the water future of Texas. Another document that guides our thinking is the 2022 State Water Plan (SWP) developed by the...

The unpredictability of rainfall is a major water supply problem. When it’s raining, we must find ways to capture and store it while leaving enough to sustain natural systems. But, often, there’s more rain than we or nature can absorb, resulting in flooding. On the opposite side of that concern is experiencing drought. One thing is certain, water security is essential, and there is no time for...

In 2021, Maria Lehman, the president-elect of the American Society of Civil Engineers, said, "You can't build a healthy economy on a crumbling infrastructure." The association grades roads, internet access, rail, water, and more every four years. Grades rarely rise above a D. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is here to help, providing more than $1 trillion in spending, $550...

It may have been Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise as a Sports Agent) who declared, “SHOW ME THE MONEY!” but local governments all over Texas and the U.S. are being shown the money available for infrastructure, technology, broadband, and a myriad of other investments. Larger and urban utilities know how to access funding with their long-term plans and shovel-ready projects. However, that’s not the case...

Government Utility Authority Overview Government Utility Authorities: Florida’s got ‘em, we want ‘em. Here’s what they do and why it matters in Texas. We have special purpose districts in Texas, but not quite like Florida’s. What we’re proposing is a more direct and simple way for governments to cooperatively work together in forming a single-purpose government authority. One that prevents...