water

Agenda Texas: Water Funding Gets New Life

Ben Philpott, KUT News — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:30:00 +0000

It looks like lawmakers have finally come to an agreement on how to fund future water infrastructure projects in Texas. Step one of the agreement was the House finally sending Senate Joint Resolution 1 to the House Appropriations committee for a vote.

Agenda Texas: Final Fortnight for 2013 Legislature

Ben Philpott, KUT News — Mon, 13 May 2013 22:30:00 +0000

Two weeks to go in the Texas Legislative session folks. And there’s even less time than that for lawmakers to pass bills before constitutional deadlines make it nearly impossible to get things done.

Agenda Texas: What's Left To Do?

Ben Philpott, KUT News — Tue, 07 May 2013 22:30:00 +0000

When the Texas legislative session started in January, lawmakers came to Austin with money to spend and a specific set of priorities. House Speaker Joe Straus laid out those goals during an opening press conference with Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.

Texas Water Shortages Could Put Limit on Fracking

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Thu, 02 May 2013 22:59:00 +0000

Shortages of water could limit the growth of fracking in Texas, according to a report from Ceres, a nonprofit group that advises investors about corporations’ sustainability practices.

Monika Freyman, who wrote the report for Ceres, says that fracking accounts for more than 20 percent of the water used in some Texas counties.

Agenda Texas: What's a Point of Order?

Ben Philpott, KUT News — Wed, 01 May 2013 22:30:00 +0000

Alright class: get out your pencils, it’s quiz time.

True or False: If a bill is brought up for debate in the Texas House, and a majority of lawmakers support the bill, nothing can defeat it.

Time’s up.

Agenda Texas: Tanking the Water Bill

Ben Philpott, KUT News — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 22:30:00 +0000

You might have heard a major effort to pay for water projects went down in flames last night in the Texas House. House Bill 11 would have spent $2 billion out of the state’s rainy day account to finally fund the state’s 50-year water plan.

Austin - Soon You’ll Be Able to Irrigate the Yard With Your Washing Machine Wastewater

Wells Dunbar, KUT News — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:53:46 +0000

In an eco-friendly city like Austin, you’d think reclaimed water systems for the home would be a no-brainer. Instead, the entire city has only one fully licensed greywater system. But that could soon change.

Greywater systems (or graywater, or grey water – there’s no universally accepted spelling) take used water from sinks, showers and washing machines and funnel it to uses like landscaping instead of sending it down the drain. (Greywater doesn’t include toilet water.)

Amendment Would Provide Money for Roads and Water

Veronica Zaragovia, KUT News — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:05:55 +0000

A plan approved today by the Texas Senate Finance Committee would spend a lot of money on water and road projects if Texas voters give the go-ahead.

A constitutional amendment proposed by committee chair Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, would tap into the Rainy Day Fund, which is money mostly from the state’s gas and oil tax revenues, for transportation and water projects.

The Lead: Norwood Trial Update, Tx Construction Jobs Tops in U.S.

KUT Staff — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:53:28 +0000

Good morning! Austin’s in for another warm day, although not as hot as yesterday’s record highs: we can expect a high near 80 degrees and increasing cloud cover as the day continues, according to the National Weather Service.

Lead Story: Jury selection began yesterday in the trial of a man accused of killing Michael Morton’s wife in 1986.Morton was the Austin man who spent almost 25 years prison for his wife’s murder, before he was exonerated by DNA evidence in 2011.

The Lead: House to Vote on Water Plan, Protecting Capitol Views

KUT Staff — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:59:27 +0000

Good morning. The National Weather Service says Austin’s in for a warm and breezy day, with highs in the lower 80s.

Lead Story: As more people move to Texas, the state is facing a growing need for water. At the state Capitol yesterday, a plan to establish a long-term fund for water projects took a significant step forward.

Should Texas Use 'Rainy Day' Fund for Water Projects?

Laura Rice, KUT News — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:01:50 +0000

Should Texas take money from the state’s so-called Rainy Day Fund for water projects? It’s an idea that will get a closer look today.

Lawmakers in the House Appropriations Committee are holding a public hearing this morning on the proposal. The bill would set aside $2 billion from the economic stabilization or "Rainy Day" fund for water projects.

The bill’s author – Rep. Allan Ritter (R-Nederland) – says prolonged statewide drought has revealed the importance of developing a dedicated source of revenue for the state’s water plan.

This Bill Aims to Quiet Down Texas' Water Wars

Terrence Henry, KUT News — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 23:33:06 +0000

As Texas begins a third year of drought, conflicts with neighboring states over water are progressing as well.

Perry Spends Billions in State of the State

Ben Philpott, KUT News — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:37:40 +0000

Texas Governor Rick Perry delivered his seventh state of the state address to the Texas Legislature Tuesday.

Looking back at Governor Perry’s past speeches, the state of our state has varied from strong, to vibrant, to good, back to strong…and now, "...It is my pleasure to report that the state of our state is stronger than ever," Perry said.

Water Plan Will Get Funded, but How Much Is Unclear

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 23:10:36 +0000

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst says there’s no choice about funding the state’s water plan, but he’s less specific on how much to spend. Yesterday State Sen. Troy Fraser, R-Abilene, supported a proposal to spend $2 billion from the Rainy Day Fund.

Today, Dewhurst told KUT News’ political reporting partner the Texas Tribune that he doesn’t know how much to invest.

LCRA Plan May Cut Off Rice Farmers to Preserve Austin's Water (Update)

Filipa Rodrigues and Laura Rice, KUT News — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 22:52:55 +0000

Update: The LCRA approved a drought plan this afternoon that may mean rice farmers downstream of Austin will go without water again in 2013.

StateImpact Texas writes:

The Highland Lakes of Buchanan and Travis, vital reservoirs for Central Texas, have suffered from record low inflows in recent years, beginning in 2006. They’re currently only 41 percent full. If they don’t rise to the level of 42 percent full by midnight March 1, water will not go downstream to most rice farmers this year.