ABSTRACT
Further population increases are anticipated for Texas in the coming decades. In many of the same places experiencing rapid population growth, the traditional and most accessible freshwater supply sources are fully tapped. Confounding this issue, average yields from traditional water sources may decrease as a result of the accumulation of sediment in reservoirs and the depletion of aquifers. The forces of demand growth and possible supply attrition compel state and regional water managers to investigate innovative, previously unconsidered sources of fresh water, as well as alternative methods of controlling water demand, such as usage restrictions and higher prices. This chapter discusses several advanced technologies and projects that Texas water groups have employed, and may employ in the future, to acquire additional sources of fresh water for a thirsty and growing population.
