Even After Rains, Facing Long-Term Water Needs

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/us/time-for-west-texas-to-face-long-term-water-needs.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0&ref=earth San Angelo, Texas faced a severe drought recently that produced brown lawns, dying bushes and fear. One cause of such fear and dying shrubbery, besides the drought, is the ban on the use of outdoor sprinklers. However, after dealing with such a change in events, it was agreed upon to lift the ban. But it is believed that this will not end the drought; more is too come. People claim that Texans now need to learn how to value water better by building new water-supply projects and easing up on lawns. If they did not receive that large rain storm, it was predicted that they would have run out of water and would have to begin trucking their water. But although the rainstorm helped, the drought is not over yet. 66 percent of the state still remains in drought. But this drought has made Texas officials make tough decisions regarding what to do with the water for swimming pools, carwashes, etc. (purposes that are not necessities). But to solve this problem, the city decided to build a $120 million pipeline project that will be able to carry two thirds of the city’s basic wintertime needs with deliveries increasing over time. This will allow a solid water supply to constantly be provided even in times of drought. But the lesson in this Texas City is that water is not something that should be underestimated or taken for granted because it is very likely that one day the drought may get the best of them.