Despite Rain, West Texas Water Woes Continue
SAN ANGELO — With its pretty rivers and lakes, this city of 95,000 people is sometimes called the oasis of West Texas. But San Angelo recently came within a year of running out of water, as it faced a severe drought that produced brown lawns, dying bushes — and fear.
“Who wants to pull up to a hotel and it’s dead?” said Bob Banskter, general manager of the Rodeway Inn in San Angelo, alluding to landscaping. It was late September, a day after City Council members had voted to ban the use of outdoor sprinklers, and as he walked around ...
Comments (7)
Papa Ray
Forty years ago some of us stood up in County meetings and told of this disaster that was coming. Of course no body believed us.
We advocated for using the almost endless ocean of brine water that sits below us. Very deep and very expensive to even bring up to the surface. We told everyone that using reclamation plants (such as were just starting to be used worldwide) was the answer. Desalinization plants was what we proposed.
We were met with overwhelming opposition, laughs and disbelief.
Maybe the leaders that we have now will understand the treasure that we have below us and be willing to pay for those desalinization plants.
Or maybe they won't and keep kicking this old rusty can down the road.
I won't be here but my grand children will be.
Papa Ray
raffaele cafagna
@Papa Ray : from our Governor that is in need of big testicles or cojones to the retarded imbeciles in Austin that have no clue of anything and an attitude of I do not care; State of Texas is burning up ad that little water we have is going away and lakes are turning into deserts . I told Speaker of the House Strauss and Perry to consider a desalinification plants on the Gulf Coast; it would be expensive but the returns would be outstanding. The size of this project would put Texas back to work and the Prosperity would be magnificent. The retarded imbeciles do not care ; all they care is breaking apart State of Texas with all the construction on I 35 , the Corridor, tall gates,ecc.ecc. They have the Funds for Breaking apart Texas and allowing for the Invasion of our Land; but do not have Funds for Water; what a bunch of retarded imbeciles, corrupted and satanic leaders we have.
kelly young
The Supreme Court affirmed last February the absolute ownership of groundwater by landowners and yet West Texas water districts plan on stealing water by not giving due process to farmers! This injustice needs to be investigated by the media. The erosion of rights in our state is the most important issue regarding water in our state!
David Spratt
"A severely low reservoir that supplies both cities with water more than doubled its reserves. On Friday, San Angelo’s city council voted to undo the sprinkler ban."
Makes sense to me,,,,,, A little bit of rain fell , so turn on the sprinklers!!!
Who would go to West Texas and expect to see lush lawns of St. Augustine , Red tip Photinias, or Japanese Boxwood's growing everywhere? Plant native plants that require minimal watering.
What about the millions of gallons of salt water coming up out of the ground daily as a result of oil and gas production? This is re injected BACK into the ground. Looks to me like this water could be cleaned if you can clean sewage and drink it , and there would be no cost in obtaining it to begin with.
BRET ZIEMAN
Smaller subject within the very large issue - - I would think that commercial industries, such as hotels, grocery stores, etc, that have large roof areas and the ability to also create containment areas for runoff would be installing rainwater collection for roof runoff and the pond or underground cisterns for parking runoff. In Austin commercial businesses are mandated to do some of this and also receive hefty property tax breaks if they comply. Just think, 1" of rain on the "Rodeway Inn" which probably has 5000 sf of roof would contain about 3000-3500 gallons of water, which with an average rainfall in San Angelo of 19" with no more than 2" in any given month the owner could have a minimum of 7000 gallons free to use on his plantings. Couple that with containing a portion of the runoff from the parking area, would they even need to spend money on their landscape watering? Just thoughts....
raffaele cafagna
Lt. Governor David Dewhurst
I would like to offer a good Idea that will make Texas and all Texians very proud.
I have tried many times to suggest this Idea to you and the Governor ; but the *Chain of Command * does not work or does not care.
So I am Trying again :Water is a serious problem here in Texas: but the Ocean is very close you can touch it ;so: Why not build a * Desalination Plant * that is * separation of salt from water *. This is old Technology from the 30s and 40s and I have seen it at work; today this particular Technology is simple and very efficient.So Why Not ?? After all you have built the *Cirquit of the Americas here in Austin that only the Rich can afford a decent ticket and the normal citizen can`t get close to it or afford it. Why Not ?? A desalination plant on our coast line with a pipeline that can bring water to all Texas , all Texians ,all farmers, all industrial complexes ( at this moment oil co. are using 1 Million Gallons of underground water per oil well ).Lt.Governor it does not take a Genious to figure out how long that underground water table will be depleted. Lt. Governor have you seen Interstate 35?? or the Corridor ??? What a Mess, what a * DISGRACE * that is opening Texas to the Invasion. If you can do that * INVASION * why not do a Desalination plant.???????A reply would be very appreciated, Thank you. Raffaele Cafagna
raffaele cafagna
Lt. Governor David Dewhurst
I would like to offer a good Idea that will make Texas and all Texians very proud.
I have tried many times to suggest this Idea to you and the Governor ; but the *Chain of Command * does not work or does not care.
So I am Trying again :Water is a serious problem here in Texas: but the Ocean is very close you can touch it ;so: Why not build a * Desalination Plant * that is * separation of salt from water *. This is old Technology from the 30s and 40s and I have seen it at work; today this particular Technology is simple and very efficient.So Why Not ?? After all you have built the *Cirquit of the Americas here in Austin that only the Rich can afford a decent ticket and the normal citizen can`t get close to it or afford it. Why Not ?? A desalination plant on our coast line with a pipeline that can bring water to all Texas , all Texians ,all farmers, all industrial complexes ( at this moment oil co. are using 1 Million Gallons of underground water per oil well ).Lt.Governor it does not take a Genious to figure out how long that underground water table will be depleted. Lt. Governor have you seen Interstate 35?? or the Corridor ??? What a Mess, what a * DISGRACE * that is opening Texas to the Invasion. If you can do that * INVASION * why not do a Desalination plant.???????A reply would be very appreciated, Thank you. Raffaele Cafagna