Thousands of Texas landowners have already agreed to sell their groundwater for a number of projects to supply growing cities — like San Antonio and Austin — with water. But other landowners worry that selling such rights will hurt the local sustainability of a finite resource.

This story is also featured on Texas Perspective: Water – a one-hour special that airs statewide Thursday evening on most Texas PBS stations. The show provides an in-depth look at how communities are coping with water shortages. Check your local listings.

Disclosure: The San Antonio Water System is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.