Texas Has a Water Crisis. Its Response Is Worse: Mark Gongloff

Texas is an increasingly hot, dry place that’s attracting more thirsty humans than any other state in the country and building hundreds of thirsty data centers. But the people in charge of its water supply ignore many of these factors when mapping out how to keep it hydrated in the decades ahead. That’s a bit like ignoring debts and big-ticket expenses when financial planning. It’s a road map to failure.

The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) recently released a draft of its 2027 state water plan for public comment. On the surface, it seems realistic enough about the challenges. It ...