Would you like to understand the water crisis in Texas? Start with the guide to water conditions.

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This article is part of Run outAn occasional series about the water crisis in Texas. Read more stories about the threats for Texas water supply.

The legislative leaders in Texas have prioritized the long -term water supply of the state this year.

The state loses billions of gallons against poor infrastructure annually. The warmer weather repels the reserves and rivers of the state. And the fast growth of the state – and increased energy requirements – increases considerable pressure.

While the debate about solutions is just starting in legislative, voters are asked to approve more money for water projects. This means that you will hear a lot over water between now and the November elections.

Water is complicated, as is its language. In order to better understand the water landscape of Texas, the Texas tribune created the glossary below.

Water sources

Groundwater – Water that exists underground in the ground, sand and rock. The groundwater arises from precipitation, including rain and melting snow and ice that penetrates into the ground.

Groundwater conductor – A body or sediment underground that holds groundwater. Groundwater ladder can be formed by many types of sediments, including gravel, sandstone and broken limestone. In Texas there are nine large groundwater conductors and 22 small groundwater conductors who store groundwater. Private landowners and cities access this water with wells.

Charge – An increase in the amount of water that enters into a groundwater conductor. Of course, this can occur through precipitation that penetrate the ground and moves down where water is saved. Or it can come from human -controlled methods how to inject water over the surface through the pelvis or ponds or water directly by injection holes.

Surface water – Every water source found above the earth on the earth's surface. This includes salt water in the sea and fresh water in rivers, streams and lakes. The surface water supply in Texas comes from 15 Major River Basin, eight coastal pools and more than 180 reservoirs.

Water level – An underground border that separates the floor surface and the area in which groundwater is stored.

Water management

Reservoir -Artificial lakes that serve as large pools for drinking water. Most reservoirs are created by building dams via rivers or lakes to control the water level. The dam and the gates control the amount of water that flows out of the reservoir. Reservoirs are built to hold back a certain amount of water because the water level in a river can vary over time. There are different types of reservoirs; The most common are flood protection and water protection. Texas has 188 reservoirs that provide people water.

dam – A barrier that stops or controls the river of the surface water. Modern dams are often made of concrete, but they can also consist of steel or PVC.

dryness – A longer period with less than average rain, snow or ice that influences the water level for groundwater ladders and reservoirs. A lack of water causes local civil servants to set restrictions on the water consumption of people and to limit agricultural production. Texas Water Planner uses the drought from 1950 as a benchmark for nationwide water planning.

Hectare -A morning water is enough to cover the size of a soccer field to a depth of one foot. A morning water corresponds to almost 326,000 gallon-friendly water to keep six Texans for one year.

Cubic foot per second (CFS) – The rate with which water passes over a certain point over a certain period of time. It is often used to report the flow of streams. A CFS corresponds to about 450 gallons per minute.

irrigation – The use of water on plants through pipes, canals, sprinklers or drip flows.

Use of water – The process of recovery from water from a variety of sources for treatment and recycling for other purposes.

Water infrastructure -Arar systems for fulfilling water and wastewater requirements such as dams, fountains, transport systems, water pipes and water treatment plants.

Ruling

Water supplier – A public or private unit that directly provides residents and companies. For the majority of the supply companies, an acronym is listed according to the name of the type of usefulness. Examples: the municipality of water authority, community defender, water district and water system.

Registration rule – The law, which essentially means that the first person is extracting groundwater, is the rightful owner of this water source. Land owners have the water below them and reserve the right to pump as much water as they need. Texas rules the groundwater through this rule.

Groundwater protection districts – A local or regional management body that is commissioned to maintain and protect the groundwater resources with the development and implementation of management plans. Districts try to maintain a balance between the protection of property rights and the protection of the water resource.

Texas Water Development Board – The state agency was created after an intensive drought in 1950. It serves as a bank that finances water projects across the state to repair draining pipes, flood protection projects.

Texas Water Caucus – A cross -party group of legislators who focus on prioritizing the state's water resources in the Capitol. The Caucus was set up during the legislative meeting 2023. It comprises 74 members of the House of Representatives and a member of the Senate.

Texas Commission for environmental quality – a state agency that regulates air, water and waste management. With this agency it is made possible for companies and people for surface water.

Cooking – A warning that indicates when water can be unsure in a distribution system for consumption. The Texas Commission for Environmental Quality, the state's environmental authority, requires that the residents of the affected area cook water to destroy harmful bacteria if they want to use it to drink and cook. TCEQ is also the agency that has to raise the message.

Texas Water Fund -a one-time investment of $ 1 billion, which was created in the legislative period 2023 using excess state funds that financed water infrastructure projects.

Texas water plan -A guide that the state uses to manage long -term demand for the state's water resources. Among other things, the plan is the water requirement for municipal, irrigation and cattle. It also deals with every region in Texas and suggests water supply solutions to satisfy demand. It is written by the Texas Water Development Board and the final plan is presented to the legislator, governor and governor of Lieutenant.

Other types of water and treatments

desalination – The process of removing salt from sea water or salty groundwater so that it can be used for drinking water, irrigation and industrial applications. Researchers say that desalination could be a solution for water shortages.

Produced water – Water that comes out of the ground during the extraction of oil and gas production.

Brackish water – Salzig groundwater with salt content level higher than fresh water, but lower than sea water. Bracke's groundwater is formed when fresh and sea water mixture or precipitation penetrate the ground and mixes with minerals inside the surface.

Water outflow – If there is more water than the country can absorb, which causes erosion, flooding and water pollution.

Sources:

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