An editorial by Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller

PUBLISHED ON 26 August 2024

AUSTIN — Water is the lifeblood of Texas agriculture, and nowhere is it more important than in the Rio Grande Valley. For too long, we have been at the mercy of Mexico, waiting for it to fulfill empty promises dating back to a water treaty signed in 1944 — 80 years ago! Mexico is once again behind on providing more than 900,000 acre-feet of water it owes Texas and the United States, and has once again shown that it cannot be trusted as a reliable partner. It’s time to stop complaining and take action. Texans must step up, take responsibility, and secure our water supply.

While I have urged the Biden-Harris administration to pressure Mexico to uphold its part of the 1944 Water Treaty, we all know we can’t rely on them to do the job. The last sugar mill in Texas has closed due to lack of water, and our citrus industry is barely surviving. We can’t let this continue. It’s time to bring some “cowboy logic” back into the situation and take smart, decisive action on water management. Our farmers, ranchers, and cities depend on us to do this if we want to continue to help feed and power our country.

To fully utilize our water resources, we must prioritize capturing stormwater, reusing reclaimed water, improving the efficiency of our delivery systems, increasing storage capacity, and ensuring long-term water supplies across Texas. All of this costs money. How do we pay for it? We pay for it by drawing on funds already paid by Texas taxpayers, such as the Texas Water Development Board, various federal infrastructure programs, and Texas Department of Agriculture grants. This will allow us to address aging infrastructure, advance existing water delivery projects, and initiate new ones.

Our irrigation systems in Texas are among the oldest in the country and are long overdue for an upgrade. In the Rio Grande Valley, irrigation districts lose up to 40% of their water for a variety of reasons. And it’s not just rural areas – our urban infrastructure is also deteriorating, with water losses as high as 30%. Last year alone, six major cities lost a staggering 88 billion gallons of water due to outdated systems, costing us millions and putting serious strains on our already limited supplies.

Rainwater collection is a proven solution as old as Texas itself. It’s not just for gardeners – it’s a smart choice for all of us. We spend millions each year managing stormwater and then watch it go to waste. Instead, let’s make rainwater a valuable resource by capturing and storing it. By investing in rainwater collection during heavy rains, we can capture stormwater before it reaches the Gulf of Mexico and develop storage outside of canals to ensure we make the most of every drop.

There is real hope for progress if we get to grips with the problem rather than just complaining about it. Cities like Alice, Big Springs and El Paso are already leading by example. Alice will open its brackish water treatment plant this year, which provides 2.7 million gallons of fresh drinking water daily. El Paso, meanwhile, has cut its dependence on the Rio Grande by half with its wastewater treatment plant and, thanks to smart investments in pipe replacements, reduced its water losses by 475 million gallons last year. All three cities are now developing or will soon develop new freshwater sources. Others must follow their example.

We also need to encourage water-efficient landscaping. Investing in community education about xeriscaping and promoting native grasses like buffalo grass can help reduce the strain urban areas place on our water supplies.

Let’s consider the possibility of using brackish water instead of fresh water for fracking. We can treat it, use it, and then recycle it for another round of fracking. This is a smarter way to conserve fresh water supplies while still getting the job done and not harming our important oil and gas industry.

From sanctions against Mexico to withholding State Department funds to increasing aid from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Texas lawmakers are doing everything they can to help our state recover from this relentless drought. The Texas Congressional delegation, including Senators Ted Cruz, John Cornyn, and Representative Monica De La Cruz, joined me in denouncing Mexico’s complete disregard for the 1944 treaty. But one thing is clear: Texans cannot sit idly by and watch Washington, DC, or Mexico respond. It’s time for Texans to roll up their sleeves and take responsibility for developing their own water solutions in our great state.

The bottom line is that Texans have the know-how, the technology, the courage and the funding to secure our water supply. But we need to stop complaining, get up to speed and act. We can’t leave the future of Texas agriculture – and our state’s economy – to chance on whether Mexico one day holds up its end of the bargain.

We have waited long enough. Now is the time to act, and it is up to us as Texans to determine our own destiny.

Sid Miller is an eighth-generation Texas farmer and rancher and the 12th commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). A 26-time World Champion Rodeo Cowboy, he has dedicated his life to promoting Texas agriculture, rural communities and Texas Western heritage. Commissioner Miller will be available for live television, Zoom and telephone interviews.

–Inspector Sid Miller
Texas Department of Agriculture