Water Quest - The Need for a Plan 8/9/12

Tatum Hubbard
CBS 7 News
August 9, 2012

This week another west Texas county had public hearings to discuss the pros and cons of forming a water district. It highlights how political the issue of water supply can be. In this week's Thursday Water Quest report, we'll look at why cooperation is so critical for every county. Not just in west Texas but across the entire state.

Developing a plan for how to secure water for our long-term future it critical. And according to Hydro Geologist Darrell pekham, we must all cooperate to get it done.

"’We’ is everybody in the Permian Basin CRMWD, City of Midland, City of Odessa and surrounding communities."

But it may not be as easy as it sounds. Pekham says we must be careful not to let politics stand in the way of finding solutions.

"Everybody was trying to have a winning hand. All trying to take care of themselves and now the game has become…there is no winning hand. Everyone has to win or no body wins."

Pekham says the goal should be to obtain enough quality, sustainable water to meet our needs for the next 250-years. And he warns that even those counties that seem to have abundant water now will eventually face the same struggle.

"So in 65 years, it sounds like they'll be looking for water too."

While much attention has been focused on the first step, finding the water, it's the next pieces of the puzzle that really require innovation. That includes securing the water in a way that's economical and finding a solution that's politically feasible to everyone involved.

"We have to all agree that we're in the same boat and that we have to work together. This may be the most difficult part of the plan."

On August 16th Region "F" which includes the Permian Basin will meet in San Angelo. They'll be discussing ???? which could then be used to develop the state-wide water plan. Water Quest is a free resource for the entire Permian Basin. If you have questions go to www.waterquest.org. Or call them at 432-580-5722.