Water, Texas

Water, Texas is a six-part series on the consequences of the mismatch between runaway development and tightening constraints on the supply and quality of fresh water in Texas.

The story of Texas is the state’s devout allegiance to the principle that mankind has dominion over nature. In 2020, the pandemic, climate disruption, and ever-present challenges with water supply and use are writing a much different story of vulnerability to nature’s bullying, and to government’s uncertain capacity to adjust.

When It Rains, Texans Forget Drought and Worsening Water Scarcity

After the Pandemic, Soaring Population Growth, Industrial Development Will Again Overwhelm Planning and Water Supply

Circle of Blue · When It Rains, Texans Forget Drought And Worsening Water Scarcity

A Pause For Energy Developers Threatening Texas Big Bend Region

Opportunity to Protect A Way of Life Confronted by Oil and Clean Energy

Circle of Blue · A Pause For Energy Developers Threatening Texas Big Bend Region

Three Thirsty Texas Cities Are Global Leaders in Water Innovation

Austin, El Paso, and San Antonio Prepared for Growth and Drought

Circle of Blue · Three Thirsty Texas Cities Are Global Leaders In Water Innovation

Border Wall Concerns in Lower Rio Grande Valley Diminished By Virus and Growth

Trump Administration Overrides Long-Standing Conservation Mission

Circle of Blue · Border Wall Concerns In Lower Rio Grande Valley Diminished By Virus and Growth

Water Serves Length and Breadth of $1.9 Trillion Texas Economy

Growth in Wet Years, Economic Distress in Dry Ones

Circle of Blue · Water Serves Length And Breadth Of Texas Economy

Like Developing Nations, Texas Confronts Lingering Water Crisis

More than 1,100 water suppliers affected, nearly half the state’s residents scavenge for clean water.

Circle of Blue · Water, Texas

The Water Texas series makes use of an interactive dashboard that documents water supply, demand, population, and projections from 2020 through 2070. At this time, the dashboard is only supported on desktop devices.

Interactive Data Dashboard

Demand over supply:

The Demand Over Supply visualization is a calculation of the sums of the water demand divided by the existing supplies of these regions.

The Demand Over Supply by region, which is the middle visualization, will let you see a bar graph for a specific location by clicking or hovering over the location’s bar.

Click on a specific location or story to see the calculation for a specific location or story with the buttons above.

Locator map (left):

The locator map visualizes the counties, cities, and other geographic locations that are mentioned in the Water, Texas series. By clicking on a specific county or city in the map, you will be able to examine the population of that area.

If you click a specific city or county on the map, the visualizations will show the Texas Water Development Board’s State Water Plan data for that location.

Water demand, supplies, and population visualization (bottom left):

This visualization has the Texas Water Development Board’s State Water Plan data for water demand, supplies, and population.

For example, on the left side of the visualization, you will see a legend that says “population.” By clicking on this legend, you can choose what data (e.g. water demand, existing supplies, or population rates) you would like to view.

Select a year to see the measurements of the dimensions that you chose to see it displayed on the dashboard.

Water, Texas is a five-part series on the consequences of the mismatch between runaway development and tightening constraints on the supply and quality of fresh water in Texas. Funded by the Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation.

Written by, Keith Schneider

Photography:
Brian Lehmann

Data Visualizations:
Claire Kurnick

Joe Warbington – Vizlib

Pablo del Cerro – T Maker

Greg Anderson – Alias Analytics