Uvalde pipeline would reduce water woes -- Editorial from Rep. Gutierrez, D-San Antonio

In familiar practice in Texas, the city of San Antonio is under Stage 2 water restrictions and Stage 3 is a possibility to conserve the important water resources of our quickly growing community. These restrictions are yet another painful and costly reminder that the San Antonio area must increase efficiency of our water usage and diversify our water resources to provide water for our future generations.

New U.S. census numbers show an increase of 400,000 residents in Bexar County and, absent reform, San Antonio residents will most certainly be paying more for water and getting less of it. Ignoring our water restrictions is not an option, and I am committed to supporting efficiency reforms as well as giving local water leaders the sound tools that will allow them options to increase water resources to address this critical problem.

Whenever water restrictions are implemented, San Antonio Water System ratepayers are penalized twice. First, due to an antiquated state law that prohibits transporting Edwards water out of Uvalde or Medina counties, we must pay farmers in Uvalde County simply for the right to pump more water there.

Read the whole story in the San Antonio Express News