09/12/2025

Running Out: Texas’ Water Crisis — And the Path Forward

The Texas Tribune | Staff | September 11, 2025

Running Out: Texas’ Water Crisis — And the Path Forward

From the Rio Grande to Lake Travis, from the Ogallala Aquifer to the Red River, Texas’ water supply is under duress. The state's rapidly expanding population, deteriorating infrastructure, and warming climate threaten its water supply — and by extension, its economy and way of life. The state's regional diversity and patchwork of governments complicate matters further.

To understand the threat each region faces, Texas Tribune journalists traveled across the state and closely followed the legislative debate in Austin. This special report presents their ongoing work.

Texas voters will be asked this fall to approve a $20 billion package to protect the state’s water supply. The proposal — which was approved by lawmakers earlier this year — calls for 50% to be spent on improving the state’s water infrastructure. The other half will be spent on finding new water supply, like cleaning salty groundwater. Voters previously approved a similar, but much smaller package, in 2023. While it might sound like a lot of money — and it is — the $20 billion is just a fraction of what some experts believe the state needs to invest going forward.

Below, you'll find guides explaining the problem and possible solutions, an AI-powered chatbot answering questions about the state's water supply and a tool for local water supply data, and our best reporting from across the state. The Tribune will have full coverage of the election this fall.