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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Among the most urgent issues facing Texas is the |
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recent prolonged drought that has resulted in a diminished water |
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supply, and new strategies need to be developed and implemented to |
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ensure that Texas can meet its future water demands; and |
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WHEREAS, Purifying and recycling treated effluent has been a |
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successful approach for providing additional clean, safe drinking |
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water supplies, and two Texas cities, Big Spring and Wichita Falls, |
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have implemented such projects; and |
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WHEREAS, Of the 16 water planning districts in Texas, Region |
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C, which includes the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and serves 25 |
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percent of the state's population, has the largest projected demand |
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for new water supplies, and several cities in the region have the |
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ability to develop a model project that would purify and recycle |
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significant amounts of treated effluent into water for drinking and |
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other household uses; and |
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WHEREAS, An advanced purification plant could provide a |
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crucial new supply of water to a number of water planning regions in |
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Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, The development of a direct potable-water model |
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project in conjunction with the use of renewable energy |
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technologies could provide an excellent opportunity for public |
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education on direct water reuse and renewable energy; and |
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WHEREAS, The creation of a direct potable-water project in |
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Region C has the potential to yield a sufficient water supply to |
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area residents while alleviating the depletion of already scarce |
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resources, and the Texas Water Development Board and the Texas |
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Commission on Environmental Quality should provide funding, |
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authorizations, and technical assistance to assist in that |
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endeavor; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby direct the Texas Water Development Board and the Texas |
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Commission on Environmental Quality to assist the Region C Water |
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Planning Group in the creation of a large-scale direct |
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potable-water recycling and reuse project as a model for the state; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the 84th Texas Legislature direct the board |
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and the commission to seek federal funds or use available state |
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funds or loan programs to assist with the creation of a direct |
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potable-water recycling facility in Region C; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the 84th Texas Legislature urge the board and |
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the commission to encourage the use of renewable energy sources and |
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the development of educational programs along with the |
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potable-water recycling and reuse project; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the 84th Texas Legislature direct the board to |
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include the creation of a direct potable-water recycling facility |
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in Region C as a priority for support pursuant to Section 16.1311, |
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Water Code. |