[Baltimore Sun] Texas ‘at the mercy of Mexico’ amid water shortage, state official says

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Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is sounding the alarm over his state’s water shortage.

Miller wrote in an op-ed last month that Texas is “at the mercy of Mexico” due to a water treaty negotiated in 1944. Miller says Mexico owes the state 1.1 billion cubic meters of water but has “shown they can’t be trusted as reliable partners.”

“While I’ve called on the Biden-Harris administration to put the heat on Mexico to hold up their end of the 1944 water treaty, we all know better than to count on them to get the job done,” Miller wrote. “It’s time to bring some ‘cowboy logic’ back to the situation and start taking smart, decisive action on water management. Our farmers, ranchers and cities depend on us doing so if we are going to continue to help feed and fuel our nation.”

Miller added that Texans should begin capturing their own rainwater. State officials must also prioritize reusing treated water, upgrading water delivery systems and increasing the state’s storage capacity.

“Our irrigation systems in Texas are among the oldest in the nation, and they’re way past due for an upgrade,” Miller wrote. “Just last year, outdated systems caused six major cities to lose a staggering 88 billion gallons of water, costing us millions and putting a serious strain on our already limited supply.”

“The bottom line is this: Texans have the know-how, the technology, the grit and the financing to secure our water future,” he added. “But we must quit complaining, get off our tails and act.”

A Texas school district last week temporarily closed its doors to students after learning of a “foaming agent” in a nearby water supply. Grand Prairie Mayor Ron Jensen said the foam is nontoxic and will not cause irritation to eyes or skin. The do-not-use warning, he said, was out of an abundance of caution.

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