#20 – Water

Longtime residents of Central Texas know that when it comes to rain, we live in feast or famine.  We typically get an overwhelming amount of rainfall within a very short window that will fill up our lakes and replenish our aquifers.  That’s usually followed by many years of drought.   The extremes of record rainfall and extended droughts are only getting worse as our climate continues to change.  That not only puts a strain on our local water resources, but a strain on local budgets when trying to plan and maintain water infrastructure.  Let’s not forget what extended and extreme droughts do to our native plants and wildlife which are critical to living here.  Congressman John Carter’s actions and policies of use all you can and waste all you want is so anti-conservative in nature that it is beyond the scope of common sense.  Turning a blind eye to those that contaminate our water sources is wrong in every human way.  Making the most out of what little you have and protecting it is a practical approach when it comes to our water resources and fits the realm of conservation. Promoting businesses and homes to reuse gray water for irrigation is an efficient, effected, and conservative way to use our water.  Allowing homes and businesses to collect and reuse rain water is a cost effective and sustainable way to manage our most precious resource in Central Texas.  Constructing green buildings is big business and Texas can be the leader in those efforts. This is one area in government where we can remove archaic rules, regulations or laws that prohibit progress on this issue. We must also promote the use of native plants in our landscapes.  Not only will our landscapes look fantastic, we won’t be burdened by those high water bills.   This means less of our tax dollars being spent on larger water pipes, pumping stations, water treatment, reservoirs and wells.  It also means less strain on our water sheds and aquifers.  Coming from a family of farmers and ranchers, water conservation is second nature to me.  Water conservation has always been part of my family’s way of life and part of my character.  As Congressman Clark, you will have someone in office who knows and respects the true value of water.