For 6 yrs I have Chaired Austin's Water Forward Task Force. We were created to shape a plan for how @AustinWater will provide #water over the next 100 years. I want to thank @guardian @ConsumerReports for their investigation on America's water crisis . https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/23/millions-of-americans-cant-afford-water-bills-rise

They highlight the gross inequity in access to safe drinking water in the US & reveal how unaffordable this most basic of needs has become for so many Americans, including people here in @austintexasgov. Of the cities surveyed, Austin stands out for the biggest price increase.

From 2010-2018 #ATX saw #water prices jump 154%. The AVERAGE annual water bill is now $1,435--$869 higher than in 2010. By 2030, more than 1/4 of Austinites could be unable to afford water. Today water bills are unaffordable for almost 20% of Austin households.

As someone who has spent hundreds of hours volunteering craft a plan for the future of Austin's water, seeing these numbers turned my stomach. There are many reasons why. First, as a mother I see how fundamental safe water is to the dignity of #children everywhere.

As a #water professional I also see how many families already lack clean, safe drinking water. As @guardian reports, there are tens of millions of them in America today. Some of these people are in my backyard of @TravisCountyTX

The org I lead @texaswatertrade is working to provide clean drinking water to the hundreds of thousands of #Texans who lack basic access. This problem has been around for DECADES. We turn a blind eye to it on the border in our colonias and in our hometowns.

The other reason this @guardian report churned my stomach is because I know how much more @austinwater will need to spend to secure reliable #water. Water Forward, our 100 year plan, takes us to 2115, when @austintexasgov will be a city of 4 million--4 times more than today.

At the same time, our sole water source the Highland Lakes will be under immense pressure from #climatechange. Today more water evaporates from these lakes than #Austin uses. In 2115 w hotter temps that evaporative loss will be dramatically higher. Rain will be less frequent.

To meet the needs of this future population @austinwater must begin investing in a more diverse supply of water. Water Forward lays the groundwork http://austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Water/WaterForward/Water_Forward_Plan_Report_-_A_Water_Plan_for_the_Next_100_Years.pdf

Already we are investing in #Aquifer Storage and Recovery and expansion of water #reuse. Those capital programs are in their early stages. Hundreds of millions of dollars--if not billions--will need to be spent to create reliable supply.

In addition our City Council is considering how we make the #city itself a water source by requiring new buildings to capture and use their own #rainwater #wastewater air conditioning condensate--sources of water that we routinely discard as waste.

Without creative approaches to manage costs those measures could increase the cost of development for a city already struggling with #affordablehousing. As a finance professional I believe those problems can be addressed through use of tools like those of @TxPACEAuthority

There is no way around it though-- @AustinWater MUST continue to build its investment into #water #resilience. We are at a critical time when #affordability and financial insecurity will feel too insurmountable to make needed investments.

That is why I am committing @texaswatertrade to work on shifting the basic economics of #water--downscaling infrastructure, pushing for more #federal funding for water, more creative finance.

And it is why I am calling on @MayorAdler @GregCasar @Alison_Alter @kathietovo @JimmyFlannigan @spencercronk to commit to affordable, resilient #water for Austin, today and for the next 100 years.

To my fellow Water Forward Task Force members inc. @groundwaterpuig @MaceatMeadows: 2020 is the year for secure commitments to water affordability in Austin. It's up to us to figure out how to do that while investing in #climate #resilience. @CleanWaterTx @saveoursprings @EDFtx

Finally I would like to champion @guardian @ConsumerReports to shine a light on the reality here in #Texas where millions go without clean water and hundreds of thousands without basic plumbing.

Thank you to @UTEP for the amazing work they are doing to bring clean water to all Texans. We @texaswatertrade are honored to partner with you and humbled to embark on the journey to bring clean water to all.