Businesses in agriculture are paying close attention to the water situation over the next few weeks as warmer temperatures approach, but other businesses with lesser water demands have little to worry about.
The overwhelming approval Wednesday of a bill setting aside state funding for water projects sparked conversation about water restrictions in metro areas. Some lawmakers argued that the money would benefit only rural communities.
San Antonio Greater Chamber of Commerce President Richard Perez, who was in Austin during the vote, said that while our lawns may not be in the best condition, the community has plenty of water for other uses.
"We’re going to have plenty of water so that you and I can drink and bathe and do all the things we need to do. And there’s plenty of water for every single one of our businesses to operate at full strength and do all the things that they do and continue to employ people," Perez said.
While some are urging Texans to conserve water where they can, Perez said the challenge locally is mainly for landscaping needs.
SAWS has asked residents to curtail water use now to help postpone inevitable lawn-watering restrictions.
"While we all want to have a green lawn, the engine that drives this community is business and it’s you and me as members of the working class. And we’re going to have plenty of water," Perez said.
The legislature is attempting to address longer-term needs by passing the measure that will take $2 billion from the Rainy Day Fund to fund 500 water projects throughout the state.
