Long-term underinvestment in water infrastructure in communities of color and low-income communities continues to concentrate flood risk, water quality concerns, and water affordability burdens amongst those who have most faced historical injustice in Texas.
Texas Living Waters advocates for water infrastructure investment that meaningfully addresses these inequities, including an emphasis on natural and nature-based solutions where appropriate. We understand that the protective value of nature is not a catch-all solution to extreme weather events and flooding, it must often go hand-in-hand with structural components. We do not limit our support to nature-based solutions when a different approach is needed and is supported by the community. We value the lived experiences of community members and believe that impacted residents should have leadership roles in planning and project selection.
Our initiatives include advocating for funding and technical assistance for disadvantaged communities, working with cities such as Houston to ensure community visioning forms the basis for large-scale water planning, and outreach to regional planning groups to ensure equity concerns are central to emerging flood and water supply planning efforts.
PUBLICATIONS
Ensuring One Water Works for All: Opportunities for Realizing Water Reuse in Affordable Housing
Finding Equal Footing: Principles for Equitable Flood Mitigation Advocacy
Water Rescue: Using American Rescue Plan Act Funds to Improve Our Fragile Water Infrastructure
Recommendations to Address Texas’ Water Infrastructure Following Winter Storm Uri
RESOURCES
