Texas voters increasingly seem to view water security as a statewide issue connected to everyday life and the state's overall stability, rather than as a narrow infrastructure matter.
In a new Texas 2036 poll reported by Texas Border Business, 79% of Texas voters said it is either "extremely important" or "very important" for the state to prioritize projects that would ensure enough water for economic growth or reduce the risk of serious shortages in communities.
Here's what to know
In the recent Texas Voter Poll for Texas 2036, 49% of registered Texas voters called water-related projects "extremely important," while another 30% said they were "very important," according to Texas Border Business.
That level of support follows the 2025 effort by Texas lawmakers, later approved by voters, to significantly expand state funding for water infrastructure. The package set funding for the Texas Water Fund at up to $1 billion per year over the next 20 years.
Jeremy Mazur, Texas 2036's director of infrastructure and natural resources policy, said Texans recognize the pressure from rapid population growth and mounting water stress.
"Voters are paying close attention to the headlines about Texas' growth and, at the same time, communities at risk of running out of water," Mazur said. "They know that Texas must be strategic when it comes to water, and have provided clear preferences on what those priorities should be."
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The findings arrive as state leaders look ahead to the 2027 State Water Plan, which Texas 2036 estimates at $174 billion and says will shape the projects needed for a growing population and economy.
What's being done?
Water shortages can drive up household costs, disrupt business activity, slow development, strain agriculture, and reduce overall quality of life. Communities may face restrictions earlier than expected, while delayed infrastructure projects can leave local economies more exposed as drought worsens.
Texas already has several major pieces in place: water planning, a newly dedicated funding stream, and broad public support for action.
What matters now is whether those investments turn into projects that are completed on time and built around realistic risk.
Among its recommendations, Texas 2036 says planners should review drought, hydrologic, and other key data before each planning cycle begins, then organize projects by urgency and set implementation milestones. It also recommends tracking whether proposed projects are actually built and how much water they ultimately deliver or conserve.
The group also calls for testing plans against drought scenarios worse than the official drought of record and identifying communities that may be vulnerable even when no formal shortage is projected. It says those communities should be formally notified when the planning process flags them as being at risk.
As Mazur put it, "Texas has built a strong foundation for planning its water future. The lesson is that we can make that process better at spotting risks earlier, helping communities act sooner and moving critical projects from pages in the plan to actual projects on the ground."
Where can I learn more?
The concerns showing up in this poll reflect water problems Texans are already dealing with on the ground. Emergency shortages in Corpus Christi, long-running conservation limits elsewhere, and local disputes over access costs all underscore how water security affects daily life and economic stability. For example:
• In Corpus Christi, a grim look into the future is already hitting water supplies.
• In Wichita Falls, lakes reawaken following years-long drought even as water restrictions persist.
• In Potosi, a $4,500 meter demand turned water access into a local flashpoint.
These stories help explain why so many Texans now view water policy as both a kitchen-table concern and a statewide growth issue. They also highlight what can happen when planning, funding, and project delivery don't move together.
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