Water

Governor Perry greets San Antonio Water System employees. Photo courtesy San Antonio Water System

Gov. Perry’s “Controlling Our Destiny” program calls for the construction of the state’s first large-scale ocean water desalination plant as one step toward securing an abundant water supply to meet Texas’ future needs. The governor’s innovative plan also focuses on other ways to develop new sources of water, as well as adopting efficient methods of water use, developing financing options for water infrastructure projects, and ensuring the safety of this Texas ports, dams and waterways.

“For Texas to prosper long into the future, we must ensure we have a supply of water that is safe, that is easily replenished, and that is used efficiently,” Gov. Perry says. “By making our water use and infrastructure more efficient and secure, and by utilizing innovative financing and technologies to conserve existing sources and tap new sources of water, Texas water will be safe and available for future generations of Texans.”

The centerpiece of the governor’s plan is the construction of the state’s first large-scale ocean water desalination plant. Gov. Perry proposes to fund the plant’s construction with private activity bonds, which are tax-free investment bonds. Because private activity bonds are issued by private organizations, they do not affect the state’s debt burden. Texas’ per capita debt burden remains well below the national average and lowest among the state’s 15 most populous states.