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Is A Water Revolt Coming To Texas?

Texas has never had enough water to go around, and with this ongoing drought and population growth water has never been more precious.

As cities are looking to shore up their long-range water plans they are reaching farther into the rural parts of the state looking to buy up water. But the rural areas are reacting with suspicion and dread as they witness their aquifers being tapped.

Now those people are organizing and demanding reforms. Linda Curtis is the president of the League of Independent Voters of Texas.

"Rule of capture is not exactly the law of the land anymore because we now have groundwater conservation districts throughout the state. This is our only means for local control over groundwater. And the groundwater districts are supposed to manage these aquifers by telling people, 'Yes, you can sell a certain amount of water but you can't drain an aquifer because you are impeding on the property rights of others and a resource that sustains all life."

David Martin Davies can be reached at dmdavies@tpr.org and on Twitter at @DavidMartinDavi