There are an estimated 880 trillion gallons of brackish water underneath the state’s surface. But using the salty resource can be tricky: Treating it carries a hefty price tag, and the oversight of its withdrawal isn’t clear-cut.
In light of Texas’ dwindling freshwater supplies, an article from a series on demands for underground water in the Lone Star State discusses the possibility of using brackish water to meet water demands and explores the challenges of treatment and regulation of this resource.