q&a+water: Larry N. Patterson, P.E.

In this issue’s Q&A, Texas+Water Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Todd Votteler, interviews Larry N. Patterson, P.E., Executive Director of the Upper Trinity Regional Water District. Full story from Texas+Water →

Drought—including exceptional drought—is focused on the southeastern two-fifths of the state and is expected to remain in this area through June.

talk+water: Stacey Allison Steinbach

Texas+Water Editor-in-Chief Dr. Todd Votteler talks with Stacey Allison Steinbach, General Manager of the Texas Water Conservation Association. Full story from Texas+Water →

Coronavirus, climate change, and the environment

Does climate change affect the transmission of coronavirus? Here's a conversation on COVID-19 with the director of Harvard University's Center of Climate, Health and the Global Environment. Full story from Environmental Health News →

New Nano Strategy Fights Superbugs

It’s not enough to take antibiotic-resistant bacteria out of wastewater to eliminate the risks they pose to society. The bits they leave behind have to be destroyed as well. Researchers at Rice University have a new strategy for “trapping and zapping” antibiotic resistant genes. Full story from Rice University →

Cotton Key Player in Water Conservation in Northern High Plains

As crop production plans are adapting to the declining water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer, cotton is playing an increasingly important role in water conservation. Full story from AgriLife Today →

Water Reuse Could Be Key for Future of Hydraulic Fracturing

Enough water will come from the ground as a byproduct of oil production from unconventional reservoirs during the coming decades to theoretically counter the need to use fresh water for hydraulic fracturing operations in many of the nation’s large oil-producing areas. Full story from UT News →

EPA Awards Texas Over $1.8 Million to Protect Children from Lead in Drinking Water

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded $1,843,216 to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to help identify sources of lead in drinking water in schools or child care facilities. Full story from EPA →

Almost Real-Time Flood Prediction Tool May Boost Emergency Response During Hurricanes

By incorporating the architecture of city drainage systems and readings from flood gauges into a comprehensive statistical framework, researchers at Texas A&M University can now accurately predict the evolution of floods in extreme situations like hurricanes. Full story from Texas A&M University →

Assessment of Historic and Future Trends of Extreme Weather in Texas, 1990-2020

Negative extreme weather impacts driven by climate change represent a risk to current and future Texans. In a new report published by John Nielsen-Gammon, Texas State Climatologist and Texas A&M University Regents Professor, and Texas A&M researchers analyze what Texas’ climate and weather conditions will be like when the state turns 200 in 2036. Full report from Texas A&M Today →

Assessment of Antibiotic Levels, Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria and Genetic Biomarkers in the Waters of the Rio Grande River Between the United States-Mexico Border

A new report by the Environment Texas Research and Policy Center ranks local governments across Texas on how well their stormwater policy incorporates nature-based infrastructure, like rain gardens and green roofs. Full report from the University of Texas at El Paso →

txH2O Magazine: Water & Health: Zooming in On Pathogens, Poverty, PFAS and Other Water-Health Issues and Developing Potential Solutions

The Texas Water Resources Institute has published the Winter 2020 issue of its magazine, txH2O, highlighting researchers connection between water and health including topics such as PFAS, protecting drinking water, water quality challenges in irrigation and more. Read more from the Texas Water Resources Institute →