The drought-stricken Texas Hill Country reservoir just got a big boost.

Source: Central Texas’ beloved lake just hit its highest water level of 2026 | mySA

One of the strongest messages delivered during the RGV Desal press conference at the Embassy Suites in McAllen was that the proposed marine desalination plant is expected to be privately financed, eliminating the need for state funding to construct the facility

Source: RGV Desal Says Private Funding Removes One Barrier, but Other Challenges Remain | Texas Border Business

Leaders of the proposed RGV Desal marine desalination project said environmental permitting, financing, infrastructure, and regional cooperation will determine whether the Rio Grande Valley can develop a large-scale seawater desalination facility.

Source: “We’re not looking for any state money,” Doung Allison, RGV Desal | Texas Border Business

The city of McGregor faces fines for pulling too much from the Trinity Aquifer for three straight years.

Veteran South Texas public administrator Mike Perez said the proposed RGV Desal marine desalination project has merit but will require regional planning, infrastructure improvements, and cooperation among water providers before it can become part of the Rio Grande Valley’s long-term water supply.

Source: Mike Perez Says Regional Planning Will Be Essential for Future Water Supply | Texas Border Business

Texas AI data centers are straining ERCOT’s grid and water supply, with 439 GW in new requests and up to 161 billion gallons needed annually by 2030.

Source: Hundreds of Data Centers Are Coming to Texas, and the State’s Plumbing May Not Be Ready | Yahoo News

Hays County and others are scrambling to reckon with a data center boom that the state has failed to manage. The Editorial Board outlines what lawmakers need to prioritize next legislative session.

Source: Time for Texas leaders to take data center regulation seriously | AAS

Documents reveal shell company tied to Elon Musk acquired critical water resources in Grimes County, one week before county commissioners approved 100% tax break

Source: Elon Musk-connected company buys land, water infrastructure before Grimes County’s SpaceX tax vote | KBTX

State government (the Legislature, state officials and agencies) in Texas have started, in the last few years, to try to “get a handle on” the impact of new technologies – data centers, produced water, solar and wind projects – and have kept regulatory control and planning at the state, not the local level (counties, cities, special districts.)

Source: Produced Water, Artificial Intelligence Data Centers & The Legislature – PART II | The Fayette County Record

A House natural resources committee hearing offered a chance for Texans to share their thoughts about data centers, and previewed potential legislation that may be taken up next year.

Source: Texas lawmakers consider data center water use and resource impacts | Community Impact