Central Texas Cities Face Water Scarcity as UT Austin Launches Innovative Water Hub

For Central Texas cities, water shortage is posing a growing difficulty that calls for both institutional and community response right now. While residents of Liberty Hill and Leander experience water limitations, cities like Hutto have declared intentions to refuse fresh water requests from developers. UT Austin is responding with innovative campus water hub to help to save water.

"This is a 90,600-square-foot facility, a small footprint that produces a million gallons of water daily," said Xavier Rivera Marzan, Executive Director of Utilities and Energy Management at UT Austin. "Every gallon we substitute with reclaimed water is another gallon accessible for domestic use in the city."

Designed under a 30-year contract in collaboration with H2O Innovation, the water center seeks to cut university potable water consumption by 40% and sewer volume by up to 70%. The center saves potable water for human use by giving recycled water top priority for operations including cooling towers and power plants.

Elsewhere in Central Texas, localities are finding it difficult to meet rising demand driven by explosive growth along the I-35 corridor. Local expert Miller said, "Samsung, Tesla, and other operations are putting tremendous pressure on our water supply." He also urged creative ideas such lake development, stormwater collecting, and rainwater collecting.

UT Austin leads sustainable water management with its water hub project, offering promise while the area tackles one of its most urgent problems. "I fully support this project." Miller replied, "Let's get to work."

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