Edwards Aquifer group wants balance in housing growth, water protection

The Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance (GEAA) is urging state lawmakers to caution against policies that could jeopardize long-term water security. In a newly released report, called “Water for Residents: Ensuring housing solutions do not worsen the water crisis in the Edwards and Trinity aquifer region,” the organization highlights how urban sprawl, regulatory rollbacks and development over sensitive recharge zones threaten both water availability and affordability. The report notes that Texas simultaneously faces a shortage of affordable housing and increasing water scarcity, exacerbated by drought, population growth and land use changes. GEAA warns against reducing environmental protections in an effort to boost housing supply, arguing that such measures could lead to higher long-term costs from flooding, insurance hikes and infrastructure strain. The group proposes legislative solutions that support higher-density housing in urban cores, stronger building codes, flood risk mitigation efforts and restrictions on development over key aquifer recharge areas, including portions of Travis County.