The Concequences Of Population Rise In Texas
Texas is one of the fastest growing populations for a state in the United States. There are many immigrants coming in from other countries to settle in Texas, but there are also many people migrating from other states to Texas. Many factors are causing this migration such as Texas having no individual income tax, warm weather, and also lower costs of living compared to some other states in the country. The more people who move to Texas bring along with them great factors such as being able to contribute to the economy and their own cultures. However; with the positive factors migration brings, there are many other issues that may arise from a huge increase in population in our state.
A major issue is the drinking water supply in Texas. There are things that each citizen can do to contribute to the security of our water supply. We as citizens need to start participating in good practices such as raising awareness of the water we use while showering, bathing, brushing our teeth, and cleaning the house. A good practice would be to dry washed plates with a towel instead of turning on the dish washer. Another good practice would be to take baths instead of long showers where the water is running the whole time. All of these good practices would help, but if we really want to improve out clean water situation then we need new ways of getting clean water. There are many different methods out there that provide a way of getting clean water. However; they currently prove to be low efficient and high cost. “Methods like desalination and treating waste water need to be improved, they can become practical. ”
Another issue we face in Texas is flooding. Too much water can also damage to our clean water infrastructure. Hurricane Harvey harmed the whole city of Houston. There was record rainfall and inches of rain. Floods like this can contaminate the clean water supply along with causing millions of dollars worth of damage. The only solution to this issue is to plan ahead, and we need to create ways to prevent flooding to overtake inner cities and eventually harm our water supply. Improving our city’s infrastructure including dams should be a top priority. The Addicks and Barker dams have been a rewarding investment by our city. However; “They are both in bad shape and were rated in the top 6 most dangerous dams in the United States. ” There have been natural disasters in California such as the wildfires and other droughts that have caused severe damage to the water supply for California. There have been issues in cities such as Flint, Michigan where the water supply has become undrinkable.
With the Texas population booming, our state may be on a short leash until a time to call for a state wide emergency. If we do not plan and try to brace for the future of our state, there will be serious issues which will be harder to solve at that point rather than now.
