exTRA by the Trinity River Authority of Texas

Epidemiologists are able to pinpoint COVID hot spots because of viral evidence found in wastewater that has been analyzed by molecular biologists and microbiologists.

Frisco City Council will consider a pair of ordinances that would allow the city to issue $45.1 million in bonds for upcoming water, sewer and road projects during its Sept. 1 meeting.

Suzanne Scott, the longtime general manager of the San Antonio River Authority, is planning to step down at the end of October to take over as the The Nature Conservancy’s state director in Texas, according to news releases.

Austin gets all of its water from the Highland Lakes, but that might not always be the case. The city recently took a first step towards storing massive amounts of water underground.

The river was a natural resource for communities in the region for thousands of years, but with greater populations came intervention and development and the need for oversight. Today, there’s an organization of people that manage its best interests, known as the San Antonio River Authority.

With COVID-19 putting so many people out of work, the cost of living has put a lot of pressure on wallets. Water is essential to everyday life, whether it is quenching your thirst, taking a shower, or simply washing your hands. But with water comes a water bill to pay each month and for some people right now, that could be a costly expense.

The Corpus Christi City Council has voted 6-3 to accept the first $11.4 million of a $222 million loan from the Texas Water Development Board to build a desalination plant.

Houston Public Works has begun temporarily lowering Lake Houston's water level in preparation for Hurricane Laura, according to an Aug. 25 news release from Houston Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin's office. Homeowners along Lake Houston who have not already secured property on the shoreline should do so now, per the release.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality could fine the city of Kerrville as much as $18,000, having alleged the city failed to renew its wastewater treatment plant permit.

Due to low pressures in the water distribution system resulting from a City of Lufkin main water line break, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required the Angelina County FWSD No. 1 public water system (PWS ID Number 0030102) to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc).

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $15 million to various water and wastewater projects along the Rio Grande, about $300,000 of which is heading to Nuevo Laredo to help address the deteriorating infrastructure that lets millions of gallons of raw sewage into the river every day.

The San Jacinto River Authority provided an update regarding changes to pump limits and the effect of subsidence to The Woodlands board of directors during an Aug. 26 board meeting..

The city's Conservation Advisory Board approved a plan to spend $100 million over the next 10 years to continue a popular Edwards Aquifer protection program, but advocates say more is needed and hope to find additional sources of funding.

Several Texas State Parks along the coast are closing in response to Hurricane Laura, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The department announced the closure of the parks in a post on its Facebook page Tuesday, warning its followers to stay updated and follow all local orders when it comes to Hurricane Laura.