Another water effort as Zwiener forms separate working group

Hays County, Texas, is grappling with increasing water scarcity, prompting two distinct but similarly aimed efforts to address the issue, particularly concerning high-water-use developments like data centers. Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra initiated a regional "Clear Water Summit," convening water suppliers, conservation districts, and regional authorities to discuss water availability, demand, and long-term supply across the county. The summit, an invitation-only meeting, aimed to improve coordination among water providers and centered on industrial water use. Concurrently, State Representative Erin Zwiener has launched a separate working group, emphasizing data centers and local government authority. Zwiener stated the group's goal is to unite elected officials, nonprofit leaders, and subject matter experts to devise creative solutions for challenges posed by data centers and other high-water-use developments in Hays County. Participants include Commissioners Debbie Gonzales Ingalsbe and Morgan Hammer, San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson, Councilmember Amanda Rodriguez, and several environmental and water advocacy organizations. Zwiener highlighted the region's prolonged drought, noting how residents' conservation efforts are undermined by increasing demand from large industrial users like data centers, leading to rising rates or dry wells. Her group will explore existing tools for local growth management and identify state-level policy changes needed to empower cities and counties. The city of San Marcos recently denied a zoning change for a data center, but such projects are increasingly moving into unincorporated areas where counties lack similar control. Zwiener's group aims to address these legislative gaps. Despite some overlap in concerns and representation, the two efforts differ in approach, with Becerra's summit focusing on broader water supply planning and Zwiener's group targeting data centers, water use, and local authority for legislative solutions. Both officials expressed support for increased attention to the critical issue of water protection, despite minor criticisms of each other's methods.