Water Wars Come To Texas - CleanTechnica

The article "Water Wars Come To Texas" from CleanTechnica highlights the escalating conflicts over groundwater rights in Texas, rooted in the state's adherence to the "rule of capture." This legal principle, originating from English common law, allows landowners to extract as much groundwater as they wish from beneath their property, even if it negatively impacts neighboring wells. This has led to concerns that individuals or companies could deplete entire aquifers for profit. A notable case involves hedge fund manager Kyle Bass, whose entities have proposed extracting about 15 billion gallons annually from the Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer in East Texas. While Bass claims he has no buyers lined up yet, communities like San Antonio are already investing in long pipelines to access distant water sources, intensifying local fears of wells running dry. The issue has sparked significant local opposition, exemplified by a large turnout at a Neches & Trinity Valleys Groundwater Conservation District meeting, where residents voiced concerns about industrial profiteering and environmental harm. Despite the community