Second-Fastest Growing City in United States Faces Severe Water Shortages

Before summer even began, temperatures in Kyle—located just 20 minutes from Austin—soared close to 100 degrees, exacerbating the problem as local creeks and watering holes dried up due to severe drought.

It has plenty of grassy parks, several lakes, the Blanco River, and many restaurants for residents and tourists to enjoy. 

However, several problems have arisen due to the influx of people, including a need for more water to sustain the growing population. The city’s aquifer is depleted, leaving over 67,000 residents grappling with water scarcity.

This suggests that the growing population is having a negative effect on the city, and without proper management, the residents could face severe water shortages in the coming years. 

Many residents rely on hoses to keep their home’s foundations moist to prevent cracks and settling caused by the intense heat.

During a spring city council meeting, McDonald highlighted the insufficiency of water for the growing number of new homes being built.

As water sources have dwindled, utility bills have increased, with the minimum household water bill rising by an average of 6.8 percent annually from 2021 to 2022.

Mayor Travis Mitchell has been addressing the water issue, noting that the restrictions have already contributed to savings. “Right now, we’re trying to expand our water portfolio because of the rapid growth of our city,” Mitchell told KXAN.

The combination of high temperatures and severe humidity makes it difficult for people to cool down. Future shortages of water could further intensify these problems. 

Emergency personnel responded to 125 heat-related calls in May alone, more than double the previous year’s total.

“I had people working in factories or at an Amazon warehouse taking precautions and going to work with a big jug of water, and they still ended up in renal failure,” he said. 

Health problems of this nature will only increase in the coming years, and the only way to combat it is with adequate hydration. 

“Our current supply of water is around 5.7 million gallons a day. [The pipeline] is going to add an additional 1.7 million to that,” said Mike Murphy, Kyle’s director of water utilities.

This will benefit the city of Kyle and its neighbors, San Marcos and Buda, for at least the next five decades.

He predicts that the pipeline might run out of water much sooner, possibly within 10 to 20 years, as other suburbs like San Antonio and Austin tap into the supply.

However, whether or not these solutions will be enough to avoid a crisis in the future is yet to be determined.

“It’s a matter of time before the price of water will go up to offset the price I pay for desalination,” said Gregory, owner of Texas Disposal Systems.

An Amazon spokesperson noted that the new facility maintains an average internal temperature of 74 degrees, with no reported heat-related illnesses from 2023-2024.

Despite the city’s revenue quadrupling to $65 million with the influx of residents and businesses, some locals are frustrated with the population surge.

He explains that economic growth is all about demand, adding, “We don’t get to choose between moderate or slow growth.” According to Mitchell, municipalities are also restricted so far as curbing construction is concerned due to Texas law. 

“I’ve seen people completely black out. I’ve blacked out myself,” he said. 

“A lot of companies don’t like that style. They come by and say, ‘Why’s he sitting there?’ I’m like, ‘I don’t know, so he doesn’t die?’” Stockton said.

Curran noted that his 45-minute commute grew to an hour and he could only work out early in the morning for safety reasons, so he decided to move to Austin, which better fitted his lifestyle. 

While the new pipeline may provide relief in the coming decades, if the population continues to grow at such an unprecedented rate, the city might begin to run out of water once again, sparking a severe crisis.