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I love Boer goats. I belong to a yahoo group and this was posted by a right winger who was fearful of being taxed. Personally, I think its a great idea.
Senate Bill Would Tax Water Use,
Alter Rule Of Capture In Texas
AUSTIN —(AP)— The state would dedicate water resources to
protect critical bays and estuaries, and Texans could face millions in new fees on water consumption under a Senate bill introduced Monday to guide the state's future water use.
The bill, SB 3, was introduced by a group of Democrat and
Republican senators. It is designed to meet the challenge of protecting the environment and promoting conservation while providing Texans with reliable sources of clean water.
"Unless we take the necessary steps today, we will lack the
resources to support our growing population," said Sen. KenArmbrister, D-Victoria, chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Water Resources.
The tapwater tax, which would be levied on retail water
sales above 5000 gallons a month, would cost Texans about $125 million a year and would help build new water systems and refurbish existing ones.
The bill also modifies the century-old "rule of capture,"
which allows landowners living outside of groundwater conservation
districts to pump as much water as they choose. The bill introduced Monday would create legal protections for landowners who are hurt by their neighbors' pumping.
A 2001 statewide water survey predicted Texas will struggle
to keep up with water demand over the next 50 years as its population is expected to double to about 40 million.
State officials predict Texas will have to spend as much as
$98 billion to refurbish existing water sources and transfer systems, or build new ones.
Texas has only one natural lake — Lake Caddo in East Texas.
Most of state's water comes from underground aquifers and reservoirs
that capture rain water.
"One of the biggest challenges we face is providing clean
water for generations to come," said Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, a
Republican.
Under the Senate plan, the state would ensure that water is
directed toward the state's rivers, bays and estuaries, which have been strained under the increasing demand for water.
Environmentalists called it an important policy shift to
protect the state's wetlands. Healthy estuaries and bays are critical for fish, oysters and migratory birds.
"This bill will help ensure our children continue to enjoy
healthy rivers and bays as well as the fish and wildlife heritage Texas is famous for," said Myron Hess of the National Wildlife Foundation.
The water consumption tax would be levied at a rate of
about 13 cents per 1000 gallons used above the 5000-gallon limit.
According to the state Water Development Board, the
statewide average water use for households and small businesses is about 170 gallons per day, or about 5100 gallons a month.
That average does not include large industrial and
agricultural use, and statewide use varies among regions.
The bill would exempt government, religious organizations
and schools. Collected locally, the money would be sent to the state. Landowners and businesses that take water from private wells would not be
taxed.
Armbrister said the fee would help encourage conservation.
Those who use less water could avoid paying it.
The change to the "rule of capture" also represents a
significant shift.
Texas is the only western state still using the rule. The
Texas Supreme Court upheld it in 1999 when a group of farmers in
Henderson County in East Texas claimed the Ozarka bottled water company sucked their wells dry.
The proposed change creates legal liabilities for
high-volume users who damage neighboring wells.
"Families and farms don't have to live in fear their
precious water will be siphoned away for convenience store coolers," Dewhurst
said.
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