Studies for two additional groundwater management areas were completed in September 1998. Coping with Drought Most of Texas experienced drought conditions in the spring and summer of 1998. Long-term Palmer Drought Severity Indices indicated that all 10 of the state's climatic regions experienced drought conditions. Water suppliers in those areas are looking at alternatives to meet the demand for water. Texas has experienced severe to extreme droughts in every decade of this century.
Droughts vary in length and intensity, and either factor can have a devastating economic impact.
The drought of 1996, for example, caused greater economic losses than longer, less intense droughts in previous years. These pages are updated weekly and provide information such as a list and map of public water systems affected by the drought. In June 1998, the division distributed a Drought Reference Manual to 4,201 community water systems in the state. Through a contract with the Texas Rural Water Association, contractors visited 160 water systems ranked in priority from the 1998 drought database. The contractors met with water system operators and managers to identify areas for technical assistance, conservation measures, and other drought management options.