Water supply is an excellent example of this dilemma. City officials face everyday problems of meeting water demands, monitoring water quality, expanding and repairing distribution systems, buying and selling water, and developing new sources of water to meet future needs. Water departments must plan to meet future demands with adequate distribution systems as well as adequate sources of water. They must plan by estimating population growth and future per capita use of water. A majority of Texas towns and cities now depend upon ground water sources for their water supply.
Ground water is widespread in the state and is relatively low in development and pumping costs.
Underground supplies are diminishing because of overpumping, however, and many municipal supplies will have to turn to available surface water.