On November 4, 2025, Texans will vote on Proposition 4, a proposed constitutional amendment that would dedicate up to $1 billion each year from existing state sales tax revenue to the Texas Water Fund for the next 20 years.

This measure wouldn’t raise taxes but would ensure consistent, long-term funding to repair and modernize our aging water systems, helping communities across Texas secure a more resilient future.

Why It Matters

Texas is growing faster than its water supply can sustain. With an estimated $150 billion in water, wastewater, and flood infrastructure needs identified over the next two decades, Proposition 4 represents a historic opportunity to meet those demands head-on.

Texas’ population is projected to grow more than 70% by 2070, from 29.5 million to over 51 million, while existing water supplies are expected to decline by 18%, and demands will rise by 17%. At the same time, our built and natural water systems, from aging pipes to fragile aquifers and spring-fed rivers, are under unprecedented stress.

If approved, these funds could be used to develop new water sources, repair aging infrastructure, and support projects that protect both people and ecosystems. Reliable, dedicated funding means utilities can plan ahead, strengthening drought resilience and reducing the costly scramble for short-term fixes.

Beyond infrastructure, Proposition 4 would also help restore springs, creeks, and aquifers, supporting healthy watersheds that sustain wildlife, agriculture, and local economies. A secure water supply doesn’t just keep faucets running, it keeps rivers flowing, native habitats thriving, and communities connected to the natural systems that define our state.

Proposition 4 is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to meet these challenges. If approved it will:

• Provide stable funding for local and regional water, wastewater, and flood infrastructure projects
• Support reuse, conservation, and efficiency programs that reduce dependence on over-pumped aquifers
• Improve local water reliability by repairing and upgrading aging systems — reducing leaks, boil notices, and service disruptions
• Strengthen disaster preparedness by funding flood mitigation projects that make communities more resilient to drought and extreme weather

What It Means for the Hill Country:

For communities like the Wimberley Valley, Proposition 4 could be pivotal. 

Dedicated state funding would empower local water providers and conservation partners to:


• Invest in projects that improve aquifer recharge and spring protection
• Upgrade and maintain infrastructure without relying solely on rate increases
• Promote long-term water planning rooted in stewardship and science
  

This measure could strengthen water security across the region while ensuring that long-term stewardship stays at the heart of local planning.

Conservation, Reuse & Source-Water Protection:

The New Water Supply for Texas Fund (NWSFT) — created by Proposition 4 — recognizes that conservation is infrastructure. By funding alternative water supplies, efficiency measures, and reuse projects, Prop 4 will reduce pressure on fresh groundwater and protect the instream flows that sustain Texas rivers, springs, and bays.

Critically, the law prohibits the use of these funds to transport fresh groundwater, ensuring that investments strengthen local resilience rather than export rural water resources.

As Hill Country rancher and conservation leader 
David Langford wrote in the San Antonio Express-News:

“You can’t have healthy land without water, and you can’t have water without healthy land. Proposition 4 takes a broad view — recognizing that rural and urban water challenges are part of the same story. Fixing leaky pipes is part of the answer, but so is supporting the landowners who protect the waters that run through them.”

More directly, Prop 4 funding can support:

• The Agricultural Water Conservation Program. helping farmers and ranchers reduce groundwater pumping while improving soil health;
• The Flood Infrastructure Fund (FIF), supporting nature-based projects that restore floodplains and recharge aquifers
• The Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF), which can finance conservation easements protecting recharge lands and source-water areas vital for springs and drinking water.
  

Together, these programs directly conserve groundwater, reduce extraction, and connect land conservation with long-term water security.

Make Your Voice Heard

Early Voting: October 30 – October 31, 2025

Election Day: November 4, 2025

Shape the Future of Wimberley Water

Thank you from the bottom of Jacobs Well for your continued support and dedication to protecting and preserving the Texas Hill Country for generations to come.

The Watershed Association Board and Staff

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