West Texas Congressional Candidate Sounds Alarm over Selling of Water

Lubbock, TX, Avalanche-Journal ^ | 04-24-03 | Kitchen, Sebastian

[Theodore R.]

Congressional candidate Bell sounds alarm over selling of water By SEBASTIAN KITCHEN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

One congressional candidate said West Texas will dry up and blow away if people are not stopped from harvesting area water, selling it and shipping the product downstate.

"If they do, they literally steal our future out from under us," said John D. Bell.

Bell stood in front of a waterfall at Canyon Lakes as he addressed West Texas water issues during a Wednesday afternoon news conference.

The Kermit Republican is one of 17 candidates vying to replace Larry Combest, R-Lubbock, as the District 19 representative. A special election will be held May 3 to fill Combest's seat.

Bell, an independent oil and gas producer, said water is one of the greatest resources. He said he believes there needs to be protective legislation and a comprehensive plan for the future.

The Ogallala Aquifer is under stress and, Bell said, his plan will not diminish the non-replenishable water source.

Bell said his plan could bring 25 million gallons of water a day for years from a location without draining the Ogallala.

He said there were pilots for the plan in New Mexico and said the project would improve the quantity and quality of water.

Improving water availability will help economic development, agriculture and energy, Bell said.

"This will help everybody in West Texas," Bell said.

Jerry Brian, who worked on the pilot projects in New Mexico, said technology exists for Bell's plan to work. Brian was director of petroleum and environmental technology at New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs.

"We are in a crisis situation," Brian said. "The problem is we are in a water deficit. ... You can have no economic base without water."

skitchen@lubbockonline.com 766-8753

[Theodore R.]

"West Texas will dry up and blow away if people are not stopped from harvesting area water..."

Is this economic realism or "doom and gloom" designed to win votes?

[Cobra Scott]

It is a little of both. Water harvest has always been beyond sustainability, but waste and greed have grown since the drought of the 70s.

[geedee]

West Texas might REALLY be drying up and blowing away NOW, I don't know . . . but I've been hearing the same song since 1963. I wish they'd turn the record over.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Well, at least he didn't go on about flouride in the water...

[gcruse]

T. Boone Pickens, of petroleum fame, has formed a company to pump water from west Texas and trundle it elsewhere for sale.
Since the aquifer is mostly of one piece, this means what comes out from beneath his property is refilled by what is under the property of others. He intends to make a megafortune selling what isn't his, to the detriment of the entire region.

It is like voting a town dry, then moving.