| | | | The Latest Water Policy News from Texas Water Association
| | | | | 2026 SUMMER CONFERENCE WRAP UP. Thank you to our attendees, sponsors, volunteers, speakers, and exhibitors for joining us at the TWA 2026 Summer Conference in Horseshoe Bay. | | | We kicked things off with the Volunteer Service Project and 19th Annual Jim Adams Memorial Golf Tournament. During this year's service project, 30 volunteers rolled up their sleeves to help clean up Lake LBJ and nearby parks in Granite Shoals, collecting 126 pounds of trash! Special thanks to our hosts, the Lower Colorado River Authority and Colorado River Alliance, and to the TWA Membership & Services Committee for coordinating. Our conference program featured a keynote address from TCEQ Commissioner Tonya Miller, discussions on Growth & Groundwater, El Niño & Texas Weather, Toxicology & Water Contaminants, Water Management & AI, the Statewide Water Awareness Campaign, updates from the Water Quality and Federal Affairs Committees, and Legal and Engineering Ethics. Throughout the conference, attendees connected during some of our favorite networking events, including Signature Speed Networking (hosted by the TWA Membership & Services Committee), Welcome Reception (sponsored by Carollo Engineers and Garney), Networking Reception (sponsored by Jacobs and the TWA Risk Management Fund), and Networking Breakfast (sponsored by Freese and Nichols, Inc.). Find post-conference resources and information below or visit the Summer Conference webpage.
| | | Post-Conference Survey. We value your feedback as your input helps inform future events. Please take a few minutes to complete a brief post-conference survey by July 10. Program & Presentations. View the conference program to reference sessions and speakers. Available presentations may be found on our Summer Conference webpage. Continuing Education. The TWA 2026 Summer Conference has been approved for 4.5 hours of CLE credit (including 1 hour of ethics) for Texas-licensed attorneys. Approved courses and the course number are available on the Summer Conference webpage. For engineers, geoscientists, and other professionals who wish to maintain a record of continuing education, please download the certificate of attendance, along with a copy of the conference program for your records. Thank You. Special thanks to our sponsors and everyone who made this event possible and successful. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you at our next event, the TWA 2026 Fall Conference, October 7–9 in San Antonio. Stay tuned for registration and hotel information coming later this summer. | | | | | REMEMBERING LINDSEY ANN FORD | | | It is with heavy hearts that we shared the passing of Lindsey Ford, TWA's Events & Membership Director, earlier this month. Lindsey was a friend to all and the heart of our TWA team.
During the TWA 2026 Summer Conference, we remembered Lindsey and the tremendous impact she had on TWA and the Texas water community, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone who shared kind words, stories, and messages. Your care and support have meant the world to her family and the TWA staff. A Celebration of Life for Lindsey will be held on Sunday, July 26, from 2:00–4:00 pm, at Dripping Springs Distilling. | | | To honor Lindsey's memory, impact, and passion for Texas water, we worked with our friends at the Texas Water Foundation (TWF) to establish the Lindsey Ford Leadership Fund, which will provide scholarships for the Texas Water Leaders Program. To make a donation, visit the TWF donation page and add “Lindsey Ford Leadership Fund” in the Additional Information box — 100 percent of contributions will support future Texas water leaders. | | | | | TWDB LAUNCHES STATEWIDE WATER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. Yesterday, TWDB launched This is Texas Water, the statewide water public awareness campaign for Texas. The initiative is designed to inspire Texans to better understand their water—where it comes from, how much their communities will need in the future, and the infrastructure and planning required to ensure long-term water security. Watch the anthem video here and follow the campaign on Instagram. | | | TCEQ INVITES STAKEHOLDER COMMENTS ON POTENTIAL RULE CHANGES. TCEQ is accepting stakeholder comments on agency rules that have been identified for potential improvement through the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office’s (TREO) rule review process. According to the agency, the rules identified its proposed improvements list may be obsolete, duplicative, ineffective, overly burdensome, or unnecessary. The agency is seeking stakeholder input on these recommendations via the agency’s Smart Comment portal until July 16, 2026. | | | TWDB DFUND APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN. TWDB is accepting applications for the Texas Water Development Fund (DFund) program through Wednesday, September 30. The DFund is a state-funded loan program through which multiple eligible components may be funded under one consolidated loan. Find information and application details here. | | | CWSRF AND DWSRF EMERGING CONTAMINANTS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. TWDB is accepting comments on the draft 2026 State Revolving Fund (SRF) Intended Use Plans (IUPs) for the Clean and Drinking Water SRF Emerging Contaminants funding. Comments may be submitted using the online form through Friday, July 24. | | | TEXAS WATER SUPPLY CORPORATION GRANTS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. TWDB is accepting comments on the proposed implementation plan for the new Texas Water Supply Corporation Grants (TWSCG). The plan outlines the proposed structure and types of financial assistance available for TWSCG projects, including those addressing water loss, TCEQ violations, or upgrading/replacing water systems. Comments may be submitted using the online form through Friday, July 17. Find more information on the TWSCG webpage. | | | TCEQ DAM SAFETY WORKSHOPS. TCEQ is hosting Dam Safety Workshops on July 15 (Austin) and August 5 (Arlington). These workshops provide owners and operators with information on state dam safety regulations, emergency action plans, and operations, maintenance, and inspections. Find information and registration here.
| | | EPA TO WAIVE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE LOAN FEES. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it will waive Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan application fees for communities with populations under 25,000. EPA will also waive credit processing fees, subject to program requirements and available funding. The WIFIA program currently has approximately $11 billion in financing available to support water infrastructure projects and can finance up to 80 percent of project costs. Learn more about the WIFIA Program and how to submit a letter of interest. | | | BUREAU OF RECLAMATION FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES. The Bureau of Reclamation has published the following WaterSMART funding opportunities: | | | | | 🔹 Consor Engineering 🔹 North Central Texas Council of Governments 🔹 Red River Valley Authority 🔹 Simplicity Integration, Inc. | | | | | 2026 Events
2027 Events
Have an event you’d like to see in Confluence News? Email us. | | | About the Texas Water Association Texas Water Association (TWA) is a nonprofit membership association working to advance sound water policy for Texas, focusing on water supply and management. From drought to flood, we work with our membership to address the state’s greatest water needs. TWA members provide water and wastewater services to a vast majority of the state and include river authorities, cities, regional and local water districts, drainage and flood districts, irrigation districts, groundwater conservation districts, entities that support the Texas water industry, and various water users, owners, and interests. | | | Texas Water Association | 4401 Westgate Blvd, Suite 320, Austin, Texas 78745 I (512) 472-7216 | | | | | | | |
