Bradley: Long-term water solution needed

"The money is not the issue. The policy on water is the issue," he said, adding: "... It's not going to fix anything until we fix the political structure of how we deal with water in Texas."

Bradley said politicians, lobbyists and engineers are focusing on short-term water supply solutions, rather than working together to establish a long-term solution for the region.

Texas Senate Bill 1 set up about 100 local districts that each control the pumping and conservation of groundwater in their area, and Bradley said it is not likely that a statewide or regional water plan could be put in place with the cooperation of all those districts.

Bradley said he thinks the state should establish a management district over each of Texas' aquifers to more effectively control water. He also emphasized he thinks the solution for Central Texas is to utilize the Simsboro Aquifer, which is part of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer.

"There's an enormous amount of water, and it's a sand aquifer so it doesn't have any endangered species," he said, noting authorities could decide to stop the pumping of water from the Edwards Aquifer if the endangered species list grows too large.

Bradley said he expects that about 78 percent of people moving to Texas within the next 50 years will move into the area between San Antonio, Austin and Dallas. He said the Simsboro would be able to provide water for the Austin–San Antonio corridor, Lake Travis and other areas.

"Until [authorities] address the difference in how surface water is managed and regulated and ground water is managed and regulated, we will not have a solution for water in the state. When we address the issues of our water policies for underground water and get those to be logical, then we can put together a great statewide plan for a hell of a lot less money than $2–$3 billion."