Who owns Texas water?

As Texas population continues to increase, so will demands for water. The answer to the question of who owns Texas water will continue as a point of argument.  Water availability has become such a critical issue that many statewide meetings, legislation and court cases revolve around the subject. A recent state-wide conference, devoted to water, was the Texas Section Society of Range Management annual meeting held in Uvalde. The opening remarks presented by Charles Porter addressed the question of water ownership.  Porter suggested looking at three geological water containers – natural surface, diffused surface and groundwater – to determine ownership. Each container has different ownership and regulations. Porter is an author, speaker, fulltime visiting professor at St. Edward’s University, and a water rights and real estate expert nationwide.