Dombroski: South Texas is vital to the economic growth of Texas. We need reliable sources of water.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify. My name is Mark Dombroski, and I’m the assistant general manager and chief operating officer for Brownsville Public Utilities.

I’m here representing our customers, the people, the industries, the farmers and ranchers of South Texas, in strong support of SCR 13. I’d like to thank Senator Adam Hinojosa for his leadership and initiative on SCR 13. I’d also like to commend Governor Abbott for his decisive action in November 2024 when he instructed the TCEQ to accept an offer of water from the San Juan River from Mexico.

The communities of South Texas are facing a severe water crisis due to Mexico’s ongoing failure to meet its obligation. There is a long-term pattern of non-compliance by Mexico that has left our farmers, ranchers, cities and industries in a precarious position.

Agriculture is the Rio Grande Valley’s backbone. It’s suffering. Texas A&M AgriLife estimates that half a billion dollars in crop revenue was lost in 2024 alone. Our last Sugar Mill in Santa Rosa closed after 50 years of operation. (The loss of) half a million head of cattle jeopardize our food supply.

Reservoirs are dangerously low. Falcon is at 16% capacity, and Lake Amistad is only 26% full. If this continues, drinking water for cities like Brownsville, McAllen, Harlingen will be at risk, leading to conservation mandates, potential rationing and public health crisis.

Brownsville PUB produces the water for the international Port of Brownsville, including the $18 billion LNG plant currently under construction. We also serve SpaceX at Starbase, a leader in Texas’ growing space industry. South Texas is vital to the economic growth of Texas, and we need reliable sources of water.

At Brownsville PUB, we’re working to expand our water sources. In 2004 the Southmost Regional Water Authority, with Brownsville PUB as the owner-operator, began producing up to ten million gallons per day of potable water drawn from brackish groundwater. And that now supplies 30% of our needs. We’re working to expand the facility to 20 million gallons per day.

We’re also working on an indirect potable reuse to redirect another eight million gallons per day of a fluent discharge for beneficial use. These projects require significant investment.

We need the state support to develop these proven approaches to ensure our communities have the water they need to thrive.

Today, I urge the state of Texas take two decisive actions. First, press the federal government to hold Mexico accountable under the 1944 Water Treaty. Second, invest in South Texas and help us secure alternative water solutions now.

Delaying action only makes the crisis worse and solutions more expensive. Thank you. And ask you for your support for SCR 13, I’m happy to answer any questions. Thank you.

Editor’s Note: The above testimony was provided by Mark Dombroski, assistant general manager and chief operating officer for Brownsville Public Utilities, at a hearing of the Texas Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs at the state Capitol in Austin on March 10, 2025.

Editor’s Note: SCR 13 is a resolution authored by state Sen. Adam Hinojosa of Corpus Christi urging the federal government to press Mexico to comply with the terms of a 1944 water sharing treaty.

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