Texas’ water future has come into sharp focus as a result of the recent drought, but addressing our long-term water needs in a piecemeal, crisis-driven fashion risks our economic vitality and the stability of our communities. In 2013, lawmakers should commit to a systematic approach to ensuring the safety, reliability and affordability of Texas’ future water supply, beginning with an examination of current water-related funding streams and up-to-date project priorities. Legislators should demand realistic, accountable water conservation measures across the economy, and—as with energy—consumer-directed conservation programs should honor the capacity of every Texan, even very small or disadvantaged consumers, to be part of a collective strategy.