A massive $1.2 billion water infrastructure project is moving closer to reality, with plans to bring a new groundwater supply to 11 cities across the Texas Panhandle and South Plains.
The Canadian River Municipal Water Authority (CRMWA) is advancing plans for CRMWA II, a project that would add approximately 70 miles of pipeline, new groundwater wells and two pumping stations to strengthen the region's water supply for decades to come.
The project is designed to nearly double the authority's water delivery capacity while reducing the region's dependence on Lake Meredith, which has experienced significant water shortages during prolonged droughts.
A Project Born Out of Drought
The idea for CRMWA II dates back to 2012, when severe drought conditions left Lake Meredith without water available for pumping.
That crisis highlighted the vulnerability of relying heavily on the lake to supply communities across the Panhandle.
“We have relied on Lake Meredith water for, you know, 50-something years, and while that has been great, we can’t always rely on that,” said Chad Pernell, CRMWA's deputy general manager. “We always want to utilize as much as we can. Having another supply of groundwater is going to allow us to do that.”
The new system would provide another source of groundwater while allowing the authority to continue using Lake Meredith whenever conditions permit.
What the $1.2 Billion Project Includes
CRMWA II would involve construction of approximately 70 to 72 miles of 72-inch-diameter pipeline stretching from groundwater well fields in Roberts County, north of Pampa, to a high point in the existing water distribution system northeast of Amarillo.
The project would also include additional groundwater wells and two new pumping stations.
One pumping station would be located in Roberts County, while the second would be built somewhere between Roberts County and Amarillo.
The new infrastructure would operate alongside CRMWA I, the original pipeline system constructed in 1968.
Keeping both systems operational would provide an important backup if the aging original pipeline experiences a major failure, potentially preventing widespread interruptions in regional water deliveries.
Who Will Pay for the Project?
The estimated $1.2 billion price tag represents a significant investment for the communities served by the authority.
Amarillo, the largest participating city, is expected to shoulder approximately $450 million of the total cost.
Much of the project's funding would ultimately come from water customers in CRMWA's 11 member cities.
“It will be covered, as all CRMWA projects are, through ratepayers at the member cities,” said Drew Satterwhite, CRMWA's general manager. “We will also be pursuing state and federal financing opportunities.”
The authority is exploring additional funding sources, including potential assistance through the Texas Water Development Board.
Those financing opportunities could help manage the financial burden, although the eventual impact on individual customers' water bills remains unclear.
Eleven Cities Stand to Benefit
The project would serve all 11 CRMWA member cities: Amarillo, Borger, Brownfield, Lamesa, Levelland, Lubbock, O'Donnell, Pampa, Plainview, Slaton and Tahoka.
Together, these communities depend on the authority's water infrastructure to support residents, businesses and future growth.
With drought remaining a persistent concern across West Texas, developing additional groundwater supplies is a major part of the region's long-term water planning.
Construction Expected to Begin in 2034
Under the current timeline, construction would begin in 2034, with the new pipeline scheduled to start delivering water in 2038.
That puts the project more than a decade away from completion, but planning and financing decisions are already shaping its future.
For Panhandle communities, CRMWA II represents more than another pipeline. It is an effort to ensure that water continues flowing even when drought reduces supplies from Lake Meredith or problems arise with the existing infrastructure.
