Water Authority Advances $1.2 Billion Panhandle Supply
The Canadian River Municipal Water Authority is moving forward with a new pipeline project to supplement existing supplies for its member cities.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Utilities
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The Canadian River Municipal Water Authority advanced a $1.2 billion plan to develop a new water supply for the Texas Panhandle. The project would add wells, two pump stations, and about 70 miles of 72-inch pipeline running from Roberts County toward a high point northeast of Amarillo.
Why it matters
Lake Meredith has been relied on for more than 50 years, and the authority says it cannot always depend on it, so a second groundwater supply would let the system deliver more water. For Texas Panhandle residents, the project shapes the long-term reliability of water for the 11 member cities the authority serves.
The estimated $1.2 billion project includes about 70 miles of 72-inch pipeline and is largely funded through water rates paid by the authority's 11 member cities. Potential state and federal financing may cover part of the cost, but the amount has not been set.
The players
Canadian River Municipal Water Authority
A regional water authority that supplies water to 11 member cities across the Texas Panhandle and is pursuing the new CRMWA II supply project.
The details
The project would include additional wells, two pump stations, and a large pipeline, with one pump station in Roberts County and the second between Roberts County and Amarillo. CRMWA I, built in 1968, will remain in operation alongside the new system.
Timeline
2012: The CRMWA II concept dates back to this year, when Lake Meredith had no water available to pump.
2026: The authority advanced the plan on November 3, 2026.
2038: Water is planned to begin flowing through the new pipeline.
Market Landscape
The CRMWA II project extends the 1968 CRMWA I system, which will remain in operation, by adding a groundwater source to reduce reliance on Lake Meredith. The authority is pursuing state and federal financing to help fund a second supply for the Panhandle.
Residents served by the 11 member cities will see the cost of the project reflected in their water rates, which fund a large share of the $1.2 billion plan. The new supply is not expected to flow until 2038, so near-term water service is unchanged.
The takeaway
Long-term water planning in the Texas Panhandle depends on securing a second supply beyond Lake Meredith, and the authority's success in financing the project will determine when that supply comes online.
Further reading
For more on regional water infrastructure, see Utilities coverage across Texas.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KVII.
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