On September 17, 2025, Water Finance Exchange (WFX) and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), in collaboration with the office of State Senator Adam Hinojosa (R-Brownsville) convened a Water Supply and Infrastructure Workshop in the Rio Grande Valley at the McAllen Convention Center. The workshop brought together regional leaders, utilities, and water sector experts to address the growing challenges of water supply, the importance of ground water and increased interest in economic development in the region. With increasing population growth, industrial investment, and long-term strain on water infrastructure, the need for collaborative, regional approaches is more urgent than ever.
More than 40 leaders across the state attended the workshop, including representatives from 15 rural communities throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
The goal of this workshop was to inform communities of what it means to approach water and wastewater infrastructure issues through a regional lens, as well as introduce the idea of groundwater management as a vital part of water supply management in the area.