Public Affairs

Colonias have been a key unresolved urban water resources problem in Texas for many years . The detailed understanding of the relationship between population and water infrastructure in colonias is of vital interest to Texas planners and policy makers. Two pressing colonia needs are (a) gaining access to water and wastewater infrastructure programs and (b) addressing the massively substandard housing conditions on the U.S. side of the Texas-Mexico border. Research for this report was made possible by a grant from the U.S . Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Outreach Partnership Center at The University of Texas at Austin (COPC-TX-95-0018). Financial support was also provided by the Stephen H. Spurr Fellowship.