TEXAS — With each push of the shovel, it’s getting increasingly harder for Luis Reyes, a construction worker, to finish a ditch at this new home construction project in a new subdivision in Mission, Texas. 

“Because of the water situation. The drought is drying the soil, and it gets hard. And to use a machine? That’s a big problem,” said Reyes. But for this asylum seeker who stayed to work in the Rio Grande Valley after escaping poverty in Honduras, the ongoing local drought could have worse consequences. Construction projects could soon have to be halted. 

“Without water, you can’t mix concrete. If they stop building houses, there wouldn’t be any work for me,” said Reyes. 

The Mission city government has been considering issuing a moratorium on new residential and commercial developments larger than five acres. For this rapidly growing city, and a region experiencing an increasing demand for new housing, hitting the breaks on urban growth would be drastic, but it could become unavoidable. 

“This is uncharted territory for us. Almost like COVID. We are exploring everything and we’re not gonna leave any stone unturned,” said Assistant City Manager Daniel Fuentes. 

This is because any new construction would have to use the city’s water supply, and, with Falcon Lake going dry every day, the limited water supply would be destined for human consumption. Landscapers would be among the first in line to stop working. He knows a well-kept lawn would not be a priority. 

“We have irrigation for a lot of these properties, so the grass would start dying. That would really affect everybody. No work,” said Edgar, a landscaper. 

The Mission City Council was set to vote on the moratorium, but they refrained at the last minute, advised by Hidalgo County. 

“We don’t want anyone city to go to Stage 3 or 4 and the rest of the communities are not. We’re all going to work together in unity.” Said Flores. 

The decision, for Reyes, was the proverbial rain from heaven. 

“I still have work. That’s why I’m thankful to God. If not, I would have to go somewhere else.”

Right now, the entire region is in stage 2 of their emergency plan.