Texas Senator Eddie Lucio (D) of Brownsville was appointed to the Joint Interim Committee to Study Water Desalination, Texas Lt. Governor David Dewhurst announced on Thursday.

Desalination is the process of removing salt from either brackish or saltwater. With Texas hit by severe drought in recent years, the ability to increase water capacity through the process of desalination is becoming increasingly important to the Lone Star State. According to forecasts by meteorologists, the drought being experienced in Texas could continue for years to come, making new sources of water even more important.

"The way decadal circulation patterns are setting up, the Atlantic Ocean is warmer than normal, and there's circulation on the Pacific Ocean, which has gone cooler than normal," NOAA meteorologist Victor Murphy told NPR's State Impact in July. "When those two match up -- they should be in sync the next five years or so -- those are the conditions that existed back in the 1950s. There's a distinct possibility, I'm not saying it's a probability, but there's a possibility this (drought) could extend for another couple of years."

Lucio, who sponsored the legislative resolution that led to the creation of the committee, says he is eager to get started on this investigative effort which will include members of both the Texas Senate and House of Representatives.

"I am honored by today's appointment," Lucio said in a statement. "Coming off a year in which the voters overwhelmingly approved committing state funds to local water infrastructure projects, immediate study of responsible water use technology is vitally important. Creation of this Committee shows again that Texas is serious about looking for innovative ways to meet the state's growing water demands.

"In Cameron County we already have excellent models for both brackish and saltwater desalination. Other Texas cities, such as El Paso and San Antonio, have also employed desalination operations. It's time we look to these models, as well as models in other parts of the world, and identify best practices that can be applied across the state."

The Brownsville Public Utilities Board in Cameron County, located in Lucio's district, has operated a brackish water desalination plant since 2003. Lucio also reports that the Port of Brownsville has recently begun a seawater desalination pilot program.

Lucio has served in the Texas Senate since 1990 and has a son, Eddie Lucio III, who serves in the Texas House of Representatives. He began his public service career as Cameron County Treasurer in 1971.