I wasn't aware that Texas cities/towns had private water companies.
Here water is provided either through a well or through a municipal water system. And you can bet that if water becomes scarce, cities will raise the rates to cover the cost increase.
As for the free market: As I already said.. it isn't going to be good for Texas when two of their largest economic sectors get wiped out by high water prices: Oil/gas extraction and farming.
No doubt they'll come groveling to the feds for assistance and states like Minnesota and Delaware will bail them out. After they've scolded us for being libruls who like big gubmint, of course.
If you think water prices are even remotely a concern in oil extraction your sorely mistaken take a look at F*ing middle east man. They can pump anything they want into those wells to get the oil to rise up; it doesn't need to fresh water.
Texas is going to be continuing to grow for a long, long time and probably at a faster rate than the rest of the country. You bet against the economy of Texas going forward be prepared to lose your shirt.
You need to calm down. A bet against Texan agriculture looks good right now but it wouldn't be a good idea to bet against the tech industry in Austin!
