Boone Pickens' people came calling last week. Representatives of his Mesa water company presented their plan to sell water from the Panhandle to North Texas counties. They made their appeal to the group chartered with planning this region's water need. The panel -- which consists of municipal leaders, water district managers, environmentalists, ranchers and industry representatives -- has a financial responsibility to consider the plan. North Texas has to explore many options. If we're going to consider a new reservoir, then by all means we should study piping in water from the Panhandle.

Of course, buying and selling water is controversial. There's something uncomfortable about people enriching themselves off a valuable natural resource. But, living in a booming state, we need to get used to water marketing. If some parts of Texas have plenty of water but few people, then it makes sense to match the resource with parts of the state that have many people but little water.

We need to do that in a way that protects Texas' future. We'd all be in a fix if we dry up the aquifers that farmers who grow crops for the rest of us need. Nor would any Texan benefit if we suck our aquifers so dry that we make it impossible for residents of cities like Dallas, Austin and San Antonio to use them 30, 40 years down the road.

We need checks and balances. Local groundwater districts are now the only enforcers of groundwater sales. But most lack the staff, money and, yes, the will to regulate complex water purchases. We encourage the Senate committee studying water issues to strengthen these districts, starting with the power to raise enough money for their work. They could then better balance various interests.

We also propose that a state agency like the Texas Water Development Board act as a last check on water sales. A state authority needs to make sure cities can buy water from elsewhere, but in a way that doesn't gulp aquifers dry. Water marketing can help Texans, now and decades hence. The state just needs a way to do this right.

[COMMENT: Why D/FW and their suburbs don't solve their water needs by using Lake Texoma as a water source continues to defy reason. R.]