Heavy Rain Hits Hard: Texas Water Quality in Spotlight

You know those heavy rainstorms Texas is famous for? Well, they're doing more than just making a splash. They're also playing a big role in how much E. coli, a nasty bacteria, shows up in the state's recreational waterbodies. This isn't just a problem in one spot; it's happening all over. And guess what? Some communities, especially those with more Black and Latino folks, are getting hit even harder. Scientists have been looking into this for over two decades, combining E. coli data with climate info and watershed details. They used some fancy math called Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) models to figure out where and when these heavy rainfalls are making E. coli levels jump.During dry seasons, places in northern and eastern Texas take the brunt. Pastures, wetlands, and silt are big factors here. But when it's wet, western and southern regions face more risks. Why? More runoff from rain, plus steeper slopes and clay-rich soil. Climate change is making these storms even stronger, which could make things worse for communities already dealing with more E. coli. This isn't fair, and it highlights the need for targeted plans to keep everyone safe and healthy.