The authority is a regional water authority in Fort Bend and Harris Counties created under and essential to accomplish the purposes of Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, including the acquisition and provision of surface water and groundwater for residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, and other uses, the reduction of groundwater withdrawals, the conservation, preservation, protection, and recharge of groundwater and of groundwater reservoirs or their subdivisions, the prevention of waste of groundwater, the control of subsidence caused by the withdrawal of water from groundwater reservoirs or their subdivisions, and other public purposes stated in this chapter. The authority is a political subdivision of this state. Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 893 (S.B. 1798), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2005.