<p>Last summer, near the height of the most intense drought in recorded Texas history, ConocoPhillips officials grew concerned. The company operates an oil refinery near the southeastern town of Sweeny, and its major water source, the San Bernard River, was getting drier. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/26/us/in-texas-conocophillips-and-other-plants-strive-to-conserve-water-but-look-into-groundwater-just-in-case.html?_r=1&amp;ref=water" title="If Conservation Fails, Industry May Try Groundwater">More</a> (Source: The New York Times)</p>