How it started…

In 1975, the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD) was created by the Texas Legislature and given the power to restrict groundwater withdrawals in coastal counties as a method of minimizing subsidence and helping the aquifers recharge.

The HGSD’s 1999 Regulatory Plan – which applied to the north and northwest parts of Harris County for the first time — required phased conversion from groundwater to surface water (water from lakes and rivers) — 30% by 2010; 60% by 2025; and 80% by 2035.

30% by 2010
60% by 2025
80% by 2035

Reasoning that it would be virtually impossible for an individual municipal utility district (MUD) or small city to accomplish this challenge on their own, the Texas Legislature created the West Harris County Regional Water Authority (WHCRWA) in 2001 to comply with HGSD’s surface water conversion mandates.

How it started…

In 1975, the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD) was created by the Texas Legislature and given the power to restrict groundwater withdrawals in coastal counties as a method of minimizing subsidence and helping the aquifers recharge.

The HGSD’s 1999 Regulatory Plan – which applied to the north and northwest parts of Harris County for the first time — required phased conversion from groundwater to surface water (water from lakes and rivers) — 30% by 2010; 60% by 2025; and 80% by 2035.

30% by 2010
60% by 2025
80% by 2035

Reasoning that it would be virtually impossible for an individual municipal utility district (MUD) or small city to accomplish this challenge on their own, the Texas Legislature created the West Harris County Regional Water Authority (WHCRWA) in 2001 to comply with HGSD’s surface water conversion mandates.

10

Things you need to know about your future water supply.

Population
Our area’s steadily increasing population and decades of aggressive groundwater usage, has not only caused aquifers to decline, but has resulted in land subsidence, and increased flooding. The Texas Water Development Board projects a 24% population increase in WHCRWA over 50 years.
Conversion Timeline
HGSD groundwater conversion requirements include; converting to 30% alternative water by 2010 (Accomplished); 60% by 2025 (In Progress); and 80% by 2035.
Project Costs
To meet the HGSD groundwater reduction requirements and to ensure a reliable, long-term surface water supply a regional approach was adopted, partnering with the City of Houston and other area water authorities. The total estimated regional costs are estimated to be approximately $6.24 Billion.

10

Things you need to know about your future water supply.

Conversion Timeline
HGSD groundwater conversion requirements include; converting to 30% alternative water by 2010 (Accomplished); 60% by 2025 (In Progress); and 80% by 2035.
Project Costs
To meet the HGSD groundwater reduction requirements and to ensure a reliable, long-term surface water supply a regional approach was adopted, partnering with the City of Houston and other area water authorities. The total estimated regional costs are estimated to be approximately $6.24 Billion.

Experience matters when undertaking supervision of billion-dollar regional civil engineering projects. The WHCRWA’s Board of Directors includes experienced experts in various business and civil pursuits who are tasked with securing and sustaining a long-term water supply of potable drinking water.

From the outset, the WHCRWA has worked with the MUDs, the City of Katy, and the City of Houston (the primary owner of water rights in the region) to design and construct new water infrastructure to comply with HGSD surface water conversion mandates.

The WHCRWA successfully met and continues to meet the 30% conversion requirement that went into effect in 2010. The WHCRWA is currently engaged in the projects needed to meet the HGSD’s 2025 and 2035 conversion requirements, including: the City of Houston’s Northeast Water Purification Expansion Project (NEWPP), the Surface Water Supply Project (SWSP) transmission line (a large diameter water line that runs from Lake Houston to west Houston/Katy areas), and distribution lines connecting to the MUDs in the WHCRWA. The WHCRWA is well-positioned to comply with the upcoming HGSD conversion mandates

Keeping the cost of water as low as possible

The WHCRWA Board of Directors continues their commitment to keeping the cost of water as low as possible and to keeping the periodic rate increases reasonable and consistent with that commitment. Projecting rates is a complex process due to unpredictable economic conditions and fluctuating construction and labor costs. Increasing the WHCRWA fee steadily and in smaller amounts has helped to avoid sharp increases in the charges over the years and has assisted its wholesale customers plan for gradual rate increases.

Pumpage and Surface Water Rates effective 1/1/2023

Groundwater – $3.95/1,000 gallons and
Surface Water – $4.35/1,000 gallons

Some MUDs and cities modify the WHCRWA water usage rates above and pass-through various costs on the retail water bill to cover such things as leaks in the system, mandatory flushing, community water uses which include common areas, (esplanades, amenity lakes or ponds, etc.) and emergency/fire services that require variable amounts of water from month to month.

MUDs in HGSD Regulatory Area 3 that do not meet the HGSD surface water conversion requirements as mandated by the Texas Legislature would be forced to pay the HGSD’s $11.86 per 1000 gallons disincentive fee.

WHCRWA

$4.35 /1000 gallons

HGSD

$11.86 /1000 gallons

Water Usage - Groundwater / Surface Water - 2024 Yearly Conversion 34.40%