January 2016 Vol. 71 No. 1
Business
West Houston Water Pipeline Expansion
Between 2015 and 2019, the West Harris County Regional Water Authority (WHCRWA) plans to allocate $1.13 billion in bond funding toward the completion of West Houston water pipeline expansion projects, aimed to help the authority reach surface water usage goals mandated by the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District. The authority will sell bonds and adjust MUD fees to fund the water pipeline projects.
The mandate intends to prevent subsidence by requiring the water authority must convert pumped water to 60 percent surface water by 2025 and 80 percent surface water by 2035.
The first project is the $350 million Luce Bayou Project, of which the WHCRWA will pay $70 million. The project will transport water from Trinity River to the San Jacinto River and into Lake Houston, which will then be used by the Northeast Water Purification Plant.
The second water pipeline project is the $1.28 billion Northeast Water Purification Plant, of which the WHCRWA will share $350 million. The focus of the Northeast Water Purification Plant Project will be solely on expansion.
The third project on the list is the 39-mile long, $361 million Surface Water Supply Project, which will bring water from the Northeast plant to west Harris County. Once the water arrives in west Harris County, it will be divided among the area municipal utility districts, thus adding approximately 75 miles of water pipelines to the region.
Comments