Future of water conservation in Harris County to be in hands of voters this November

HB 4 was conceived in early January in response to the statewide drought in 2011. Houston's water supply from Lake Houston experience a substantial drop in water levels forcing the city to pull from Lake Conroe. Once levels in Lake Conroe fell nine feet, the state looked to respond.

Of the projects HB 4 is expected to fund, the Luce Bayou Project awaits construction depending on voting results in November. Developed to stream water from the Trinity River into Lake Houston to alleviate Lake Conroe water levels, water supply in Harris County residential areas will look to benefit the most.

"People have to understand in a time when people are saying no new taxes, this isn't taxes it's an appropriation, we could lose water," said Barbara Payne, North Harris County Regional Water Authority communications specialist.

Three major public water systems in Harris County, The City of Houston, Jersey Village and Municipal Utility District 102, are on the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's watch list of limited water supply to avoid shortages. With a combined service to 2.1 million residents, the new legislation is expected to relieve these stressed water providers as well as systems across the state.

Payne said the bill will supplement other commitments in Harris County as well as aid smaller municipalities that cannot afford to restore or repair their water systems.

According to NHCRWA Board Member Al Rendl, if voters decide to repeal SJR 1 the Luce Bayou Project will proceed as scheduled but will result in increased water bills within the NHCRWA region. Rendl said the project has been fast tracked to be a priority within the state to be completed between 2018 and 2020.

"What we want to do is to keep the cost of water as low as possible as long as possible," said Rendl. "We raise our rates only to sustain and service the bonds we have."

The Luce Bayou canal, once completed, is expected to pump 400 million gallons of water daily to residents within the Houston Metro area.

The 2012 State Water Plan integrated with HB 4 recommends 562 unique water supply projects to meet the state's projected needs for additional water supplies throughout the next 50 years.