Scott said this will bring new capacity to the city’s strained northwest pressure plane, which is under a temporary development moratorium, and pave the way for development to resume in certain areas.
“We've had no additional new water into the system since the beginning of the moratorium,” Scott said. “So that's why this is exciting.”
What this means
Once online, these additions will allow the city to begin releasing permits on a phased basis, starting with developers and homeowners who had prior commitments, Scott said.
“This new capacity means we can start giving people timelines, issuing permits and moving projects forward,” Scott said.
Scott said two water projects will come online in July:
- Silver Springs bypass water line: Set to be online during the first week of July, the 1,550-foot, 16-inch line will move water from Plant 15 across Hwy. 75, adding 1,200 gallons-per-minute west of I-45.
- Water Plant No. 29: Expected to be complete by late July, this facility includes a 1,500-gpm well, a 1-million-gallon storage tank and new booster pumps in the Seven Coves area.
The city has been under a development moratorium in the northern portion of the city since August 2024 due to water pressure and capacity issues, as previously reported. The moratorium has been extended several times and is currently set to expire August 22, Scott said.
“We've been clear the whole time, because of the pressure and capacity issues, that the only way that we get out of this moratorium in the northwest pressure plane is to add additional capacity, add additional water to the system,” Scott said. “That's the only way out of it.”
Looking ahead
Scott said several additional wells and upgrades are scheduled to come online over the next 15 months:
- Water Plant No. 30: September 2025
- Well No. 6 & Well No. 14 replacements: April 2026 (increased capacity from 1,000–1,200 gpm to 2,000 gpm)
- Well No. 32 (The Woodlands Hills area): October 2026
