What we reported The city of Conroe is in the process of building a new wastewater treatment plant. The project will help the city reduce demand on its only wastewater plant—which is nearing capacity. The plant was originally slated to be built on a tract of land near Grand Central Park, but issues during the permitting process forced the city to reconsider its location.

The latest Conroe City Council approved the purchase of a new tract of land to build the wastewater plant southwest of the intersection of Ed Kharbat and Foster drives in late 2016. However, the land sale will not be finalized until late first quarter of 2017. Conroe officials are also negotiating an agreement with the city of Willis, where the plant would treat wastewater generated by the incoming Howard Hughes Corporation development—which is located in both the Conroe and Willis city limits—on FM 830.

What’s next The city plans to complete the plant design and send the project out for bid in 2017, and to begin construction of the three year project in 2018. The plant could be in operation as early as 2020. Officials will not determine the cost of the wastewater plant until the design process is completed.