What we reported: Construction continues on the $1.3 billion Northeast Water Purification Plant expansion at Lake Houston. Once complete, it will increase the plant’s treated water capacity to 400 million gallons per day by 2024 from its existing capacity of 80 million gallons per day. What’s next: The expansion of the purification plant, which is expected to finish in 2019, is a part of the $3 billion in water projects associated with the Luce Bayou Interbasin Transfer Project. The Luce Bayou Project will siphon water from the Trinity River to Lake Houston, providing additional surface water to the region, Coastal Water Authority project manager David Miller said. This story is one update from The January Issue. View the full list of Top 7 stories to follow in 2018 here.