Pearland’s new surface water treatment plant begins pumping water

Pearland’s first surface water treatment plant began pumping water to customers in Pearland on Oct. 11 and in the weeks since has been below its maximum capacity.

How we got here

Located south of Magnolia Parkway in Rosharon, the city built the $175 million plant to reduce the city’s reliance on water purchased from the city of Houston, Community Impact previously reported.

While the plant has the capacity to pump 10 million gallons of water per day, since Oct. 11 the average amount of water pumped is 7.2 million gallons, which is based on the current demand, Pearland Communications Director Josh Lee said.

The plant sends the water to pumping stations on Kirby Drive and FM 521 where it is then pumped throughout the city, according to the city’s website.

What else?

The plant was originally scheduled to pump water in January this year, but the opening date was rescheduled to the summer and then had to be rescheduled again as the city had to wait for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to inspect the plant and authorize pumping, Lee said.