The West Harris County Regional Water Authority (WHCRWA) has received a number of questions regarding the impact of COVID-19 on its water supply. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a statement that the COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking water, and conventional water treatment methods that use filtration and disinfection, such as those utilized in the WHCRWA’s system, should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.
The WHCRWA’s operator, Inframark, has compiled a variety of resources to assist answering questions related to the impact of COVID-19 on drinking water, which are available at https://www.inframark.com/covid-19/. The WHCRWA’s team will continue to actively monitor any developments and update this information as needed. Residents who have specific questions or concerns about their local water supply should contact their Municipal Utility District or other retail water provider directly.
WHCRWA’s presentation at the 2020 Association of Water Board Directors Virtual Conference
Why is My Water Bill So High?
The Cost of Surface Water Conversion & Educating Customers in a Social Media World
Eric Hansen and Mike Thornhill
West Harris County Regional Water Authority
The West Harris County Regional Water Authority (WCHRWA) was created by the 77th Texas Legislature to facilitate the shift from pumping underground well water to surface water in west Harris County.
In compliance with mandates issued by the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD), the WHCRWA has:
- Completed its Groundwater Reduction Plan certification
- Successfully negotiated a long-term water supply contract with the City of Houston
- Designed and constructed the transmission and distribution infrastructure to deliver surface water by 2010
- Achieved the 30% groundwater reduction goal mandated by HGSD by 2010
WHCRWA is on track to comply with the HGSD groundwater reduction to 60% surface water by 2025, and 80% by 2035.
As of December 2018 the WHCRWA has:
- Designed, purchased easements for and constructed over 70 miles of new waterlines
- Constructed WHCRWA Pump Station #1
- WHCRWA delivers approximately 28 million gallons per day of alternate water to 58 water plants
- Converted 46 districts to alternate water
- Partnered with other regional water authorities to acquire, treat and deliver an additional 320 million gallons a day of treated surface water
- The Luce Bayou Interbasin Transfer Project
- Northeast Water Purification Plant Expantion
- Surface Water Supply Project
Pumpage and Surface Water Rates effective 1/1/2020
Groundwater – $3.20/1,000 gallons and
Surface Water – $3.60/1,000 gallons
The fees above are wholesale rates charged by the Authority to well owners, utility districts and municipalities. The retail providers may modify the fees charged to their customers to cover such things as leaks in their system, fire hydrant use, etc.
Watch our documentary about the massive water infrastructure projects that will secure water for the future.
Featuring interviews with the partners and video of the Luce Bayou Interbasin Transfer Project, Houston Northeast Water Purification Plant Expansion, and information on the Surface Water Supply Project.
CURRENT PROJECTS
Luce Bayou Interbasin Transfer
NE Water Purification Plant Expansion
With the availability of more raw water coming into the Lake Houston reservoir, there was an urgent need for additional treatment capacity. The NEWPP project will be completed in phases over the next 6 to 9 years, increasing the treatment capacity from the current 80 MGD to a total of 400 MGD.
Surface Water Supply Project
The Surface Water Supply Project water pipeline is a joint project between the West Harris County Regional Water Authority and the North Fort Bend Water Authority carrying much-needed treated surface water from Lake Houston across almost 40 miles of Harris County to water users in the west.
Visit the Surface Water Supply Project website for more information
