SWSP Segment B3 wins BEST 2025 Project of the Year

West Harris County Regional Water Authority

CMAA Houston Honors SWSP Segment B3 with BEST 2025 Project of the Year – Water Project Over $100M

The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Houston Chapter has awarded the Surface Water Supply Project (SWSP) Segment B3 its BEST 2025 Project of the Year Award in the Water/Wastewater category for projects over $100 million.

The recognition was presented at CMAA Houston’s annual Hard Hatters Gala BEST Awards ceremony on November 14, 2025, where project partners, engineers, contractors, and representatives from regional authorities gathered to celebrate notable achievements in construction and program management.

About the Awarded Project: SWSP Segment B3

Segment B3 is a major component of the larger Surface Water Supply Project, jointly developed and funded by the West Harris County Regional Water Authority (WHCRWA) and the North Fort Bend Water Authority (NFBWA).

Key features of Segment B3 include:

96-inch diameter steel waterline
Approximately 4.4 miles long
Continuous 128” tunnel alignment running west of I-45 to Hopper Roard on the northeast side of Houston
Alignment made use of an active oil and gas pipeline corridor through a developed area minimizing impact to the community
The tunnel utilized ribs and lagging for primary liner support and a “Lovat” tunnel boring machine
Designed by Black & Veatch
Constructed by Jay Dee Contractors, Inc.

Construction began in Spring 2022 and reached substantial completion on October 16, 2025.

A Crucial Link in a Regional Surface Water System

Segment B3 is one of many interconnected components of the Surface Water Supply Project, a regional initiative designed to meet the groundwater reduction mandates set by the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD) and the Fort Bend Subsidence District (FBSD) for 2025 and beyond.

Once complete, the SWSP will:

Deliver treated surface water from Lake Houston
Convey it from the City of Houston’s Northeast Water Purification Plant (NEWPP)
Transport it through more than 55 miles of large-diameter pipeline
Supply water to retail providers—including MUDs, PUDs, and WCIDs—within both WHCRWA and NFBWA boundaries

These transmission pipelines range from 96 inches to 42 inches, depending on the segment. Segment B3 forms a critical part of this system, helping move a substantial volume of surface water from the NEWPP toward the growing communities that depend on it.