The work behind the transition to surface water has been unlike anything the board has faced before. Eric Hansen, President and Precinct 3 Director, reflects on the scale of the effort and what it took to get here.

Transcript

Transcript edited for clarity and readability.

My name is Eric Hansen. I am the President of the Water Authority. I joined in November 2009 and assumed the role of President in 2019, after Bruce Parker passed away.

When I joined the board in 2009, we were on the tail end of the 2010 30% conversion. The time and effort it has taken to get to where we are today has been an undertaking unlike anything I’ve been involved with in the past—something most, if not all, of our board members have ever been involved with in the past.

We’re building, in partnership with the City of Houston, a nearly $2 billion water treatment plant. We’re also the project manager for the Joint Surface Water Supply Project with the North Fort Bend Water Authority, which is a $1.45 billion project. In addition, we have another $360 to $380 million in our 60% CIP internal distribution projects.

The amount of effort that has gone into these projects—from when I joined to where we are today—has required everyone to step up in what they do and what has been needed to get us here, all to comply with the Subsidence District’s requirements.