Central Pump Station Begins Pumping Treated Surface Water into WHCRWA System

KATY, Texas — The West Harris County Regional Water Authority has achieved a major milestone in its long-term surface water conversion program.

At approximately 11:15 a.m. on June 2, 2026, the Central Pump Station “opened the valve” and began pumping treated surface water originating from the Northeast Water Purification Plant at Lake Houston into the WHCRWA system for delivery to Municipal Utility District customers’ water plants, and ultimately to end users.

The Central Pump Station is a major component of the Surface Water Supply Project, which supports WHCRWA’s long-term conversion from groundwater to surface water. This regional effort helps reduce reliance on groundwater, meet Harris-Galveston Subsidence District requirements, and strengthen future water supply reliability for communities within WHCRWA’s boundaries.

The water now being pumped through the Central Pump Station is part of a much larger regional water system. Lake Houston receives inflows from the Upper San Jacinto River Basin and additional raw water through the Luce Bayou Interbasin Transfer Project, which pumps water from the Trinity River at the Capers Ridge Pump Station through dual 96-inch pipelines and an earthen canal system to Lake Houston. Lake Houston water is then treated at the Northeast Water Purification Plant before being delivered through the Surface Water Supply Project and pumped through WHCRWA’s Central Pump Station into the Authority’s internal distribution system.

As Eric Hansen, President of the West Harris County Regional Water Authority, explained, “Switching to surface water is essential in the Houston region because of subsidence, the gradual sinking of the ground as aquifers are depleted. This large effort to convert from groundwater wells is part of the long-term strategic planning for the viability of the region as a whole.”

From there, the water is delivered to Municipal Utility District customers’ water plants for distribution to homes, businesses, schools, and communities within WHCRWA’s boundaries.

This milestone reflects decades of planning, engineering, construction, coordination, and investment by WHCRWA and its regional partners. While the moment may be marked by the opening of a valve, it represents a significant step forward in WHCRWA’s ongoing work to provide reliable water for today, tomorrow, and generations to come.

About the West Harris County Regional Water Authority

The West Harris County Regional Water Authority was created to provide a long-term, reliable water supply and help meet Harris-Galveston Subsidence District groundwater reduction requirements. WHCRWA works with Municipal Utility Districts and regional partners to plan, develop, and operate water infrastructure that supports the conversion from groundwater to surface water for communities within its boundaries.