Woodlands Water Agency overhauls infrastructure From the cover
Why it’s needed
What residents should know
The Woodlands and larger southern Montgom- ery County area has continued to grow over the last 10 years, quickly reaching capacity thresholds for multiple MUDs in The Woodlands area. Wright said submitting the 85% plan allows the district to prepare for growing usage demand. The district is expecting to add 1,223 water commercial and residential users in the next 10 years, she said.
• The condition and lifespan of the current infrastructure • The likelihood and impact of system failures • Regular staff inspections • The results of ongoing studies • Any upcoming regulatory changes Rehabilitation of the system’s sanitary sewer pipes and several water wells began earlier this year with completion expected in the next several years, while other projects will require additional study, Peterson said. “The Woodlands MUDs in coordination with the community will determine the most cost- effective approach for renewal and what kind of funding they’ll need,” he said.
The WWA launched the new water renewal initiative in September with a community survey gauging the need for long-term water infrastructure. While the survey closed Oct. 6, it marks the beginning of the process for the estimated $108.6 million in infrastructure replacements and upgrades to begin, WWA officials said. Funding for the projects will be through Capital Improvement Program funds and future water rate increases, officials said. Peterson said once a renewal plan is finalized, it will be updated annually. However, several projects are already underway. Projects are prioritized for funding based on factors such as:
The Woodlands population growth
+6.76%
Projects underway
1488
45
The Woodlands The Woodlands Water Agency boundary
242
LAKE WOODLANDS DR.
Replace two of the existing tertiary sand filters with two new cloth media filters Timeline: winter 2025-winter 2026 construction
RESEARCH FOREST DR.
2019
2020 2021
2022 2023
SJRA projects
SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY 1-YEAR ESTIMATES/COMMUNITY IMPACT
2978
GROGANS MILL RD.
249 Deconstruction and reconstruction of Water Well No. 2 due to methane production Timeline: May 2024-spring 2025
How we got here
SAWDUST RD.
According to data collected by the SJRA, the amount of surface and groundwater produced and delivered to The Woodlands area has increased over the past four years. While data for fiscal year 2024-25 is not yet available, overall demand and usage is increasing, according to the SJRA. “Many of our water and wastewater systems are getting old and need updates,” Peterson said. “If we don’t act soon enough, we risk service interruptions.”
99 TOLL
N
SOURCES: THE WOODLANDS WATER AGENCY, SAN JACINTO RIVER AUTHORITY, SOUTHERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY MUD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
1 Oak Ridge North Section 3 Phase 1 utility improvements • Cost: $3.53 million • Funding source: Maintenance Tax Reserve Fund • Status: under construction Phase 2 water & sanitary improvements • Cost: $2.76 million • Funding source: Maintenance Tax Reserve Fund • Status: In design 2 Richards Road water line upgrade • Cost: $170,752 • Funding source: developer funded • Status: In design 3 Oak Ridge North Section 2 water & sanitary improvements • Cost: $1.98 million • Funding source: Maintenance Tax Reserve Fund • Status: in design
Also of note
The Southern Montgomery County MUD has also begun implementing its official 10-year Capital Improvement Plan, which was updated in April. The document outlines $27.9 million in improvements needed within the next five years and an additional $30 million needed by 2034. “Although the existing capacity and availabil- ity of water is currently sufficient, the district is planning to reach 85% capacity and submitted the 85% Planning Report to [the Texas Com- mission on Environmental Quality] in February 2024,” SMCMUD General Manager Kim Wright said.
The Woodlands water usage, in gallons
+4.6%
2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 Fiscal year
2023-24
SOURCE: THE WOODLANDS WATER AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: SOUTHERN MONTGOMERY COUNTY MUD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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