SUBJECT: Approve a Groundwater Reduction Plan Wholesale Agreement between the City of Houston and Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 544.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve an ordinance authorizing the Mayor to execute a Groundwater Reduction Plan Wholesale Agreement between the City of Houston and Harris County Municipal Utility District No.544.
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION: The Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (the “HGSD”) regulations require groundwater well permit holders in Area 3 to have a Groundwater Reduction Plan (the “GRP”) or participate in a GRP, which describes how the permit holders will achieve 30% surface water conversion currently, 60% conversion by 2025, and 80% conversion by 2035. The City of Houston (the “City”) has an approved GRP for Area 3 and has other groundwater permit holders (the “Participants”) in the City’s GRP in order to maintain overall compliance with HGSD regulations.
Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 544 (the "District") is an undeveloped district on the east side of Lake Houston that is located in the vicinity of Indian Shores Road, Nightbird Trail, and Flying Dove Trail. There are currently not any surface water facilities that can provide the District with surface water. Therefore, the District has requested to enter into a Groundwater Reduction Plan Wholesale Agreement (the "Agreement") with Houston to achieve HGSD regulatory compliance.
The Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions for membership which includes connection to Houston's system if required to do so, and paying a monthly fee for groundwater withdrawals in accordance with the contract rates for GRP participation as specified in the City of Houston Code of Ordinances, Section 47-61.
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Carol Ellinger Haddock, P. E.
Director
Houston Public Works