Fort Bend Sun - News
Missouri City approves groundwater reduction agreements
In compliance with state mandates, Missouri City council members approved joint agreements with water well owners in the City and its extraterritorial jurisdiction.
The law requires all water suppliers in Fort Bend County to establish strategies to reduce their groundwater consumption by 30 percent by 2013 (and 60 percent by 2025).
Council approved the agreements in the July 21 council meeting setting an initial participation fee of 70 cents per 1,000 gallons of water pumped.
The fees, to take effect in the next billing cycle in August, will initiate a funding mechanism for a water treatment plant in compliance with requirements of the Fort Bend County Subsidence District Groundwater Reduction Plan.
Council authorized City Manager Frank Simpson to execute the joint Groundwater Reduction Plan agreements for water utility providers of the Fort Bend Subsidence District.
Council also approved an ordinance for a groundwater participation fee, which includes well water owners in the City’s water service area.
“We feel that this is probably the most economical way of meeting the subsidence district’s mandates required for the citizens of Missouri City,” said Morris Mitchell, general manager of the Quail Valley District.
“Any other way for the district to do this on our own would be extremely difficult and very costly.”
MUDs owning and operating water supply wells in the City and its ETJs will bill water well customers for pump usage separately on behalf of the City at the established rate. A permanent pumpage fee will be established when field costs are determined.
Sienna Plantation MUD 1 Director Carl Bowles acknowledged the importance of the joint effort along with an oversight committee.
“Under the city’s leadership the participating MUDs have agreed to a plan that complies with the Subsidence District requirements for most of the MUDS in the city to convert to surface water," said Bowles.
"The initial projections indicate the plan will provide substantial compliance savings to all of the participating districts.”
According to Bowles “the guiding principle in developing the plan was to provide a compliance solution that is equitable to all of the participating districts while providing quality water to the converting districts.”
Missouri City must file its Groundwater Reduction Plan in December with the Fort Bend Subsidence District.
Subsidence is known to occur in areas that begin lowering their distance to sea level. It commonly happens when underground bodies of water are depleted and the land above begins to buckle under its weight.
The law requires all water suppliers in Fort Bend County to establish strategies to reduce their groundwater consumption by 30 percent by 2013 (and 60 percent by 2025).
Council approved the agreements in the July 21 council meeting setting an initial participation fee of 70 cents per 1,000 gallons of water pumped.
The fees, to take effect in the next billing cycle in August, will initiate a funding mechanism for a water treatment plant in compliance with requirements of the Fort Bend County Subsidence District Groundwater Reduction Plan.
Council authorized City Manager Frank Simpson to execute the joint Groundwater Reduction Plan agreements for water utility providers of the Fort Bend Subsidence District.
Council also approved an ordinance for a groundwater participation fee, which includes well water owners in the City’s water service area.
“We feel that this is probably the most economical way of meeting the subsidence district’s mandates required for the citizens of Missouri City,” said Morris Mitchell, general manager of the Quail Valley District.
“Any other way for the district to do this on our own would be extremely difficult and very costly.”
MUDs owning and operating water supply wells in the City and its ETJs will bill water well customers for pump usage separately on behalf of the City at the established rate. A permanent pumpage fee will be established when field costs are determined.
Sienna Plantation MUD 1 Director Carl Bowles acknowledged the importance of the joint effort along with an oversight committee.
“Under the city’s leadership the participating MUDs have agreed to a plan that complies with the Subsidence District requirements for most of the MUDS in the city to convert to surface water," said Bowles.
"The initial projections indicate the plan will provide substantial compliance savings to all of the participating districts.”
According to Bowles “the guiding principle in developing the plan was to provide a compliance solution that is equitable to all of the participating districts while providing quality water to the converting districts.”
Missouri City must file its Groundwater Reduction Plan in December with the Fort Bend Subsidence District.
Subsidence is known to occur in areas that begin lowering their distance to sea level. It commonly happens when underground bodies of water are depleted and the land above begins to buckle under its weight.
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