Phase 1 of Northeast Water Purification Plant Expansion Nears Completion
According to a December 15 press release by the Texas Water Development Board, Phase 1 of Houston’s new Northeast Water Purification Plant expansion is nearing completion. Phase 1 will supply 80 million gallons per day of treated surface water to the residents of Harris County, Fort Bend County and City of Houston.
Two more phases remain. Phase 2A will deliver another 80 million gallons per day to the same areas. Phase 2B will deliver 160. So the entire complex, when complete, will deliver another 320 million gallons a day. That’s in addition to the 80 million gallons per day the original plant delivered before expansion.
Goals of Plant
The Texas Water Development Board provided $1.9 billion for the Northeast Water Purification Plant expansion project, making it one of the largest in the country.
The plant has two goals:
- Provide water for a population that increases by almost a million people per decade.
- Reduce groundwater usage and subsidence.
Completion Estimated in 2025
The TWDB did not provide a date for expected completion of the next two phases, but at a May 2023 community meeting, project managers estimated a completion date in 2025.
The Luce Interbasin Transfer Project is associated with the expansion of the treatment plant. The channel from the Trinity River will ensure a steady supply of water in Lake Houston as Montgomery County’s growth demands more water from Lake Conroe.
Reducing subsidence is paramount for the region. Subsidence has been linked to flooding. In fact, a whole subdivision on Galveston Bay in Baytown became uninhabitable before the State created the Harris Galveston Subsidence District.
Posted By Bob Rehak on 12/18/23
2302 Days since Hurricane Harvey
