During a flyover of the City of Houston’s Northeast Water Purification Plant Expansion project on 9/11/2020, I counted 13 construction cranes operating simultaneously on different parts of the site. The site stretches a full two miles from the start of the plant near the northeast corner of Beltway 8 to the tip of the water intake platform in Lake Houston. Here are photos that show the scope of this massive construction project.
The water intake platform stretches approximately 1100 feet out into Lake Houston.The 108-inch intake pipes are larger than some pieces of construction equipment.Looking NE toward Lake Houston along the path that the intake pipes will take through Summerwood.Looking west toward the main treatment plant, with Beltway 8 in the background.Construction began in 2018.Looking SW across the eastern portion of the new plant.Looking SW across the western portion. The site is divided into about 10 sections each as large or larger than a city block.A close up of construction activity in just one of the sections.Looking straight east back toward Lake Houston from the western edge of the plant.Note the current water treatment plant in the foreground.It produces about 80 million gallons per day of fresh water.Looking north over the center of the site.Looking WNW. Note the NE corner of Beltway 8 in the top left.The plant expansion will provide another 320 million gallons per day.For scale, note the size of the man on the scissor-lift in the red circle.
The plant expansion will supply 320 million gallons per day of treated water capacity in addition to the current 80 million gallons per day. So capacity will quintuple by completion in 2024.
Converting Area to Surface Water to Reduce Subsidence
According to the City, “The expansion will include conventional treatment processes like the existing plant that help coagulate, settle, filter, and then disinfect water.” Quality will exceed requirements set forth by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
In addition, says the City, an advanced oxidation process called ozonation will disinfect water to help ensure that harmful organisms such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium are eliminated. Ozonation also helps eliminate taste and odor causing compounds, which improves the aesthetic quality of the water supplied by the plant.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/20200911-RJR_1586.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=18001200adminadmin2020-09-17 11:33:022020-09-17 11:44:16Construction of Northeast Water Purification Plant in High Gear
The Texas Water Development Board published a new video today in their Texas Water Newsroom. The title: “Data from the sky informs flood planning on the ground.” The video explains how Lidar (light detection and ranging) data helps develop accurate, up-to-date flood maps.
900X Higher Resolution
Surveyors can acquire high resolution data quickly from the air using pulses of light.
Lasers mounted under planes pulse hundreds of thousands of times per second producing incredibly detailed images of the terrain.
Texas Water Development Board
The data has one square-meter resolution compared to the old standard of 30 square-meters used in older USGS surveys. That’s a 900x improvement (1m x 1m vs. 30m x 30m) in resolution.
That increased resolution lets mapmakers see much more detail in the landscape, including low areas where water tends to pool during floods.
Play the Video
Filtering Out Buildings and Foliage Reveals Terrain
By filtering out portions of the spectrum, say those that have to do with buildings and foliage…
Screen Capture from TWDB Video
…scientists can reveal the terrain under them.
Lidar Now FEMA Requirement for Mapping
FEMA now requires the use of Lidar in floodplain mapping. As the state continues to grow rapidly, Lidar helps floodplain modelers better understand what is happening on the ground during a flood.
Inspiring the Next Generation
This is a fascinating little video. It has enough meat for curious adults. It also has a wow factor for students that might someday inspire interest in science, technology or engineering careers.
Updated Harris County Floodplain Maps
Harris County Flood Control District uses Lidar data to help develop the next generation of flood maps for the region. FEMA last updated the maps in 2007 as a result of massive flooding from Tropical Storm Allison. The District could release preliminary maps as early as 2022. But it could then take several more years for FEMA to review and approve them. The FEMA process involves a lengthy public comment period.
Source: Harris County Flood Control District.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/16/2020
1114 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Lidar-Terrain.jpg?fit=1200%2C671&ssl=16711200adminadmin2020-09-16 16:06:552020-09-16 16:18:27How LIDAR is Used to Develop New Flood Maps
Harris County Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis
Garcia Also Wanted to Add New Condition
Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia also wanted to add a new condition. He wanted to get the City to give Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) a place on the City’s planning commission. At this point in the meeting, it looked like the motion could die again.
However, Houston Mayor Pro Tem DAVE MARTIN assured Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia that he would fight to get HCFCD a place on the Planning Commission. Garcia then decided to vote for the motion. Earlier this month, the two jointly requested the Planning Commission to consider higher flood mitigation standards in their planning decisions.
How Vote Went Down
Garcia emphasized that he didn’t like the Woodridge Village motion per se, but that he trusted Martin to get the County a seat on the planning commission. Thus, he would vote for the Woodridge earnest money proposal.
Veteran observers of Commissioners Court say this was the first time Ellis, Hidalgo and Garcia contemplated splitting their vote. Previously, they have always voted as a block.
Commissioners Jack Cagle and Steve Radack had already voted for the motion. When Garcia flipped, Ellis and Judge Lina Hidalgo read the handwriting on the wall. They also voted for the Woodridge earnest money contract at that point. The final vote: 5-0.
What Comes Next
At this point, final language of the Inter-Local Agreement with the City must be hammered out in the next 120 days. The City must also agree to the conditions listed above by:
Identifying land worth half the purchase price
Contributing assets or cash equal to half the purchase and development costs
Updating certain regulations affecting flood plain development
It also seems to me that the County must develop plans for Woodridge so that it can estimate costs and how much the City will have to contribute.
Finally, Perry Homes and its subsidiary, Figure Four Partners, must agree to all the conditions and sign the earnest money contract.
There is still a long road ahead for this deal. But today was a great step forward. At least we’re on the road now, thanks in large part to Commissioner Jack Cagle and Houston Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin who refused to let this deal die.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/15/2020
1113 Days after Hurricane Harvey and 362 since Imelda
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Rodney-Ellis-9.15.20-mtg.jpg?fit=1200%2C796&ssl=17961200adminadmin2020-09-15 19:04:062020-09-15 19:29:07Harris County Commissioners Approve Negotiation of Earnest Money Contract for Woodridge Village
Construction of Northeast Water Purification Plant in High Gear
During a flyover of the City of Houston’s Northeast Water Purification Plant Expansion project on 9/11/2020, I counted 13 construction cranes operating simultaneously on different parts of the site. The site stretches a full two miles from the start of the plant near the northeast corner of Beltway 8 to the tip of the water intake platform in Lake Houston. Here are photos that show the scope of this massive construction project.
The plant expansion will supply 320 million gallons per day of treated water capacity in addition to the current 80 million gallons per day. So capacity will quintuple by completion in 2024.
Converting Area to Surface Water to Reduce Subsidence
The expansion of capacity will allow more water systems in the region to convert from groundwater to surface water. That should reduce subsidence and help avoid flooding.
Improved Techniques
According to the City, “The expansion will include conventional treatment processes like the existing plant that help coagulate, settle, filter, and then disinfect water.” Quality will exceed requirements set forth by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
In addition, says the City, an advanced oxidation process called ozonation will disinfect water to help ensure that harmful organisms such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium are eliminated. Ozonation also helps eliminate taste and odor causing compounds, which improves the aesthetic quality of the water supplied by the plant.
Receive Updates
This construction update by the City of Houston shows additional ground-level and drone photos of the construction. You can sign up to receive future updates here.
Contractor Portal
Here is the main procurement portal for the project. Contractors looking for work on the site can sign up here.
Posted by Bob Rehak on September 17, 2020
1115 Days since Hurricane Harvey
How LIDAR is Used to Develop New Flood Maps
The Texas Water Development Board published a new video today in their Texas Water Newsroom. The title: “Data from the sky informs flood planning on the ground.” The video explains how Lidar (light detection and ranging) data helps develop accurate, up-to-date flood maps.
900X Higher Resolution
Surveyors can acquire high resolution data quickly from the air using pulses of light.
The data has one square-meter resolution compared to the old standard of 30 square-meters used in older USGS surveys. That’s a 900x improvement (1m x 1m vs. 30m x 30m) in resolution.
That increased resolution lets mapmakers see much more detail in the landscape, including low areas where water tends to pool during floods.
Play the Video
Filtering Out Buildings and Foliage Reveals Terrain
By filtering out portions of the spectrum, say those that have to do with buildings and foliage…
…scientists can reveal the terrain under them.
Lidar Now FEMA Requirement for Mapping
FEMA now requires the use of Lidar in floodplain mapping. As the state continues to grow rapidly, Lidar helps floodplain modelers better understand what is happening on the ground during a flood.
Inspiring the Next Generation
This is a fascinating little video. It has enough meat for curious adults. It also has a wow factor for students that might someday inspire interest in science, technology or engineering careers.
Updated Harris County Floodplain Maps
Harris County Flood Control District uses Lidar data to help develop the next generation of flood maps for the region. FEMA last updated the maps in 2007 as a result of massive flooding from Tropical Storm Allison. The District could release preliminary maps as early as 2022. But it could then take several more years for FEMA to review and approve them. The FEMA process involves a lengthy public comment period.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/16/2020
1114 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Harris County Commissioners Approve Negotiation of Earnest Money Contract for Woodridge Village
Harris County Commissioners Court just approved a motion authorizing negotiation of an earnest money contract with Figure Four Partners, Ltd. (Item 14G on today’s agenda). The contract will lock in the purchase price of 267.35 acres in Montgomery County for the Woodridge Village stormwater detention basin. The amount: $14,019,316 – $5,100,770 below the appraised value.
Conditions Must Still Be Met Before Purchase
The City of Houston still must meet certain conditions and commitments before the actual purchase comes up for a vote. Within 120 days, the City must:
Ellis Tried to Add More Conditions
In at least five previous meetings, Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis successfully delayed the vote by adding new conditions to the motion.
True to form, he tried again today. He wanted to use the purchase as leverage to get the City to adopt his “equity” guidelines. Those guidelines rank flood bond projects in his district above those in others.
Garcia Also Wanted to Add New Condition
Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia also wanted to add a new condition. He wanted to get the City to give Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) a place on the City’s planning commission. At this point in the meeting, it looked like the motion could die again.
However, Houston Mayor Pro Tem DAVE MARTIN assured Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia that he would fight to get HCFCD a place on the Planning Commission. Garcia then decided to vote for the motion. Earlier this month, the two jointly requested the Planning Commission to consider higher flood mitigation standards in their planning decisions.
How Vote Went Down
Garcia emphasized that he didn’t like the Woodridge Village motion per se, but that he trusted Martin to get the County a seat on the planning commission. Thus, he would vote for the Woodridge earnest money proposal.
Veteran observers of Commissioners Court say this was the first time Ellis, Hidalgo and Garcia contemplated splitting their vote. Previously, they have always voted as a block.
Commissioners Jack Cagle and Steve Radack had already voted for the motion. When Garcia flipped, Ellis and Judge Lina Hidalgo read the handwriting on the wall. They also voted for the Woodridge earnest money contract at that point. The final vote: 5-0.
What Comes Next
At this point, final language of the Inter-Local Agreement with the City must be hammered out in the next 120 days. The City must also agree to the conditions listed above by:
It also seems to me that the County must develop plans for Woodridge so that it can estimate costs and how much the City will have to contribute.
Finally, Perry Homes and its subsidiary, Figure Four Partners, must agree to all the conditions and sign the earnest money contract.
There is still a long road ahead for this deal. But today was a great step forward. At least we’re on the road now, thanks in large part to Commissioner Jack Cagle and Houston Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin who refused to let this deal die.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 9/15/2020
1113 Days after Hurricane Harvey and 362 since Imelda