Facing The Challenges In Houston s Water System: Past, Present, and Future Jun Chang, P.E. D.WRE Deputy Director Department of Public Works and Engineering Presented to HCEC February 17, 2012
Past Regulatory Mandates Subsidence Regulatory Plan Surface water conversion (1985 present) Regional provider (2003 present) Increase Fees TCEQ fees increased from $0.14M to $2.4M (2010) Senate Bill 361 Implement EPP >$100M (2011) Aging Infrastructure Rate adjustment (2009)
Regulatory Agencies The City of Houston holds permits from three groundwater regulatory agencies Harris Galveston Subsidence District Established in1975 by the 64 th Legislature Fort Bend Subsidence District Established in 1989 by the71 st Legislature Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District Established in 2001 by the 77 th Legislature
Harris-Galveston Subsidence District Surface Water Conversion Plan Conversion Requirements Area 3 Area I 90% Area II 80% Area III 30% by 2010 70% by 2020 80% by 2030 Area 2 Area 1 COH Compliance Status 2010 2011 Area I: 100% 100% Area II: 95% 93% Area III: 60% 46%
Houston Surface Water System Surface Water Reservoirs: - 1954 Lake Houston - 1969 Lake Livingston - 1973 Lake Conroe - 2002 Land and water rights acquired for Allen s Creek 2010 Luce Bayou Inter-Basin Transfer Project Surface water treatment plants: - 1953 East Water Purification Plant I - 1985 East Water Purification Plant II - 1989 Southeast Water Purification Plant - Original - 2001 Southeast Water Purification Plant Expansion I - 2005 Northeast Water Purification Plant Phase I - 2006 Northeast Water Purification Plant Phase II - 2011 Southeast Water Purification Plant Expansion II Surface Water Transmission Program (SWTP) - 1985 SWTP started
Transmission Lines > 24 Prior To 1985
Citywide Transmission Lines
Surface Water Conversion Surface Water Treatment Facilities & Capacities East Water Plant - 350 MGD Southeast Water Purification Plant 200 MGD Northeast Water Purification Plant 80 MGD 7 Distribution Re-pump Stations Ground Water Facilities 115 Water Wells 65 Pumping Stations 98 Storage Tanks
Groundwater Reduction No. of GW plants in 1985: 114 No. of GW plants annexed since 1980: 63 No. of GW plants in 2011: 65
1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Average Million Gallons per Day City of Houston Surface Water Conversion 450 400 350 Ground Water % GW Total Water Usage 300 250 200 56% 57% 54% 53% 150 43% 43% 39% 36% 33% 100 28% 20% 26% 27% 50 10% 0
Past (Continued) Regulatory Mandates Subsidence Regulatory Plan Surface water conversion (1985 present) Regional provider (2003 present) Increase Fees TCEQ fees increased from $0.14M to $2.4M (2010) Senate Bill 361 Implement EPP >$100M (2011) Aging Infrastructure Rate adjustment (2009)
Present Drought Maintaining water system Water conservation Lake Houston Intake Water Quality and Treatment Cost Effectiveness
5/1 5/15 5/29 6/12 6/26 7/10 7/24 8/7 8/21 9/4 9/18 10/2 10/16 10/30 11/13 11/27 12/11 12/25 1/8 1/22 2/5 Reservoir Capacities 100% 95% 90% 85% 80% 75% 70% 65% Lake Houston Lake Conroe Lake Livingston 60%
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Million Gallons per Day Total Water Production 700 600 500 400 300 200 YEAR 2010 100 YEAR 2011 0
5/1 5/7 5/13 5/19 5/25 5/31 6/6 6/12 6/18 6/24 6/30 7/6 7/12 7/18 7/24 7/30 8/5 8/11 8/17 8/23 8/29 9/4 9/10 9/16 9/22 9/28 10/4 10/10 10/16 10/22 10/28 11/3 11/9 11/15 11/21 11/27 12/3 12/9 12/15 12/21 12/27 1/2 1/8 1/14 1/20 1/26 2/1 2/7 2/13 Water Line Repair Work Orders 1400 1200 1000 Total Work Orders W.O. Complete 800 600 400 200 0
PIPE MATERIAL BY LENGTH OTHERS 29% AC 21% CI 17% PVC 33% AC CI PVC OTHERS
REPAIRS BY PIPE TYPE CAST IRON 20% PVC 5% AC 75% AC CAST IRON PVC
OPEN/CLOSED WORK ORDERS June November
Present Drought Maintaining water system Water conservation Lake Houston Intake Water Quality and Treatment Cost Effectiveness
Declared Water Conservation Stages Triggers: Combined reservoir storage supply is approximately 24 months' surface water supply for a period of ten consecutive days Average water production is 80% of the combined pumpage capacity of the treated groundwater and surface water system for a period of three consecutive days; or Average water pressure within the city's treated water distribution system is 45 pounds per square inch or less Declarations: On June 17, 2011 Houston declared per City Code of Ordinance Section 47-251 Stage One Water Shortage. On August 15, 2011 Houston declared per City Code of Ordinance Section 47-252 Stage Two Water Shortage. On January 11, 2012 water conservation restrictions rescinded.
Future (Near Term) Demand Projection Secure Water Supply (rights) Raw Water Supply (location) Treatment Plant Transmission System
Million Gallons per Day Demand and Supply Projections TOTAL Surface Water Supply & Demand Forecast 2000 PENDING #5827 reuse +519 MGD 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 Permitted Water Rights Lk Conroe, Lk Houston, Lk Livingston, Wallisville, Barber's Hill, Dayton Canal and Allens Creek. 1197 MGD San Jacinto Run of River +36 MGD PENDING #5826 bayous +143 MGD Pending Surface Water Contracts 600 400 City of Houston Surface Water Demand 200 0 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050
Future (Near Term) Demand Projection Secure Water Supply (rights) Raw Water Supply (location) Treatment Plant Transmission System
Luce Bayou Project
Northeast Water Purification Plant Expansion Current Capacity 80 MGD Capacity After Expansion 300 MGD Estimated Expansion Cost $1B Cost will be shared by Regional Water Authorities
Future Transmission Lines
Future (Long Term) We are exploring all options Allens Creek Reservoir Reuse Desalination Imported groundwater Inter-basin transfer
Questions?