m lowry 030810 setawwa

March 8, 2010SETAWWA Seminar: Current Challenges in the Potable Water Industry in Southeast Texas

Challenges in Alternate Source Conversion for Montgomery County and the Lone Star GCD

Presented by Mark Lowry, P.E, Consultant to

L S GCDLone Star GCD


L St G d t C ti Di t i tLone Star Groundwater Conservation District

− Authorized by 77th Legislature in 2001 by HB 2362

− Geographic boundaries encompass ALL of Montgomery County

C ti fi d b l t N 6 2001 ith− Creation confirmed by popular vote on Nov 6, 2001 with 73.85 % approval

− Amended Enabling Legislation in 2003by SB 1930 to protectby SB 1930 to protect rulemaking authority

− 26th fastest growing county in the United States

− 5th fastest growing county in Texas

− To date, entire water supply originates as groundwater from Gulf Coast Aquifer

− Overpumping or depleting the aquifer


R l f th L St G d t Di t i tRole of the Lone Star Groundwater District

C C− Conserve and Protect groundwater resources in Montgomery County

− Control land subsidence

− Develop rules and regulations as necessary to meet these objectives

− Establish well registration and permit systemEstablish well registration and permit system

− Work with Federal Government to monitor groundwater levels


B d M bBoard Members

Legislative Act provided for a nine-member Board of g pBoard appointments are for staggered four-year terms,

MUD f I 4− MUDs east of I-45− small cities excluding Conroe− Commissioner’s Court− MUDs west of I-45− San Jacinto River Authority− Commissioner’s CourtCommissioner s Court− City of Conroe− Woodlands Joint Powers Agency

Soil and Water Conser ation District− Soil and Water Conservation District


A if Ch t i tiAquifer CharacteristicsConroe


E i ti S f W tExisting Sources of Water

Grimes MontgomeryLiberty

Evangeline Aquifer Recharge Zone be ty

HarrisWaller

Chicot Aquifer Recharge Zone

Direction of Groundwater Flow

Fort BendGalvestonAquifer

Flow

Recharge Areas

Source: Harris Galveston Coastal Subsidence District


P l ti /D d P j tiPopulation/Demand Projections

80% of Demand in these 5 areas80% of Demand in these 5 areas

May 18, 2009Presentation: Woodlands Green

Historic Decline in Water LevelsHistoric Decline in Water Levels1990-2004 Evangeline Aquifer Water-Level Change


L t W t O tl k f M t C tLong term Water Outlook for Montgomery CountyTexas Water Development Board Projections of Available Groundwater i M t C t ( d l ) 64 000 f /in Montgomery County (per approved plan) 64,000 a-f /year

Current GW Permit Requests 78,000 a-f/year

Projected water demand by 2040 154,000 a-f /year

Shortage 90,000 a-f/year


Sh t t W t O tl k f M t C tShort term Water Outlook for Montgomery CountyTexas Water Development Board Projections of Available Groundwater i M t C t ( d l ) 64 000 f /in Montgomery County (per approved plan) 64,000 a-f /year

Current GW Permit Requests

85,000 a-f/year, plus 7700 acre feet /yr exempt use

Total 2009 potential demand93,000 a-f /year

Shortage 29,000 a-f/year


Di i R l Pl (Ph I) D 2006District Regulatory Plan (Phase I) – Dec 2006

− Established a single management zone coincident with the boundaries of the District

− Established 64,000 a-f as the amount of recharge in , gaccordance with rule 4.2(a)

− Established January 1 2015 as the date by which the DistrictEstablished January 1, 2015 as the date by which the District will require groundwater production to be limited to no more than 64,000 a-ft

− Set January 1, 2008 as the date to complete the Historic use Permitting (HUP) process

− Set July 1, 2008 as the date by which the District will adopt Phase II of the regulations


Ph I R i t ( t )Phase I Requirements (cont.)

− Population and Water Demand forecasts for 2015, 2025, 2035 d 20452035, and 2045

− Identification of service area

− Current well capacity including number of wells, tested well capacity and date of well installationwell capacity and date of well installation

− Identification of current water supply sources including annual groundwater use surface water use reclaimedannual groundwater use, surface water use, reclaimed water or others

− Information of water quality issues that may impact− Information of water quality issues that may impact supply


P i I i iPrimary Issue is equity

− Everyone in the county benefits from the following:− Reduction or elimination of overdrafting of the aquifer

U i t li d l i di id l ll l− Using a centralized plan so individual small volume users that are not close to a conversion plan water line will be able to continue to use groundwater as more densely

l dpopulated areas overconvert

− Assessing fees for all groundwater users to level the costsAssessing fees for all groundwater users to level the costs for those users who have to convert to surface water and reducing the impact of the conversion overall

− San Jacinto River Authority has surface water and ability to assist in implementation – This was a key issue


Phase II(A) RequirementsPhase II(A) Requirements− Phase II(A) LSGCD rules adopted February 2008

− Regulated entities given one more chance to stipulate new sources or strategies to meet projected water demand

• Submittals from regulated entities under the II(A) rules required the following:

• Description of infrastructure requirements for each supply source

• Timelines for design and construction

• Letter from alternative source supplier indicating availability of water


Ph II(A) R l R i t ( t )Phase II(A) Rule Requirements (cont.)

Regulated Entities required to provide (cont.) g q p ( )Description of costs and methods of financing

Preliminary engineering of infrastructure for January 1, 2015 mandate

Conceptual engineering of infrastructure necessary for outlying decadesy g


Phase II(A) Requirements (cont )

The Phase II (A) plan specifically encourages water reuse as a strategy:

Phase II(A) Requirements (cont.)

gy

− Conservation can also be used in meeting plan goals if it can be metered.can be metered.

− Target reduction for 2015 is at 30 percent

− Reductions applicable to Large Volume Groundwater Users(LVGUs) using 10 mgy or more(92% of total demand)

− San Jacinto River Authority developed Water Resources Assessment Plan encompassing majority of LVGUs i l di C d th W dl d th t l tincluding Conroe and the Woodlands the two largest users


W t R A t Pl (WRAP)Water Resources Assessment Plan (WRAP)

− Part I− Identification of Current and Projected Water demand

− Part II− Water Supply Plan

− It is possible for multiple entities to jointly submit a WRAP id d th i itt tprovided there is a written agreement

− SJRA submitted a joint WRAP with the majority of the LVGUs

− Lone Star staff worked to educate some individual submitters about firm yields of surface water


Ph II(B)Phase II(B)

Adoption delayed for additional discussions with regulated p y gcommunity

Adopted in November 2009 Board meeting

Established 2009 as a benchmark ear and defines totalEstablished 2009 as a benchmark year and defines total qualifying demand as the 2009 permitted amount subject to some leveling for those whose permits which were will in excess of demand.

M i t i d 30 t d ti t t th h thiMaintained 30 percent reduction target even though this level of reduction does not fully achieve compliance with the 64,000 acre feet goal


Ph II(B) ( t )Phase II(B) (cont.)

Still defines LVGUs as those using 10 million gallons per year or moreyear or more.

Required Declaration of Intent for all LVGUs) as to whatRequired Declaration of Intent for all LVGUs) as to what their plan was by June 1, 2010.

Requires compliance with the mandated reduction by January 2016 instead of 2015

Provides early conversion credits for some water reuse projects and encourages conservation as a means of p j greducing demand beyond 2009


Ph II(B) ( t )Phase II(B) (cont.)

Requires submittal of Groundwater Reduction Plan (GRP) by January 1 2011by January 1, 2011.

Must include any feasibility studies done on the proposedMust include any feasibility studies done on the proposed alternate source

Must Include design, engineering, technical, financial and legal aspects of the plan

Requires Preliminary Engineering Report

Requires contracts and timetable


C t St tCurrent Status

San Jacinto River Authority offering contracts to all LVGUs

Considerable debate over contract specifics

Several entities desiring to investigate brackish groundwater

Several requests made for additional time

All parties still trying to work out contract language

No decisions made by LSGCD on additional delays


Questions?

Kathy Turner Jones, General Manager, Lone Star GCD, 936/494-3436, [email protected]

Mark Lowry, Consultanty,214/558-9224, [email protected]

m lowry 030810 setawwa

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