Due to minimal rainfall and persistent high temperatures throughout Harris County, please be advised that the Central Harris County Regional Water Authority (the “Authority”) will enter Stage 2 (Moderate Drought) of its Drought Contingency Plan (“DCP”), effective August 27, 2023. The Authority has determined that it is necessary to trigger Stage 2 in order to facilitate compliance with its Groundwater Reduction Plan and the requirements of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District.

The Authority’s DCP currently provides that Stage 2 may be triggered if the City of Houston (the “City”) reduces the quantity of its supply of water to the Authority by more than 10% but less than 20% for five (5) consecutive days or if the City has implemented Stage 2 of its DCP. Although the City has not reduced its supply of water to the Authority to date, the City has issued notice of its intent to enter Stage 2 of its drought contingency plan on August 27, 2023, and requested the implementation of mandatory water conservation measures. Accordingly, the Authority has elected to trigger Stage 2 of its DCP and hereby requests that all Member Districts implement their respective drought contingency plans and mandatory water conservation measures beginning August 27, 2023. 

During Stage 2, the Authority recommends that the Member Districts, at a minimum, restrict and/or prohibit non-essential water use for the following activities: (1) street washing; (2) fire hydrant flushing; and (3) filling of swimming pools. The Authority will continue to monitor water use and will provide further notice if the drought stage changes or if Stage 2 conditions have been lifted. 

A copy of the Authority’s DCP can be found on the Authority’s website at https://www.chcrwa.com/documents/. Should you have any questions concerning the above-referenced matter, please contact the Authority’s Operator, Jared Martin of Municipal Operations & Consulting, Inc., at jmartin@municipalops.com. Thank you for your cooperation.

Please be advised that due to the Regional Water Authority Surface Water algae bloom and extreme heat forecast we will be transitioning from surface water to ground water provided by water well #1 at the Water Plant. We will be closely monitoring the situation and working with the Central Harris Regional Water Authority as updates arise. As conditions improve, we will notify all affected communities that we will be transitioning back to surface water. In the interim we will be flushing the district to mitigate any water quality issues.

Thanks for your cooperation and understanding.

The Surface Water Supplied by the Authority is Safe to Drink

The recent changes in taste and odor of the treated surface water being delivered by the North Harris County Regional Water Authority (the “Authority”) to a few districts are believed to be the result of a spike in Geosmin and Methyl-Isoborneol (MIB) which are naturally occurring compounds found in Lake Houston. All recent test results have confirmed that the water being supplied by the City of Houston to the Authority and by the Authority to its customers is indeed safe and meets all State and Federal drinking water requirements.

The Authority purchases treated surface water from the City of Houston’s Northeast Water Purification Plant (the “NEWPP”), the raw water source of which is the San Jacinto River and Lake Houston. Seasonal changes such as temperature and rainfall events can influence Geosmin and MIB levels in the water in Lake Houston. Seasonal changes in the lake can impart variations in taste and odor of the treated surface water. The City of Houston continuously monitors the incoming raw water and the finished water leaving the NEWPP to ensure its compliance with all applicable State and Federal drinking water standards.

The Authority is working with the City of Houston to mitigate the variations in taste and odor to the maximum extent possible. Proper disinfection levels are being monitored and maintained. Flushing, where appropriate, is being done to help alleviate the situation. The Authority is continuing to monitor, sample and test the water coming into our system and throughout our transmission and distribution system to ensure that the drinking water being delivered by the Authority is safe to drink.