tom 030810 setawwa

Challenges FacingChallenges FacingChallenges Facing Challenges Facing The North Harris The North Harris County RegionalCounty RegionalCounty Regional County Regional Water AuthorityWater Authority

Presented to Presented to Southeast Chapter of Texas AWWA Southeast Chapter of Texas AWWA

March 8, 2010March 8, 2010

What is the NHCRWA?What is the NHCRWA?(the “Authority”)(the “Authority”)(the Authority ) (the Authority )

• Created in 1999 by HB 2965 tomanage the conversion to surfacemanage the conversion to surfacewater for 160 utility districts with450+ regulated groundwater wells450+ regulated groundwater wells

• 350 square miles, approximately350 square miles, approximately475,000 residents

NHCRWA BOUNDARY MAPNHCRWA BOUNDARY MAPNHCRWA BOUNDARY MAPNHCRWA BOUNDARY MAP

Challenges facing NHCRWA?Challenges facing NHCRWA?(the “Authority”)(the “Authority”)

• Secure a Source of Surface Water

(the Authority ) (the Authority )

Secure a Source of Surface Water• Develop a Groundwater Reduction Plan (“GRP”)Plan ( GRP )

• Groundwater Transfer Program• Provide the InfrastructureProvide the Infrastructure• Implementation• Pay for the SystemPay for the System• Communication• 2020 System2020 System

What WATER supply options did the What WATER supply options did the Authority consider ?Authority consider ?yy

Remote GroundwaterRiver Authorities & Water Rights

Remote GroundwaterResources

City of Houston Cost Effective & Fair


Secure a Source of Secure a Source of Surface WaterSurface Water

• In December 2003 entered into a

(the Authority ) (the Authority ) Surface WaterSurface Water

In December 2003 entered into a long term contract with the City of Houston to provide treatedof Houston to provide treated surface water

• Purchased 31 MGD of treatmentPurchased 31 MGD of treatment plant and transmission line capacitycapacity

• Pay proportionate share of raw water facilities remaining debtwater facilities remaining debt



• Pay portion of O&M for treatment facilities raw water facilities and


facilities, raw water facilities and transmission line

• Provides mechanism for• Provides mechanism for purchasing additional capacity

• In January 2009 effectively• In January 2009 effectively exercised that option by entering into a supplement to the originalinto a supplement to the originalcontract to construct the LuceBayou Interbasin Transfer ProjectBayou Interbasin Transfer Project



• Anticipate further supplements to


the original contract to provide for additional treatment capacity and transmission line capacity

Develop GRPDevelop GRP

• Detailed how the Authority would meet the Houston‐Galveston Subsidence District (“HGSD”) conversion mandates‐ 30% conversion in 2010‐ 70% conversion in 2020‐ 80% conversion in 2030

C li hil h• Compliance philosophy‐ Impractical to deliver surfacewater to all districtswater to all districts

‐ Address known areas of waterquality and quantity issues

Develop GRPDevelop GRP

• Compliance philosophy (cont.)‐ Serve a core compact areaServe a core, compact area, some 48 districts, in 2010

‐ Phase in additional districts in2020 d 20302020 and 2030

‐ Build a technically sound,practical and economicalpractical and economical system to meet HGSD requirementsI l f i i i li‐ Implement a fair pricing policy to pay for the system

• Authority’s GRP certified by• Authority s GRP certified byHGSD – 6/11/03

Authority’s GRP called for its Authority’s GRP called for its system to be built in phases system to be built in phases and would consist of:and would consist of:• Approximately 38 miles of transmission line

• Approximately 126 miles of distribution line

• 3 Pump Stations• 4 Regional Water Plants• 32 Regional Wells• Estimated $1 billion program

Groundwater Transfer Groundwater Transfer ProgramProgram

• In developing the GRP it became

ProgramProgram

p gclear that some districts had water quality/quantity problems, declining water levels in theirdeclining water levels in their well(s), aging infrastructure and/or growth issues which had to be gaddressed before 2010

THE SOLUTIONTHE SOLUTIONTHE SOLUTION…THE SOLUTION…The Groundwater Transfer PlanThe Groundwater Transfer Plan

Th “GTP”Th “GTP”The “GTP”The “GTP”

Q: Q: What is the Groundwater Transfer ProgramWhat is the Groundwater Transfer Program

• Districts with excess capacity sold water to Authoritywater to Authority

• Districts that needed water bought water from Authoritybought water from Authority

• Authority made up supply deficitsusing its wellsusing its wells

• System to convey the water consisted of components of theconsisted of components of the Authority’s proposed 2010 Distribution SystemDistribution System

Benefits of the GTPBenefits of the GTP• Addressed immediate and short‐term needsneeds

• Maximized investment in existing district infrastructure

• Minimized investment in new district infrastructure which would have less than optimal usage

• Minimized number of new wells• Primary system components consistent with ultimate Authority system

GTP in Operation…GTP in Operation…

• GTP began operating inJ 2006January 2006

• Three separate GTP systems25 di i i i d i h• 25 districts participated in the GTP D li d f• Delivered an average of approximately 4.35 MGD toB di i d i 2009Buyer districts during 2009

Provide the InfrastructureProvide the Infrastructure

• Line Alignment D i C it i• Design Criteria

• Real Estate AcquisitionC tit t F i dl D i• Constituent Friendly Design

• ScheduleR l t A I• Regulatory Agency Issues

• Mid Course Adjustment

Line AlignmentLine Alignment

• Traditional approach unacceptable • Alignment preference

Alignment PreferenceAlignment Preference

• Authority purchased easementHCFCD• HCFCD easement

• Neighborhood streetsTh hf ROW• Thoroughfare street ROW behind curbTh hf ROW• Thoroughfare street ROW in medianTh hf ROW d• Thoroughfare street ROW underpavement


• Traditional approach unacceptable • Alignment preference• Alignment alternatives

Alignment AlternativesAlignment Alternatives

• Street ROW potential use must pbe approved in advance

• Minimum of two alternatives if street ROW use proposed

• At least one alternative must notbe in street ROW


• Traditional approach unacceptable Ali f• Alignment preference

• Alignment alternativesN di i l l i• Non‐traditional alternatives utilized

NonNon‐‐traditional Alternatives Utilizedtraditional Alternatives Utilized

Pi li id• Pipeline corridors• CenterPoint corridorsHCFCD id• HCFCD corridors


• Traditional approach unacceptable Ali f• Alignment preference

• Alignment alternativesN di i l l i• Non‐traditional alternatives utilizedS l d li• Selected alignments

Selected AlignmentsSelected Alignments

•• Used preferred and non‐traditional corridors

• Mix of corridor types variedfrom project to project

Design CriteriaDesign Criteria

• Harris County’s standard design y gcriteria didn’t address large diameter water lines

• In cooperation with Harris County Public Infrastructure staff and West Harris County Regional Water Authority’s consultant, y ,developed design criteria for large diameter water lines in County yROW and easements

Real Estate AcquisitionReal Estate Acquisition

• System installed in a rapidly y p ychanging area

• Used non‐standard “integrated gapproach” due to the tight time schedule/alignment preferences/ g p

• Utilized team consisting of very experienced land “men”, p ,appraisers and attorneys

Real Estate AcquisitionReal Estate Acquisition

• Team worked in close consort with design engineers – new for both groupsg p

• Integrated real estate considerations into design g

• Used condemnation only where necessary and as a last resorty

ConstituentConstituent‐‐Friendly DesignFriendly Design• Reroute if necessary where

practicalpractical• Tunnel to save large specimen

treestrees• Locate above ground structures

to minimize inconvenience toto minimize inconvenience to development

• Schedule construction to minimizeSchedule construction to minimize impact on schools, use of private yards wildlife and livestockyards, wildlife and livestock management, etc.

ScheduleSchedule

• Design began in mid 2003C i h d b i i i d• Construction had to be initiated by end of 2003H d l G d• Had to place Groundwater Transfer Program systems in

i i J 2006service in January 2006• Had to have Authority’s system

d id f bready to provide surface water by the last quarter of 2009 – less th ithan six years


• Line alignment • Design Criteria• Real Estate Acquisition• Constituent friendly design• Schedule• Regulatory agency issues• Mid course adjustment


• Line alignment• Line alignment • Design Criteria• Real Estate Acquisitionq• Constituent friendly design• Schedule• Regulatory agency issues• Regulatory agency issues• Mid course adjustment

Mid Course AdjustmentMid Course Adjustment

• In 2007 the Authority received yupdated population and water demand projections which p jindicated a 21% increase in water use in 2010

• In response to the projected increase in water use, the 2010 ,surface water conversion goal increased from 23.9 to 29 million gallons per day

Mid Course AdjustmentMid Course Adjustment

• New demand projections for surface t i d th b fwater increased the number of

districts to be served from 48 to 60• Increased size of the distribution• Increased size of the distribution

system by approximately 24% • Method of delivery to districtsMethod of delivery to districts

changed from direct connect to delivery at the ground storage tankdelivery at the ground storage tank using an air gap

The 2010 system will enable thef f b 60use of surface water by 60

public water systems, and consists of:

• Approximately 72 miles of various• Approximately 72 miles of various type and size water line ranging in size from 12‐inch to 60‐inch in diametersize from 12 inch to 60 inch in diameter

• 1 Regional Pump Station• 1 Regional Water Plant• 3 Regional Wells

ImplementationImplementation

• The Authority advised convertingThe Authority advised converting districts ‐ 60 in number ‐ that the phase‐in of surface water deliveryphase in of surface water delivery would begin in the last quarter of 2009

• Districts had to convert to use of chloramines disinfection in order to use the surface water the Authority would provide


• Districts have had varying levels of i ti l ti ti thsuccess in timely negotiating the

regulatory requirements to use chloramines disinfection buildingchloramines disinfection, building their chloramination systems and placing them in serviceplacing them in service

To Our Customers...We’re Changing OurWater Disinfection

Method


• The delayed ability of districts to use y ysurface water, the physical location and size of those districts that are ready, and the need to provide groundwater to GTP participants that aren’t ready to receive surface water has delayed the conversion to

fsurface water


• The conversion has become more challenging than originally envisioned and ‐‐ despite the delay and resultant

l it f th i thcomplexity of the conversion ‐‐ the Authority remains optimistic and committed to meeting the 30%committed to meeting the 30% conversion goal set by the HGSD

Paying for the System

• NHCRWA has no taxing authorityR i f d h h• Raises funds through pumpage fees and the sale of waterC i d A h i• Constituents urged Authority tokeep pumpage fees as low as

ibl l iblpossible…as long as possible• Board of Directors commitment

i bl fto equitable fee system

Paying for the System

• Pumpage fee was initially set at $0 12 in 2000 has increased seven$0.12 in 2000, has increased seven times and as of January 1, 2010 fees are

$1 /1 000 ll f‐ $1.75/1,000 gallons for groundwater

‐ $2.20/1 000 gallons for$2.20/1,000 gallons for surface water

• $457 million in revenue bonds h b ldhave been sold

CommunicationCommunication

• Given the scope of the program, ff i i i i heffective communication with both districts and residents was i iimperative

• Difficult to get people’s attentioni h ’ h ion a topic that wasn’t on their

‘radar’

CommunicationCommunication• The Authority used a multifaceted outreach program featuring:p g g‐ Direct communication with districts‐ Active web page with separateconstruction page

‐ Periodic newsletters to residentsTown hall/neighborhood meetings‐ Town hall/neighborhood meetings

‐ Neighborhood specific flyers onpending constructionpending construction

‐ Extremely active public educationprogram

‐ Speakers bureau‐ Water Users Advisory Group

2020 System2020 System

• Timely and effectively construct the 2020 t hi h i l t t i2020 system, which is almost twice the size of the 2010 system

• Continue to search out ways to build• Continue to search out ways to build the 2020 system as cost effectively as possible and thereby keep theas possible…and thereby keep the cost of water as low as practical

• Apply lessons learned duringApply lessons learned during development and implementation of the 2010 system to the 2020 systemy y

Q ti ?Questions?

3648 FM 1960 West3648 FM 1960 West3648 FM 1960 West3648 FM 1960 WestSuite 110Suite 110

Houston, TX 77068Houston, TX 77068281281‐‐440440‐‐39243924

www.nhcrwa.comwww.nhcrwa.comSt Th DSt Th Dwww.StopTheDrop.orgwww.StopTheDrop.org

tom 030810 setawwa

Documents