1. March 8, 2010
SETAWWA 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
Lone S GCD
L Star

2. March 8, 2010
SETAWWA Seminar: Current Challenges in the Potable Water Industry in Southeast Texas
Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District
L St G d t C ti Di t i t
− Authorized by 77th Legislature in 2001 by HB 2362
− Geographic boundaries encompass ALL of Montgomery
County
− Creation
C ti confirmed b popular vote on N 6 2001 with
fi d by l t Nov 6, ith
73.85 % approval
− Amended Enabling Legislation in 2003
by 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

3. March 8, 2010
SETAWWA Seminar: Current Challenges in the Potable Water Industry in Southeast Texas
Role f th L
R l of the Lone Star Groundwater District
St G d t Di t i t
− C
Conserve and Protect groundwater resources in Montgomery C
County
− Control land subsidence
− Develop rules and regulations as necessary to meet these objectives
− Establish well registration and permit system
− Work with Federal Government to monitor groundwater levels

4. March 8, 2010
SETAWWA Seminar: Current Challenges in the Potable Water Industry in Southeast Texas
Board M b
B d Members
Legislative Act p
g provided for a nine-member Board of
Board appointments are for staggered four-year terms,
− MUDs
MUD east of I 4
f I-45
− small cities excluding Conroe
− Commissioner’s Court
− MUDs west of I-45
− San Jacinto River Authority
− Commissioner s
Commissioner’s Court
− City of Conroe
− Woodlands Joint Powers Agency
− Soil and Water Conservation District
Conser ation

5. March 8, 2010
SETAWWA Seminar: Current Challenges in the Potable Water Industry in Southeast Texas
Aquifer Characteristics
A if Ch t i ti
Conroe

6. March 8, 2010
SETAWWA Seminar: Current Challenges in the Potable Water Industry in Southeast Texas
Existing S
E i ti Sources of Water
fW t
Evangeline
Aquifer Grimes Montgomery
Recharge Zone
Liberty
be ty
Chicot Aquifer
Recharge Zone
Direction of
Waller Harris Groundwater
Flow
Fort Bend
Aquifer Galveston
Recharge
Areas
Source: Harris Galveston Coastal Subsidence District

7. March 8, 2010
SETAWWA Seminar: Current Challenges in the Potable Water Industry in Southeast Texas
Population/Demand Projections
P l ti /D d P j ti
80% of Demand in these 5 areas

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

9. May 18, 2009
Presentation: Woodlands Green
Historic Decline in Water Levels
1990-2004 Evangeline Aquifer Water-Level Change

10. March 8, 2010
SETAWWA Seminar: Current Challenges in the Potable Water Industry in Southeast Texas
Long term Water Outlook for Montgomery County
L t W t O tl k f M t C t
Texas Water Development Board
Projections of Available Groundwater
in M t
i Montgomery County (per approved plan) 64 000 a-f /year
C t ( d l ) 64,000 f /
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

11. March 8, 2010
SETAWWA Seminar: Current Challenges in the Potable Water Industry in Southeast Texas
Short t
Sh t term Water Outlook for Montgomery County
W t O tl k f M t C t
Texas Water Development Board
Projections of Available Groundwater
in M t
i Montgomery County (per approved plan) 64 000 a-f /year
C t ( d l ) 64,000 f /
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

12. March 8, 2010
SETAWWA Seminar: Current Challenges in the Potable Water Industry in Southeast Texas
District R
Di i Regulatory Plan (Phase I) – D 2006
l Pl (Ph Dec
− Established a single management zone coincident with the
boundaries of the District
− Established 64,000 a-f as the amount of recharge in
, g
accordance with rule 4.2(a)
− Established January 1, 2015 as the date by which the District
1
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

13. March 8, 2010
SETAWWA Seminar: Current Challenges in the Potable Water Industry in Southeast Texas
Phase I Requirements (cont.)
Ph R i t ( t)
− Population and Water Demand forecasts for 2015, 2025,
2035, d
2035 and 2045
− Identification of service area
− Current well capacity including number of wells, tested
well capacity and date of well installation
− Identification of current water supply sources including
annual groundwater use surface water use, reclaimed
use, use
water or others
− Information of water quality issues that may impact
supply

14. March 8, 2010
SETAWWA Seminar: Current Challenges in the Potable Water Industry in Southeast Texas
Primary Issue is equity
Pi I i i
− Everyone in the county benefits from the following:
− Reduction or elimination of overdrafting of the aquifer
− U i a centralized plan so i di id l small volume users
Using t li d l individual ll l
that are not close to a conversion plan water line will be
able to continue to use groundwater as more densely
populated areas overconvert
l d
− Assessing 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

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

16. March 8, 2010
SETAWWA Seminar: Current Challenges in the Potable Water Industry in Southeast Texas
Phase II(A) Rule Requirements (cont.)
Ph R l R i t ( t)
Regulated Entities required to p
g q provide (
(cont.)
)
Description of costs and methods of financing
Preliminary engineering of infrastructure for January 1,
2015 mandate
Conceptual engineering of infrastructure necessary for
outlying decades
y g

17. March 8, 2010
SETAWWA Seminar: Current Challenges in the Potable Water Industry in Southeast Texas
Phase II(A) Requirements (cont )
(cont.)
The Phase II (A) plan specifically encourages water reuse
as a strategy:
gy
− Conservation can also be used in meeting plan goals if it
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
including Conroe and th W dl d th t
i l di C d the Woodlands the two llargest
t
users

18. March 8, 2010
SETAWWA Seminar: Current Challenges in the Potable Water Industry in Southeast Texas
Water R
W t Resources A
Assessment Pl (WRAP)
t Plan
− 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
provided th
id d there i a written agreement
is itt t
− 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

19. March 8, 2010
SETAWWA Seminar: Current Challenges in the Potable Water Industry in Southeast Texas
Phase II(B)
Ph
Adoption delayed for additional discussions with regulated
p y g
community
Adopted in November 2009 Board meeting
Established 2009 as a benchmark year and defines total
ear
qualifying demand as the 2009 permitted amount subject to
some leveling for those whose permits which were will in
excess of demand.
Maintained
M i t i d 30 percent reduction t
t d ti target even th
t though thi
h this
level of reduction does not fully achieve compliance with the
64,000 acre feet goal

20. March 8, 2010
SETAWWA Seminar: Current Challenges in the Potable Water Industry in Southeast Texas
Phase II(B) (cont.)
Ph ( t)
Still defines LVGUs as those using 10 million gallons per
year or more
more.
Required 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
p j
projects and encourages conservation as a means of
g
reducing demand beyond 2009

21. March 8, 2010
SETAWWA Seminar: Current Challenges in the Potable Water Industry in Southeast Texas
Phase II(B) (cont.)
Ph ( t)
Requires submittal of Groundwater Reduction Plan (GRP)
by January 1 2011
1, 2011.
Must 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

22. March 8, 2010
SETAWWA Seminar: Current Challenges in the Potable Water Industry in Southeast Texas
Current St t
C t 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

23. March 8, 2010
SETAWWA Seminar: Current Challenges in the Potable Water Industry in Southeast Texas
Questions?
Kathy Turner Jones, General Manager, Lone Star GCD,
936/494-3436, kjones@lonestargcd.org
Mark Lowry, Consultant
y,
214/558-9224, mark.lowry@cleanwaterflow.com