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FAQ Question: Is
Pecan Grove changing their water source from
groundwater to surface water?
It’s possible you’ve
heard rumblings about a change in the source
of Pecan Grove’s water supply. Maybe you’ve
even seen the words “surface water
conversion” used in communication pieces
we’ve sent your way or within articles in
local news sources.
It is true. Over the
next twenty years, and probably beyond, this
area will make necessary changes to
supplement our current water sources. The
Pecan Grove MUD Board members are committed
to communicating these changes with our
residents – prior to, and throughout that
conversion process.
Where is our current
water source?
Our drinking water is
drawn from wells drilled into the Chicot and
Evangeline aquifers beneath the earth’s
surface. This type of water source is
commonly referred to as “groundwater”.
Is there a problem
with this groundwater source? Why the
consideration to convert to surface water
(ex: lakes, rivers)?
The conversion is not a
consideration. It is a mandate by the Fort
Bend Subsidence District (FBSD) – an entity
created by the Texas Legislature in 1989 “to
provide for the regulation of the withdrawal
of groundwater within the District to
prevent subsidence that contributes to
flooding, inundation, or overflow of areas
within the District…”
Fort Bend has been, and
continues to be, one of the fastest growing
counties in the United States, and with
continued population growth (census numbers
tracked an increase of 800 percent in
35 years, from 50,000 in 1970 to over
400,000 in 2005) the threat of additional
subsidence is all too real. In fact, in
some areas within Fort Bend’s boundaries,
the land has dropped as much as five feet
since 1906.
It is as a result of
these incidents and concerns over the threat
of additional subsidence in the future that
the FBSD Regulatory Plan was adopted in
2003. This plan mandates that areas of Fort
Bend County (including Pecan Grove) reduce
their groundwater pumpage by 30% by 2013 and
60% by 2025. Failure to meet these
requirements by the listed deadlines will
result in severe disincentive fees. Your
Pecan Grove MUD Board of Directors is
committed to meeting all conversion dates
and providing the best and most
cost-efficient supplemental surface water
source(s) possible.
Be assured that as
those options are discussed and decisions
are made, we will pass that information onto
you. You are always welcome to attend our
monthly board meetings (generally held the
last Tuesday of each month), and the latest
information will also be communicated to you
via our quarterly newsletter and this
website.
Will this affect our
water prices?
The short answer…yes.
The days of dirt cheap water will soon be
history. For years, our water rates have
remained well below those living in the rest
of the country and even the City of Houston.
You may have already
noticed a new line item fee (of $0.26 per
thousand gallons of water used) on your most
recent bills. As explained in the
communication you received within the last
bill prior to that change, this fee is
necessary to help offset the cost of past
and current surface water conversion related
expenses, such as the ongoing cost of the
surface water contract. For a typical water
user of 10,000 gallons/month, this will
result in a monthly increase of $2.60.
A rise in your usage
rates will also be seen as plans are put
into place and initial conversion dates are
met, but comparatively, your bills will
still be very reasonable…and still less than
those living in the City of Houston.
What can I do to
curb costs?
Conserve, conserve,
conserve! It is not only a great way to
keep a water bill down, but it’s really the
responsibility of us all to protect and
preserve our precious water sources. This
mandated conversion is a wake-up call. We
should all do our part to ensure clean and
plentiful future water supplies for our
community. By following some of the simple
tips outlined in the “Conservation” section
of this website, you can begin to make the
changes today that will benefit you, your
family and your community in the future.
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