The Woodlands Water Agency Supports Large-Scale Infrastructure Renewal Projects in the Woodlands

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Woodlands Water Agency (WWA) Board of Trustees today voted unanimously to support two major infrastructure improvement projects for The Woodlands.

The decision Wednesday authorizes the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) to move into Phase 2 planning of overhauling The Woodlands’ oldest wastewater treatment facility on Sawdust Road. Planning will include optimizing the treatment capacity needed for a new plant, beginning negotiations with adjacent property owners to acquire additional land needed for a plant rebuild, and updating cost estimates for the construction.

The unanimous vote also approved applying unused funds from a 2017 Texas Water Development Board bond sale ($1.5 million) for preliminary engineering and route installation study for a large diameter sanitary sewer gravity conveyance line south of Woodlands Parkway. Installing this gravity line has the potential to eliminate five sanitary sewer lift stations. Ongoing operations, maintenance and repair of lift stations are a costly component to the sanitary sewer collection and conveyance system. Eliminating five stations has the potential for significant savings over the life of the project.

Erich Peterson, P.E, general manager of The Woodlands Water Agency, said, “After 50 years, much of The Woodlands’ original water and wastewater infrastructure has reached the end of its useful life. For The Woodlands to continue to be the best place to live, work, and play, our trustees recognize it has come time to overhaul our aging infrastructure.

For the past year, the 10 Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) that WWA serves, participated in numerous stakeholder meetings to establish a path forward for the aging wholesale wastewater treatment facilities operated by the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA). At this time, treatment facility No. 1 on Sawdust Road has the highest priority for rehabilitation.”

About The Woodlands Water Agency

Woodlands Water is the central management agency for the 10 Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs) that currently serve The Woodlands in Montgomery County. The services we provide are water distribution, wastewater collection, storm drainage and tax collection services. The principal objective of Woodlands Water is to provide the MUDs we serve with professional, reliable and quality services consistent with fiscal responsibility. We are also committed to improving our efficiency and effective-ness at maintaining the utility infrastructure and enhancing communication with our customers. More information is available at woodlandswater.org.

CONTACT: Erin Powers, Powers MediaWorks LLC, for The Woodlands Water Agency, 281.703.6000, info@powersmediaworks.com.