West
Harris County Regional Water Authority
• The West Harris County Regional Water
Authority (WHCRWA) reports that negotiations with the City of
Houston are reaching final stages. Finalization of the contract
between the Authority and the City is expected very soon, assuring
the Authority and its participating districts of sufficient water
supplies.
• The Authority is very proactive when it
comes to promoting water conservation. Purchasing more than 3,000
Water Conservation Program Kits from the Harris-Galveston Coastal
Subsidence District, the Authority is distributing these kits
to elementary schools within its boundaries. In a "win-win"
situation, the Authority receives Series "B" program
conversion credits that can be used at any time during the next
20 years and school children learn the strategies and success
of water conservation. • Legislative issues
are of concern to the Authority with the 78th Texas Legislature
in session in Austin.
Authority President Dan Sallee notes several
issues that need to be amended in the original enabling statute
that created the Authority.
These include allowing the Authority to cancel
the director appointment process for a director who is running
unopposed, an action MUDs are now able to do; providing that the
Authority cannot charge pumpage fees on Fort Bend County wells
until the Fort Bend Subsidence District establishes Groundwater
reduction requirements and that Fort Bend County water usage is
not included in the voting strength calculation until the Authority
charges pumpage fees on Fort Bend County wells; and, revising
the voting strength provisions such that water usage of out-of-district
customers of a district/municipality is included in the calculation. |
North
Harris County Regional Water Authority Elects Board
In December, the North Harris County Regional
Water Authority (NHCRWA) announced that the Houston City Council
had unanimously approved the water supply contract between the
Authority and the City.
The contract includes provisions for NHCRWA
to purchase capacity in the City's water system sufficient to
enable the utility districts within its boundaries to meet the
phased groundwater reduction mandates of the Subsidence District.
Under the contract, the City of Houston is responsible
for the design, construction, ownership, maintenance and operation
of both untreated and treated water facilities prior to the point
of delivery. NHCRWA is responsible for the facilities beyond the
point of delivery, which is agreed to be near Beltway 8 and US
59. Calling the agreement a "landmark contract,"
the Authority will now be able to provide a long-term supply of
quality drinking water at a responsible price.
The Authority acknowledged the support of the
City, the West Harris County Regional Water Authority, the Central
Harris County Water Users Group and the Authority's negotiating
team members in reaching this historic agreement.
NHCRWA
Names General Manager
The Board of Directors of NHCRWA recently
appointed Jimmie Schindewolf as General Manager. Schindewolf
brings a unique background of construction, engineering and
management experience to his role at the Authority.
He has recently completed his role as the
Project Director for his Owner's Representative team at Reliant
Stadium. He completed a similar role in the Minute Maid Park
project and points with pride to both landmark projects being
completed on time and within budget.
He is a Professional Engineer and Registered
Public Land Surveyor and holds a B. S. Degree in Civil Engineering
from the University of Houston.
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SURFACE
WATER MANIA