Good day Water Users Coalition,

Please review and share this email with your engineer and attorney regarding a proposed revision to the NHCRWA rate order.

This suggested change will create a new category of groundwater usage, called “Conservation Ground Water” increasing the rate by .90 cents per 1000 gallons.

There are many reasons why a district with access to surface water may legitimately need to use groundwater. These districts should not be penalized.

Please, submit written comments in the link below, prior to April 6, 2026, to the NHCRWA.  
 
Best regards,

Jerry Homan
713-703-4527 cell

Click here to view NHRWA’s post: https://www.nhcrwa.com/2026/02/proposed-revision/

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Proposed Revision to the NHCRWA Rate Order and Pricing Policy to Provide for the Conservation, Preservation, Protection, and Prevention of Waste of Ground Water

Comments Requested

The NHCRWA is requesting written comments from interested persons to the following proposed revisions to the NHCRWA Rate Order and Pricing Policy prior to the April 6, 2026 Regular Board Meeting. Written comments may be submitted to the NHCRWA through the form below.

Description

Pursuant to the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (Subsidence District) regulations, the NHCRWA is required to meet certain alternative water conversion requirements to reduce the use of ground water within the NHCRWA’s boundaries. To meet the Subsidence District requirements and provide for the conservation and protection of ground water, proposed revisions to the District’s Rate Order and Pricing Policy have been put forth to further incentive the use of surface water and disincentive the use of ground water for those who have connections to receive surface water from the NHCRWA. This would be accomplished by distinguishing between “Ground Water” (ground water withdrawals by those without a connection to receive surface water from the NHCRWA) and “Conservation Ground Water” (ground water withdrawals by those with a connection to receive surface water from the NHCRWA) and charging an increased pumpage rate for pumping Conservation Ground Water compared to Ground Water.

Proposed Revisions

Revisions to Section 1.01 Definitions:

• Revise “Water” definition to: “Water” means collectively, Ground Water, Conservation Ground Water, Imported Water, and Authority Water.
• Add “Ground Water”: “Ground Water” means water pumped from a Non-Exempt Well by a Person who has no connection to any Authority System except for remote Meter reading devices.
• Add “Conservation Ground Water”: “Conservation Ground Water” means water pumped from a Non-Exempt well by a Person with any connection to any Authority System except for remote Meter reading devices.

Revisions to Pricing Policy:

New rate schedule:

• Authority Water $3.05 per 1,000 gallons
• Ground Water $2.60 per 1,000 gallons
• Conservation Ground Water $3.50 per 1,000 gallons
• Imported Water $2.60 per 1,000 gallons
• New Participant Fee (in addition to the Cost of Water above) $2.82 per 1,000 gallons
• Contract GRP Fee Set by contract

Rate order revision – Conservation Groundwater Fee

The North Harris County Regional Water Authority Board of Directors will meet in special session, open to the public, on Monday, March 2, 2026, at 6 pm and in regular session at 6:45 pm at the Authority’s Office, 3648 Cypress Creek Pkwy., Suite 110, Houston, Harris County, Texas 77068.

The agendas for the meetings are available on the Authority’s website: www.nhcrwa.com.  

The Authority will also broadcast this meeting via Zoom Webinar. You must register to view and/or listen to the meeting:

Zoom link for the public hearing: https://tinyurl.com/4enczwzc
Zoom link for the regular meeting: https://tinyurl.com/mtku52w6

Upon registration, a telephone number to listen to the meeting, a link to watch the meeting, and a password will be provided. People viewing/listening to the meeting on Zoom will NOT be able to address the Board during the meeting. The Authority makes no assurances that all or any business conducted during this meeting will be visible or audible to people monitoring the meeting on Zoom.