Title
Consider and take action on a resolution authorizing an agreement between North Harris County Regional Water Authority and the City of League City for the purchase and sale of Groundwater Series B Credits in an amount not to exceed $25,038 (Director of Public Works)
Background:
Approval of this item will authorize an agreement between North Harris County Regional Water Authority and the City of League City for the purchase and sale of Groundwater Series B Credits in an amount not to exceed $25,038.
The City is located within Area 1 of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD), which has the most restrictive groundwater regulations due to its proximity to the coastal areas of Harris and Galveston counties. Public water systems within Area 1 are limited to using groundwater for no more than 10 percent of their annual water production. Water usage exceeding this threshold is subject to groundwater disincentive fees, which are currently $12.52 per 1,000 gallons.
In the early 1990s, HGSD established the Water Wise Conservation Program to encourage water conservation through local public schools. Under this program, public water systems may sponsor students to participate in water conservation education and, in return, receive groundwater credits. The current sponsorship cost is $40 per student, with each sponsorship generating a credit equivalent to 84,000 gallons of groundwater. For FY 2026, the City sponsored 298 students from Clear Creek ISD and Dickinson ISD schools located within League City. The number of available sponsorships varies each year based on HGSD allocations.
Through many years of participation in this program, the City has accumulated approximately 721.68 million gallons of groundwater credits. These credits serve as an emergency reserve that can be used if the City's surface water supply is disrupted. Potential scenarios include failures of the 42-inch or 39-inch transmission mains that deliver treated surface water, or operati...
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