The Conroe City Council has signaled its intent to institute a temporary halt on new development in northern parts of the city, a move they believe is necessary to address water supply concerns and prevent potential shortages, as per discussions during a workshop meeting this week. The 120-day moratorium would provide the city time to fund the creation of several new water wells, with the council poised to hear public opinions before making a final decision at a meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 12, the Houston Chronicle reports.
According to Nancy Mikeska, assistant city administrator and director of community development the city has experienced rapid growth in its population from 56,207 in 2010 to an estimated 108,248 as of July 2023, which has put an unprecedented strain on its water infrastructure and this has led to concerns about the current system’s ability to manage new projects whilst ensuring water pressure and supply for existing consumers, she said, and during Wednesday's meeting, members of the city council acknowledged that it would be critical to pause any new projects while the city seeks funding for new water wells, as development pressures appear to have caught up with the existing water infrastructure, creating a need to pump the brakes and reassess the situation.
This stoppage in development would not affect projects already underway or previously sanctioned by the city and aims to prevent water pressures from falling to dangerously low levels, “This is a proactive, temporary moratorium. We want to protect our citizens by preventing water pressure and supply from falling dangerously low,” as Mikeska put it in the interview. Assistant Director of Public Works, Greg Hall, highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating if no action is taken, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality could potentially enforce corrective measures. City officials have plans to build four new wells and have requested a substantial $16 million aid from the Conroe Industrial Development Corp. to fund two of them; according to the Houston Chronicle, the city's available operational strategies to boost water pressure have been exhausted.
A revised irrigation ordinance aimed at managing water use, which involves specified watering days for residents and fines for violations, has also been part of the city's attempt to tackle the water issue. “None of us take this lightly. ... Growth is the lifeblood of every city, but it has to be strategic and more importantly, it has to be sustainable,” Mayor Pro Tem Harry Hardman emphasized the need for such measures, as recounted in the Community Impact interview.
Residents, stakeholders, and interested parties are advised to stay tuned for further developments; the proposed ordinance must undergo two readings before it is approved, with the first opportunity for public input being at the upcoming September 11 workshop meeting at Conroe City Hall. The temporary development moratorium ordinance can be viewed following the indicated procedures and regulations as outlined by the city council during their discussions.
