City of Missouri issued the following announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions: 2020 GRP Pumpage Fees
At the Monday, Sept. 21 Virtual Regular Meeting, the City Council passed a resolution amending the utility schedule of fees. With this amendment, there is an increase in the Groundwater Reduction Plan (GRP) pumpage fee and to explain the plan, staff has compiled a list of frequently asked questions:
Why does the City need a Groundwater Reduction Plan (GRP)?
In 1989, the Texas State Legislature created the Fort Bend Subsidence District (FBSD) to regulate the withdrawal of groundwater to minimize land subsidence (sinking) and associated risks such as flooding. The subsidence district required all cities in the County (as applicable) to develop and implement a Groundwater Reduction Plan with goals of reducing groundwater pumpage, permitting procedures/guidelines and implementing permit fees for groundwater withdrawal.
Who manages the Missouri City GRP?
Missouri City is unique in that the majority of water utility customers within City limits and surrounding areas are served by various Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs), with a small percentage of customers being served by the City directly. After careful consideration of the cost that many of these smaller water districts would have to bear independently, the City led the task of uniting these entities in a mutually agreed upon plan for meeting the groundwater reduction requirements set by FBSD.
As a result, Missouri City administers the joint Groundwater Reduction Plan that includes the City and the following entities/MUDs within City limits and in the ETJ:
- Blue Ridge West
- Estates of Silver Ridge POA, Inc.
- Lake Olympia Civic Association
- First Colony MUD No. 9
- Fort Bend County MUD Nos. 23, 24, 26, 42, 46, 47, 48, 49, 115, 129, 149
- Lake Shore Harbour
- The Manors of Silver Ridge POA
- Meadowcreek
- Palmer Plantation Nos. 1, 2
- Quail Valley Utility District
- Sienna Management District
- Sienna MUD Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 13
- Thunderbird MUD
Is the City currently following the FBSD mandate for groundwater reduction?
Yes, the City was required by FBSD to be at 30 percent groundwater reduction by 2013. To accomplish this mandate, the City led the effort with the GRP Oversight Committee to construct the Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant in 2012, which is the City’s largest capital improvement project. Also, with the current RSWTP expansion and other water reuse projects, the City is projecting to satisfy the next groundwater reduction target of 60 percent by 2025. These capital improvement projects and the operation and maintenance of the surface water treatment plant facilities are funded by pumpage fees.
Who is responsible for the costs associated with the FBSD mandate?
The water users in the joint GRP (listed above) contribute proportionally to the cost associated with meeting the FBSD mandate, which includes construction and operation of a RSWTP and the purchase of raw surface water from Gulf Coast Water Authority. The GRP passes the surface water pumpage fee and groundwater pumpage fee to the City and mentioned MUDs. These GRP fees are based on the actual metered water usage. The City and MUDs may in-turn adjust their water rates to account for their operational expenses.
What are the increased GRP rates?
The pervious wholesale pumpage fee charged by the GRP was $1.72 per 1,000 gallons, and is now increased to $1.79. The previous surface water pumpage fee was $2.19 and is now increased to $2.38 per 1,000 gallons. The previous ground water user’s fee was $0.47 and is now increased to $0.59 per 1,000 gallons.
Why there is an increase in GRP fees?
The need for these fee increases was substantiated after a detailed financial analysis that took into account the projected revenues, expenses, debt service obligations and operational reserves needed to maintain and expand the water treatment infrastructure to meet the mentioned requirements.
Who can I contact to get more information on GRP fees?
To get more details on the GRP fees, citizens may contact Utilities Manager Todd Hoover at todd.hoover@missouricitytx.gov or 281.403.8543.
Are these increased GRP rates similar to neighboring cities?
Both the current fee and increased fee are lower than other GRP fees in Fort Bend County, and significantly lower than the FBSD disincentive fee of $6.50 per thousand gallons which is charged to entities not meeting the groundwater reduction mandates. As a comparison, the new pumpage fee of $2.38 is less than the City of Rosenberg at $2.60, City of Richmond at $2.42, and North Fort Bend Water Authority at $4.30. The GRP fee is a result of the FBSD mandate and not an additional tax levied by the City or the MUDs.
Who can I contact to get more details regarding my water bill?
Residents may see a list of water operators that manage the various MUDs in Missouri City, Click Here.
Where can I find additional details on this resolution?
To learn more about the resolution and to see staff’s presentation to Council regarding GRP, click the below links:
- See Presentation
- Review Sept. 21 Agenda Packet (Item 11b)
- Watch Sept. 21 Virtual Regular Council Meeting
Original source can be found here.
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