Woodlands Water puts transparency front and center with water renewal efforts

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- Woodlands Water is making it easier than ever for residents to stay informed about the community’s water and wastewater infrastructure. With a renewed commitment to transparency, the Water Renewal initiative is providing detailed insights into how critical projects are planned, funded, and carried out.

This initiative, a collaboration between Woodlands Water, local Municipal Utility Districts (MUDs), and the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) Woodlands Division, focuses on ensuring the long-term reliability and sustainability of water systems in The Woodlands. From maintaining aging infrastructure to planning for future needs, the communication campaign emphasizes accountability and community involvement at every step.

A Commitment to Openness
“Reliable infrastructure is the backbone of our community,” said Erich Peterson, General Manager of Woodlands Water. “It ensures not only public health and safety but also the quality of life we’ve come to expect here in The Woodlands.”

Transparency is a key priority for the Water Renewal initiative, ensuring residents have access to vital information about ongoing projects and funding. Peterson emphasized that keeping the community informed is about trust and shared responsibility: “Our goal is to make sure residents know how their water systems are being managed, how their money is being used, and what steps we’re taking to ensure reliability for decades to come.”

Ongoing efforts, like the South Shore Gravity Main Rehabilitation (currently in the design phase) and the Lift Station No. 1 Gravity Main Bypass and Decommissioning (under construction), highlight the initiative’s focus on modernizing infrastructure to improve reliability and reduce long-term costs.

In addition to these current projects, studies and assessments are continually identifying new opportunities to address aging infrastructure and meet regulatory requirements. These efforts will shape the next wave of improvements, ensuring the water systems continue to serve the community for years to come.

How Is It All Funded?
Helping residents understand how projects are funded is central to the communication campaign. Here’s a breakdown:

Monthly Water Bills and M&O Taxes: A combination of these two funding sources supports day-to-day operations, maintenance, environmental compliance, and long-term repairs and replacements to keep the system running smoothly. Funds can also help strengthen the MUDs’ operating reserves, when possible. The importance of this concept is to grow reserves in order to possibly avoid utilizing Bonds for larger renewal projects. Using cash reserves lowers overall costs of projects.

These funding sources support daily operations, maintenance, environmental compliance, and long-term repairs and replacements to keep the system running smoothly. When possible, extra funds help build reserves, which can reduce the need for bonds in the future. Using cash reserves instead of bonds lowers overall project costs.

Water System and Water Disposal Bonds: Large-scale projects are commonly funded through bonds authorized by the MUDs. If the MUD does not have large enough reserves to fund a project, selling Bonds is often the best alternative.

Progress You Can See
The Water Renewal initiative is already delivering results. In addition to current projects, efforts like water well rehabilitations and generator upgrades at water plants are part of a comprehensive strategy to ensure reliability and sustainability.

Looking ahead, future projects will continue to prioritize aging infrastructure and regulatory compliance, aligning with the community’s needs and expectations.

“Maintaining reliable water and wastewater systems requires planning, effort, and community investment,” Peterson said. “Our responsibility is to make sure we’re not only doing the work but also being transparent and engaging with residents every step of the way.”

Stay Informed and Get Involved
Woodlands Water invites residents to stay engaged and informed. By sharing detailed project updates and funding insights, the initiative empowers the community to understand and support these critical efforts.

To learn more or stay connected:

• Sign up for the Water Renewal e-newsletter.
• Follow updates and explore resources available to the community.

“Together, we can ensure The Woodlands’ water systems are built to last and serve future generations,” said Peterson.

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