Texas city took on hundreds of millions in utility debt as wells faltered, former water official says

Falling groundwater levels have left Conroe, Texas, with hundreds of millions of dollars in water-utility debt, according to a former water official.

Here's what to know

Paul Cote, a member of Montgomery County Concerned Citizens who served as a Municipal Utility District president for 10 years, detailed the city's troubles in a guest editorial published by Reduce Flooding.

Conroe had to borrow heavily to secure backup water from outside sources and fix or replace wells that were failing. The city also stopped new building projects as drought pushed groundwater lower.

Pumping in Montgomery County already tops 120,000 acre-feet a year, more than double what the aquifers replenish naturally. A pending proposal would push the allowed total toward 200,000 acre-feet.

A 2017 law backed by Texas state Rep. Will Metcalf changed how the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District filled board seats, replacing regionally appointed members with an elected board. Supporters campaigned on a promise to "restore affordable water."

More background

Cote explained that cities and utility districts may pay for deeper wells and emergency repairs with voter-approved bonds that take 20 to 30 years to pay off. Residents cover those costs through property taxes, including local debt-service charges.

Cote put the price tag at $2 billion to more than $4 billion over the next decade without coordinated planning, covering costs such as emergency well replacements and higher electricity use for pumping. Cote traced the figure to two sources: a Groundwater Management Area 14 study led by the district and a count of wells where pumps can no longer be lowered far enough to stay submerged.

Cote wrote that water planning is split among individual cities, numerous private providers, and more than 100 utility districts, each operating on its own. County leaders noted at a symposium that roughly four in five residents live outside incorporated municipalities. That makes large-scale infrastructure funding more difficult.

What can be done?

Cote called on state legislators to create a single countywide authority for water planning, bringing county commissioners, city officials, utility district leaders, private water providers, and business leaders to the same table.

Drinking-water delivery, treatment-plant financing, and pipeline construction fall outside the district's responsibilities. Its work includes issuing pumping permits.

Cote's approach mixes groundwater with treated water drawn from Lake Conroe, relying more on the lake during winter so wellfields can rest and recover.

He also wants an independent study spanning 50 years to identify the cheapest realistic mix of water supplies, paired with ongoing groundwater-level tracking and priority infrastructure help for high-risk spots such as South Montgomery County.

Residents can ask their utility boards about water supply plans and reserves for well maintenance, Cote suggested. He also encouraged neighborhood policies that allow low-water landscaping and smart irrigation, as well as reusing treated water in public spaces such as golf courses, median strips, and parks.

Watering lawns and landscaping makes up roughly half of what the county uses at the height of summer, Cote wrote.

At a November 2023 symposium, Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District Board President Jim Spigener asked:

"Who's the entity that can take on making sure Montgomery County has an adequate supply of water? I don't think it exists right now."

Where can I learn more?

Conroe shares its concerns about water costs and dwindling groundwater with other Texas communities.

• Corpus Christi's desalination bet left residents facing water bans and debt amid a $1.2 billion mess.

• Corpus Christi may owe $307 million after again rejecting a proposed desalination plant.

• A Mary Rhodes Pipeline leak pushed Corpus Christi toward wells and dam releases for water.

• In East Texas, groundwater officials paused a plan amid warnings of dry wells.

• West Texas farmers fear a proposed water sale could drain the ancient Capitan Reef aquifer.

Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.