Water

Residents and businesses in Fort Bend Municipal Utility District No. 47 (FBMUD47) will see an increase in their Groundwater Reduction Plan (GRP) fee effective October 1, 2025. Missouri City’s current GRP fee of $1.99 per 1,000 gallons for groundwater users will increase to $2.39 per 1,000 gallons.

This adjustment is a necessary step in addressing land subsidence and ensuring a sustainable water supply for the growing region.

Understanding Your Water Source and the Need for a GRP

The water delivered to FBMUD47 residents and businesses comes from deep underground sources called aquifers, pumped via groundwater wells. While readily available, excessive groundwater withdrawal can lead to a significant environmental challenge: subsidence –the sinking or settling of the ground surface.The Fort Bend region, experiencing rapid population growth and increased development, has seen groundwater extraction outpace the natural replenishment of aquifers through rain and other sources. This imbalance can exacerbate flooding and lead to other adverse impacts.

The Fort Bend Subsidence District and its Mandates

To combat subsidence, the Texas Legislature created the Fort Bend Subsidence District (FBSD) in 1989. The FBSD’s primary mission is to regulate groundwater withdrawal, promote water conservation, and encourage the use of alternative water sources within Fort Bend County.

The FBSD has implemented a District Regulatory Plan requiring well owners to:

• Develop a GRP and submit it for approval by 2008.
• Ensure that groundwater comprises no more than 70% of total water used by well owners and their customers starting January 2014.
• Further reduce groundwater use to no more than 40% of total water demand beginning in 2027. (Individual wells serving only one home are exempt from these requirements).

Missouri City’s GRP: A Collaborative Approach

Recognizing that individual water providers might struggle to meet the FBSD mandates independently, the Missouri City Groundwater Reduction Plan (GRP) was established. This coalition of water providers, including FBMUD47, operates within the City, its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), and some neighboring water systems. By working together as a region, the Missouri City GRP can more effectively meet the FBSD’s reduction goals.

How Missouri City’s GRP Reduces Groundwater Use

The cornerstone of the Missouri City GRP’s strategy to reduce groundwater use is the integration of surface water from the Brazos River and Oyster Creek. This involves:

• Purchasing reliable surface water sources from entities holding Brazos River water rights.
• Constructing water plants to treat the surface water.
• Developing a transmission system to deliver the treated water to users.

The City of Missouri City currently purchases Brazos River water from the Gulf Coast Water Authority. A Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant was constructed in 2012 and expanded in 2020 to meet the needs of a growing Missouri City and Sienna, and to comply with FBSD requirements. Additionally, the GRP includes projects for the reuse of water for irrigation, lake amenities, and other purposes.

What is the GRP Pumpage Fee and Why the Increase?

The GRP pumpage fee is a charge levied on groundwater users to help fund the initiatives of the Missouri City GRP. The upcoming increase to $2.63 per 1,000 gallons for groundwater users is necessary to support the ongoing projects and operational costs associated with transitioning to surface water and maintaining the required infrastructure.

These projects include:

• Regional Surface Water Treatment Plant construction and expansion.
• Development of transmission lines.
• Maintenance and operations of facilities.
• Capital Improvement Projects.
• Water reuse projects (utilizing treated water from wastewater plants).

It’s important to note that the Fort Bend Subsidence District imposes a substantial disincentive fee – currently $6.50 per 1,000 gallons – on any well owner not complying with the District Regulatory Plan. By participating in the Missouri City GRP and contributing through the GRP pumpage fee, groundwater users avoid this much higher penalty.

The Difference in Fees and Administrative Costs

While surface water is generally more expensive to procure and treat than groundwater, the GRP fee helps distribute the costs across all water users to maintain a lower overall cost. Groundwater users contribute to surface water costs but at a lower rate than surface water users, as they also pay for groundwater treatment. The difference in fees primarily covers the cost of groundwater treatment.

Water providers, such as FBMUD47, may also add a small administrative cost to the GRP fee to cover expenses related to collection, dispersing, and reporting requirements. FBMUD47’s GRP Fee charged to its customers will increase from $2.19 to $2.63 per 1,000 gallons.

Success of the Missouri City GRP

The Missouri City GRP has proven successful in its mission. It is currently exceeding the 40% groundwater reduction mark mandated by the FBSD for 2027, and additional projects are underway to ensure continued compliance.

The GRP fee increase is a vital component of Missouri City’s long-term water management strategy. By transitioning to surface water sources, the community is proactively addressing land subsidence and securing a reliable water supply for future generations. Residents with questions are encouraged to contact the District’s Operator, Municipal District Services at 281-290-6500.

Additional sources of information:

https://www.missouricitytx.gov/documentcenter/view/17654
https://www.missouricitytx.gov/documentcenter/view/17635
https://fbmud47.org

 

Article and Photos by
Lauren Svatek & Emily Stuckey-Treichel

There is a system of four large, constructed channels within Fort Bend MUD 47, which the district manages and maintains to ensure that each channel collects and transports storm water effectively to allow the direct rainwater runoff to flow unhindered to a larger waterway.  Its purpose is to prevent flooding and manage water levels. Monthly maintenance to the channels such as mowing, seeding, trash removal and other actions keep the channels working efficiently in their purpose. Inspections are performed annually or biannually to examine slope integrity, erosion, sediment accumulation and other aspects vital to a healthy channel.

Over time, changes happen to the channels that require more significant measures to bring them up to optimum performance. At this time, the Cumberland Channel (located off the asphalt trail and running to Aldridge Drive) is the focus of this type of project. Over several years, construction runoff and materials, sediment, gravel, sand, trash, traffic cones, Christmas trees and other materials have accumulated and impacted the channel.  By removing the excess sediment in the channel, desilting will extend the life span of the drainage infrastructure, improve water quality by removing pollutants carried in the sediment, and improve overall performance of the drainage system during heavy rainfall events.  It is a costly and time-consuming project, but absolutely necessary. Remember Hurricane Harvey?

Preliminary work began on February 24, 2025 which included the use of a tracked marsh master mower to cut down overgrown vegetation in the channel bottom. Once vegetation is cleared, a long-stick excavator will be mobilized to desilt areas of the Cumberland Channel. This excavator will move any silt away from the center of the channel to fill low areas to promote positive drainage for access. Some soil will be stockpiled on the top of the bank to dry. This dried soil will be repurposed to regrade low spots on the top of the slopes.

A skid steer/dozer will regrade low and disturbed spots on the top of the slopes and prepare the ground for overseeding. The final focus will be to reestablish the turf and restore vegetation on the slopes. This will protect the slopes during future weather events and enhance the overall appearance of the channel along the trail. 

This project is estimated to take about 2-4 weeks to complete and weather can impede its progress.