The drinking water for Waterside Estates MUD 118 is now provided by the North Fort Bend Water Authority via pipe lines connecting us with lakes north of Houston. This was mandated due to the severe subsidence created in the Houston metropolitan area. Well water can only be used if adequate surface water is not available.
The primary reason was to facilitate compliance with the Fort Bend Subsidence District’s groundwater reduction mandates by creating a viable single entity to acquire, develop and deliver a long term supply of potable surface water to water users within the Authority’s boundaries. The mandates are outlined in the Subsidence District’s 2003 Regulatory Plan, and are intended to wean the area off its dependence on groundwater in a phased reduction plan, to minimize the risk of future subsidence, and to enable the aquifers that serve the region to recharge.
In addition, Fort Bend County has monitored the water supply issue since the late 1980’s through the Fort Bend County Surface Water Supply Corporation. The Corporation completed a detailed study in 2002 which concluded that rapid population growth in Fort Bend County combined with the Subsidence District’s groundwater reduction requirements will likely cause water shortages in the County as early as 2014.
Fort Bend County is trying to avoid the problems with subsidence and water supply that portions of Galveston and Harris Counties have suffered.