Katy council approves $5.8M contract for Water Well No. 11 after extended debate over surface water and rates

The Katy City Council on Oct. 13 approved a $5,807,700 contract to drill and equip Water Well No. 11, a project city staff described as a test well and the site foundation for a future major water-production facility.

City staff said the project includes drilling and testing the well, a control building, a parking area, decorative masonry fencing on the visible sides, utility and electrical work to support future booster pumps and a future ground storage tank, and a natural-gas generator for backup power. "It's a test well, so we're going to drill a well first, take the samples, make sure the quality is good before we go into the final water well," an unidentified staff member explained during the meeting.

The motion to award the contract was made by Councilmember Ford and seconded by Councilmember Davis. During debate, council members and residents pressed staff for details on how much additional capacity the new well would provide and what effect the project and long-term surface-water purchases could have on residents' bills. One councilmember noted, "With the added well, I don't want to speak to exact amounts of water coming out of that well because the well doesn't exist... but it will only help the system, and it's a really good plan for longevity and future planning." (Unidentified staff member)

Council and residents repeatedly returned to the region's surface-water plans and obligations to local subsidence requirements. A councilmember said the Harris County subsidence authority expects member utilities to reduce reliance on groundwater, and that failure to meet those targets could trigger fees. "By '35, we have to have at least only 20% of the water pumped [as] groundwater," the councilmember said, adding that the city is "on schedule to meet that." Staff also said conversion to surface-water service will require upgrades such as changes to chemical disinfection systems.

Residents pressed for clarity about timing, long-term costs and who ultimately bears the charges. One resident questioned whether the city will be “on the hook” for pipeline costs that could extend over decades. City staff acknowledged some cost-shifting and that exact rate impacts were not yet known; one official said the city has maintained no rate increase for three years but cautioned residents that bills could rise to reflect new obligations.

The council approved the contract and accompanying budget reserves as presented. The project record lists a total project cost of $6,339,695 (including recommended contingencies and engineering services). The resolution and contract were described in the council packet as funded by a mix of 2016 series bonds ($1,000,000) and enterprise fund reserves ($5,098,085).

Next steps: staff will proceed with drilling and testing; council and staff indicated additional public outreach and more detailed cost information would be provided as the project advances.