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City leaders say Microsoft site will use far less groundwater than historical farming, pledge $300,000 for Travis Ditch improvements
Summary
La Porte water and stormwater staff told the Board of Public Works that Microsoft’s eventual water use would be far lower than historical agricultural extraction from the same area and that Microsoft has committed $300,000 for improvements to Travis Ditch; officials said detention basins will reduce peak runoff.
La Porte water officials told the Board of Public Works and Safety that the industrial campus proposed for farmland north of the city will use far less groundwater than the previous agricultural use and that the developer has committed funds for local drainage improvements.
“24 million gallons last year that the farmers used,” water superintendent Tim Warner said, contrasting that figure with the company’s plans: “Microsoft’s plan … is a thousand gallons a day per building. It's less than three to four million gallons a year.” Warner said the irrigation wells currently on the farms will be abandoned as development proceeds and that city water will serve the site.
Wastewater and stormwater staff said post‑development runoff to nearby Travis Ditch will be managed with detention basins and other controls, reducing peak flow compared with pre‑development agricultural discharge. “Microsoft has dedicated $300,000 to improve Travis Ditch,” wastewater/stormwater staff said, adding that the ditch had not been upgraded in decades.
Officials said stormwater from the developed site will be pretreated and routed through designed detention, reducing sediment and nutrient loads that came from fertilizer and farm fields. City staff framed the work as a mitigation package and as part of a broader agreement with the developer.
The board received the updates during regular departmental reports; no formal vote on the development agreement was recorded at this meeting. Staff advised residents with water‑quality concerns to consult the city’s Consumer Confidence Report, which the city will mail by July 1.
What’s next: Staff will continue coordinating infrastructure tie‑ins and reclamation of irrigation wells as building activity begins and as permits require.
