Conroe backs higher groundwater limits

CONROE, Texas – Montgomery County is facing a growing environmental and infrastructural challenge as its primary sources of drinking water, the Jasper and Evangeline aquifers, continue to see historic declines in water levels. This trend, driven by rapid urbanization, has prompted local officials to impose strict regulations on groundwater usage to prevent the long-term risk of land subsidence.

The Jasper and Evangeline aquifers serve as the lifeblood for thousands of homes and businesses in the region. However, data from the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District (LSGCD) reveals a concerning trajectory. In the 1970s, the water level of the Jasper aquifer sat at a relatively shallow 100 feet below the surface. By the early 2000s, that level had doubled to between 200 and 250 feet.

The decline has accelerated in the last decade. Between 2016 and 2020, parts of the Jasper aquifer plummeted by approximately 75 feet, while the Evangeline aquifer dropped by 50 feet. By December 2022, an observation well near the intersection of I-45 and League Line Road in Conroe recorded a record low of 300 feet below the surface.

Experts point to the county’s explosive growth as the primary culprit. Since 2000, the population of Montgomery County has doubled, and projections suggest the numbers will double again by 2050. This surge creates an exponential increase in demand. Water utility projections indicate the county will require 89 million gallons per day (MGD) by 2025, reaching 139 MGD by 2040 and potentially 188 MGD by 2070.

The physical consequences of draining these aquifers go beyond water shortages. When water is extracted from underground soil layers faster than it can be replenished, the ground can compress, leading to subsidence. According to geological assessments, some parts of the county have already sunk between 2 to 4 inches since the 1970s. While seemingly minor, this sinking can compromise the integrity of roads, underground utility pipes, foundations, and residential infrastructure.

In response, the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District has adopted a regulatory framework aimed at capping groundwater pumping. The district’s management plan targets a limit of 64,000 acre-feet per year—roughly 57 MGD—by 2025. This cap is slated to tighten further to 50,000 acre-feet, or about 45 MGD, by 2045.

A significant shift in the region's water strategy occurred in 2015 when the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) began delivering surface water from Lake Conroe to the county. This transition has been instrumental in preserving groundwater, with the SJRA reporting that entities integrated into the surface water system have reduced their reliance on groundwater pumping by 75 percent.

The current strategy relies on a delicate balance between utilizing Lake Conroe surface water and strictly managed groundwater extraction. As the county moves toward 2050, local water authorities emphasize that regional cooperation and infrastructure investment will remain the primary tools to ensure that the area can sustain its growth without causing irreparable damage to the land it sits upon.

For more information on aquifer levels and local water conservation efforts, residents can visit the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District website at www.lonestargcd.org or the San Jacinto River Authority at www.sjra.net.