Community Impact reports that the Conroe City Council, due to ongoing concerns about water infrastructure capacity and growth in certain portions of the city, voted unanimously on April 16th to extend its temporary development moratorium.
According to the city’s website, originally put into effect in August and extended for the first time in December, the moratorium prohibits new subdivision, site planning and construction activity in the northern portion of the city.
Public Works Director and Assistant City Administrator Norman McGuire said, the city is “at about 85 percent capacity, which is still within the [Texas Commission on Environmental Quality] threshold.” Previous to the moratorium they were standing at 96 percent capacity. The city is predicting a “long summer.” He noted that “Irrigation alone accounts for over 50 percent of water use during that time.”
In May, at a city council workshop, it was estimated that the city would require around $50 million to pay for critical water infrastructure improvements.
In a later June meeting of the council, they approved seasonal irrigation restrictions covering May through October.
While some relief is on the way by way of capital improvement projects, according to McGuire more changes in regard to the moratorium may be necessary.
