Texas Water Development Board approves $70,754,904 in financial assistance to the City of Houston (Harris County) to finance water system improvements

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AUSTIN – (January 23, 2014) – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) today approved by resolution financial assistance in the amount of $70,754,904 to the City of Houston (Harris County) consisting of a $70,580,000 loan and $174,904 in loan forgiveness from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to finance water system improvements.

The City of Houston intends to use the funds to finance water system improvements, including water main replacement, replacement of 50,000 obsolete meters, and the installation of an automatic meter reading program. The newly upgraded meter reading system will reach a diverse portion of the population including residential, commercial, and institutional customers. Through this project the city will be able to address water loss and improve conservation.

The TWDB is the state agency charged with collecting and disseminating water-related data, assisting with regional planning, and preparing the state water plan for the development of the state's water resources. The TWDB administers cost-effective financial assistance programs for the construction of water supply, wastewater treatment, flood control, and agricultural water conservation projects.