Project 31 Route Study and Alternative (Second Loop)

Project 31A is part of the North Harris County Regional Water Authority’s (NHCRWA) Second Loop 2025 Water System Distribution and Transmission System to comply with the required Groundwater Reduction Plan and consists of approximately 20,000 LF of WLs ranging from 36” to 12” in diameter. This project begins at the future SH-249 Regional Pump Station. It ends with a connection to the Authority’s Project 31C along Windfern Road. It consists of approximately 3,800 LF of 16” WL from Bobcat Rd at Windfern Road to Emerald Forest municipal utility districts (MUD) water receiving facility as a second loop. The WL will be primarily located along the proposed WL easements, Harris County right-of-way (ROW), and CenterPoint Energy (CPN) High-Voltage Transmission Line fee corridors.

The scope for Project 31A includes various crossings of pipelines, Harris County roadways, TxDOT highway, and CPN transmission line towers. The proposed WL will be constructed by a combination of open-cut and trenchless methods. A micro tunnel boring machine will be a requirement for tunneling construction at some locations. This is to mitigate impacts on existing features/structures. Project 31A also includes the connections to six water-receiving facilities managed by different MUDs. Each facility has its own unique design for the connection and yard piping. Furthermore, each facility possesses chloramine conversion and electrical design based on its existing condition and available space.

Aurora also served as the design consultant to provide Project 31 Route Study in 2020. The Second Loop Water System (Project 31) will consist of approximately 18 miles of water transmission line and will begin at the future SH-249 Regional Pump Station. It will terminate with a connection to an existing 54” WL near Grant Rd and N. Eldridge Pkwy. Additionally, Project 31 will connect to 8 MUD districts and 14 water plants.