PASSEDHouston City Council · 2026-05-27

The city will pay $1,118,000 to the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District for permits allowing Houston to withdraw groundwater in Areas 2 and 3 from February 2026 through January 2027.

What it means for you

This fee keeps Houston's groundwater withdrawal legal and regulated, which is part of managing the city's water supply for residents; the cost is covered by an Enterprise Fund rather than general tax revenue.

Outcome

Adopted — vote recorded in official minutes. Motion 2026-0289, official minutes of May 27, 2026.

Utilities — see all →Houston groundwater Areas 2 and 3

Official sources

Meeting minutes — full record with the vote (PDF) ↗

These are the official minutes — the narrative record of what happened at the meeting, including the vote on each item.

Official council district boundaries · City of Houston GIS. Tap a district to see who represents it.

How to weigh in

Where: City Hall, 901 Bagby, 2nd Floor, Houston, TX 77002
When: Council meets Tuesdays 1:30 p.m. & Wednesdays 9:00 a.m. Public Session — when you can speak — is Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. on the last Tuesday of the month).
Speak: Register by 3:00 p.m. the Monday before: call 832.393.1100, email speakers@houstontx.gov, or go in person to the City Secretary (City Hall Annex, 900 Bagby, Room P101). Each speaker gets 1–3 minutes.
Watch: Live on HTV ↗

From the City Council meetings information page. Confirm the exact date on the official agenda before you go.

Quick answersfrom the official record

How much?$1,118,000minutes ↗

Who's paid?Harris-Galveston Subsidence Districtminutes ↗

Which fund?Enterprise Fundminutes ↗

Who decides?Houston City Council — its 16 members (11 district + 5 at-large) vote; the Mayor presides and also votes. Houston Public Works brought it forward. Taken up at the May 27, 2026 meeting — Adopted.minutes ↗

Cite this: https://plaindocket.com/item/real-cs20260527-3 — data from official records via PlainDocket.