Changing Regulations and New Developments along a Pipeline Alignment over an Extended Design Timeframe

The North Harris County Regional Water Authority planned the Project 28 series of water transmission alignments for a second water system loop to provide additional surface water and to meet the 2025 Harris-Galveston Subsidence District conversion mandate. Project 28D is a critical alignment within the Project 28 series located in northwest Houston which consists of 11,300 LF of 60-in. and 400 LF of 84-in. water transmission mains within easements and along drainage channels. Design of this project began earnestly in 2015; however, natural disasters occurred causing regulatory changes that required multiple design adjustments and delayed the completion of the design. New development also occurred along the project alignment which also required changes to the design. How the design team responded to the regulatory changes and proactively worked with property owners of the new developments ensured the project’s future success. Project 28D is now scheduled to begin construction in early 2021.