Texas Water Development Board approves $966,090,000 to the City of Houston (Harris County) for water system improvements

For immediate release. Contact: Media Relations at 512-463-5129

AUSTIN – (July 24, 2025) – The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) today approved by resolution financial assistance in the amount of $966,090,000 to the City of Houston (Harris County) from the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT)*. The City will use the assistance for the planning, design and construction of a water supply project.

The City could save approximately $28,800,000 over the life of the loan by using the SWIFT program.

With the assistance approved today, the City will add new treatment facilities capable of producing 360 million gallons per day of drinking water to supplement the City’s existing East Water Purification Plant. The new facilities will utilize a treatment process that incorporates conventional treatment methods along with ozonation and biofiltration. The East Water Purification Plant Enhancement Project is designed to secure and expand the City’s long-term surface water treatment capacity.

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

*The SWIFT program includes two funds, the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) and the State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas (SWIRFT). Revenue bonds for the program are issued through SWIRFT.