Lakes 1 and 4 Renovation Update – January 20th

Soil borings were taken on the slopes of Lakes 1 and 4 to determine if the imported clay met the specifications given to the Contractor when the project was awarded.  A total of 13 test sites were selected and samples were collected at depths of one and two feet.  All of the samples met the specifications for the incoming clay.  The District’s Engineer has been questioned regarding the presence of construction debris visible in the clay.  As of this date, the Board has not received a suitable answer regarding the debris, except that it should not have affected the sealing ability of the clay liner – which assertion the Board does not agree with.

At the January 16 meeting, the District’s Engineer recommended that Lake 4 be filled to its planned lake level and kept at that level while monitoring the water volume required to maintain that level.  As of January 16, it is now the consensus of the District’s Engineer, the geotechnical firm and other firms involved with lake construction is that the imported clay needs time to swell and close up leak paths.  Estimated times provided to the Board ranged from 3 months to one year.  Refilling of Lake 4 began on January 16. The water level will be closely monitored for any water loss.  Unfortunately, the Board was not given any repair recommendations regarding Lake 1.  Once sufficient data is obtained from Lake 4, the District’s Engineer will develop a plan forward that can (hopefully) apply to both lakes.  Lake 1 levels will continue to be monitored while awaiting the results from Lake 4.

Lakes 1 and 4 Renovation Update – January 20th

The Board has been working on several projects at the two water plants.  The new well and related infrastructure at Water Plant #1 is complete. However, the TCEQ has not yet approved use of the well, so it remains inoperable at this time. The corrosion and leaks in the groundwater storage tanks at Water Plant #1 have been repaired. A new generator has been installed at Water Plant #1 to ensure that water service can be maintained in the event of a power outage. A new perimeter fence has been installed around Water Plant #2. Repairs to the Water Plant #2 control building and upgrades to the electrical system are ongoing.

Additionally, the District’s Engineer presented a list of water infrastructure repair and improvement projects totaling almost $2 million.  The Board is working with its Financial Advisor to determine the best options for funding these projects.

Fort Bend County Water Control and Improvement District No. 3

Fort Bend County Water Control and Improvement District No. 3 (FBCWCID 3, WCID 3), through the dedication of its Directors and Consultants, is committed to providing the highest quality services at the most economical costs to its customers and taxpayers.

Through FBCWCID No. 3’s website you can easily find links to the following services:

Lakes 1 and 4 Renovation Update – December 30th

The lake levels for both lakes have been monitored daily since the wells were turned off.  The lake levels dropped at a rate that was over 3 times the expected evaporation rate.  The levels for both lakes dropped at similar rates in the initial monitoring period indicating that the issue was common to both lakes.  Meetings have been held with the contractor, District Engineer, geotechnical firm, and the Board to review the original construction plans, the execution of the plan, and the testing of the clay liner during the renovation, along with options to determine the cause of the water loss.  Some proposals would require isolating portions of the lakes to determine if the leaks are isolated to a specific area or whether the leaks cover the entire lake area.  This would require the construction of the barriers along with time to refill the lakes.   There is also a question of the quality of the clay liner since both lakes appear to lose water at the same rate.  To resolve this question the Board has authorized the geotechnical firm to take samples of the clay liner at various points along the both Lakes 1 and 4 and test the material for its sealing characteristics and for the make up the material itself.  The clay samples have been taken and the Board is awaiting the results of the tests so that a plan forward can be developed to resolve the water loss issues.

Sign Up for the District’s Alert System

The District has implemented a text alert system for the residents of Fort Bend County Water Control and Improvement District No. 3. This system is designed to keep you informed of issues related to the District in a quick and timely manner. You may receive messages in text alert format related to the water service in the District, drainage and sewer related topics, and other news that is relevant to the District.

Text message notifications will contain a short amount of information with a link back to the District’s website where the remainder of the information can be viewed.

These notifications are a great way to stay up to date on news and issues within the District and we highly encourage you to sign up and share this information with your neighbors.

If you’d like to sign up to receive important news and updates from the district via text messages, you can send a text message to 346-230-3861 with the word WCID3 and you’ll be registered.