The 2021 Annual Groundwater Report was approved by the HGSD Board of Directors on May 11, 2022, and is now available. Click here to read the report.

The report covers climate data, groundwater use within our area, aquifer water levels, and updated subsidence rates. Each of these topics is compared to data from previous years, providing context on the impact of changes in water use and water sources on the occurrence and extent of subsidence.

This year’s report is very similar to last year. The climate is relatively unchanged, water use is generally consistent, and areas of active subsidence continue to be areas where groundwater is the primary source of water. Some key findings from this report are:

  • The 2021 calendar year began with four climate stations measuring precipitation values below normal until intermittent summer storms supplied enough rainfall for all climate stations to be above the 1991-2020 normal level for the majority of summer and fall.  The year ended with most climate stations around normal conditions except for William P. Hobby Airport, which measured over 6 inches below the 29-year average.
  • Groundwater use in the District was approximately 21% of the total water demand and was primarily used for public supply in Harris County.  The total water demand in 2021 was approximately 986.7 million gallons per day (MGD), with the majority of water supplied from surface water sources.
  • The land surface remains generally stable throughout Regulatory Areas One and Two, with 2017-2021 annual subsidence rates below half a centimeter per year as both areas have achieved full conversion to alternative water sources.  Subsidence rates were above half a centimeter per year for areas in Regulatory Area Three as this area is still undergoing regulatory conversion.

The District’s General Manager, Mike Turco, shares, “This Annual Groundwater Report includes data collected through the largest cooperative data collection effort of its kind, bringing together local, regional, academic, and federal partners to describe water use, aquifer conditions, and subsidence.”

To view the full report and the executive summary, visit the Annual Groundwater Reports page on our website. For more information on the District’s ongoing research projects, click here.