The Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD) is dedicated to preventing further subsidence by implementing a science-driven Regulatory Plan that divides HGSD’s jurisdiction into three Regulatory Areas. These areas all share the goal of reducing overall groundwater withdrawals to prevent further subsidence; however, each regulatory area’s groundwater withdrawals will be reduced to a specific percentage of its total water demand by a designated date, based on the availability of alternative water sources, geophysical characteristics, and groundwater demand.

Regulatory Area 1

Groundwater withdrawals for each permittee must comprise no more than 10% of the permittee’s annual total water demand.

Regulatory Area 2

Groundwater withdrawals for each permittee must comprise no more than 20% of the permittee’s annual total water demand.

Regulatory Area 3

Groundwater withdrawals must not exceed 20% of the permittee’s annual total water demand, unless the permittee is operating under a certified groundwater reduction plan (GRP).

  • Beginning with permits issued in 2025, permittees operating under a certified GRP shall be required to reduce and maintain their groundwater withdrawals to comprise no more than 40% of the annual total water demand.
  • Beginning with permits issued in 2035 and continuing thereafter, permittees operating under a certified GRP shall be required to reduce and maintain their groundwater withdrawals to comprise no more than 20% of the annual total water demand.

If groundwater withdrawal is reduced, where will we get our water from?

The goal is to shift our region’s primary water supply from groundwater to sustainable alternative water supplies that do not cause further land subsidence. However, the transition from groundwater to alternative water supplies (surface water, reclaimed water, etc.) is complex and requires regional water planning, which is why the Texas Legislature created Regional Water Authorities to provide local control for these water infrastructure projects and are responsible for facilitating the conversion from groundwater to alternative water supplies to meet HGSD’s Regulatory Plan requirements.