The District regulates groundwater through a Regulatory Plan and well-permitting process designed to reduce groundwater withdrawals and mitigate subsidence. The plan segments Harris and Galveston counties into three regulatory areas. Each area has conversion goals to reduce groundwater withdrawals to a specified percentage and to supply the majority of its water demand through alternative sources by a designated timeline.
HGSD’s Regulatory Plan uses a science-based adaptive management strategy that factors water demand and population growth, availability of alternative water supplies, subsidence modeling, and regulatory scenarios to determine conversion requirements. The plan is regularly reviewed through a multi-agency effort called the Joint Regulatory Plan Review and is supported by the best available science to ensure it effectively prevents further subsidence in Harris and Galveston counties.