The Harris-Galveston Subsidence District provides groundwater regulation implemented through a science-driven Regulatory Plan and a well-permitting process to prevent further subsidence in Harris and Galveston counties.
overview of the permitting process
STEP 1 - Application with Fee
An application must be completed for each well to be permitted. Complete and submit the application via the District’s online Portal. After the District staff verifies and processes your application, you can then pay the application fee.
In addition to your name and contact information, additional information is requested regarding the physical location of the well, the depth and size of the well, and the amount of groundwater you expect to use over the next year.
STEP 2 - Public Hearing
The District is required by law to hold a Public Hearing on each permit application submitted to the District. Prior to the date of the Hearing, you will receive a hearing notice informing you of the time, date, and location of the Hearing. Although your attendance is welcomed, you are not required to attend the Hearing. At the hearing, District staff will present your application to a Hearing Examiner along with staff’s recommendations and comments on the application. You may be contacted after the hearing if additional information is needed.
STEP 3 - Board Action
Once your permit application has gone through the Hearing, it will be scheduled for one of the District’s Board meetings. Board meetings are regularly held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 10:00 am at the District’s office. You are not required to attend the Board meeting. You will only receive notice of the Board meeting if you specifically request notification or if there are special circumstances regarding your application, such as a prior violation or a difference between the amount of groundwater requested in the application and the amount recommended by the Hearing Examiner.
STEP 4 - Permit Fee Statement
Once your permit application is approved by the Board, you will receive a permit fee statement. This statement will show the amount of groundwater that may be pumped during the term of your permit and the corresponding charge for that amount of permitted groundwater.
STEP 5 - Permit Issued
Once your permit fee statement is paid, you will receive your water well permit.
The Harris-Galveston Subsidence District (HGSD) may limit groundwater withdrawals or deny permits following the guidelines stated in the HGSD Act, this Regulatory Plan, and the District Rules. In determining whether to issue a permit or limit groundwater withdrawals the HGSD will weigh the public benefit against individual hardship, after considering all appropriate documentation and relevant factors.
Permit Fees
The Harris-Galveston Subsidence District’s fees are intended to operate as an economic disincentive to producing groundwater as one of the available regulatory tools. The Regulatory Plan contains a permit fee structure that includes a District Permit Fee and a Disincentive Permit Fee.
District Permit Fees
This fee is applied to all of a permittee’s authorized groundwater withdrawals. Funds obtained from the collection of base fees are used to cover the costs of issuing permits and performing other regulatory functions of the HGSD.
Disincentive Permit Fee
The purpose of the disincentive permit fee is to create an economic incentive for permittees to take steps to ultimately reduce groundwater according to the schedule set forth in the Regulatory Plan. The revenue generated by the disincentive fee is strictly designated to the Science & Research fund.
The District has established a disincentive permit fee rate equal to 200% of the City of Houston’s Contract Treated Water Service Charge without airgap between systems rate, plus the Premium Over Contract Minimum rate, per thousand gallons of authorized groundwater withdrawal. The disincentive permit fee is indexed to this rate annually.