About Harris County WCID No. 89

Our History and Creation 

Harris County Water Control and Improvement District No. 89, a political subdivision of the State of Texas, was created by the Texas Water Commission and operates pursuant to Chapters 49 and 54 of the Texas Water Code, as amended. The District is located in Harris County approximately 10 miles south of the central business district of the City of Houston, Texas and 7 miles south of the Texas Medical Center. The District is located generally 1 mile east of the intersection of State Highway 288 and South Beltway 8. South Beltway 8 bisects the District. The District is bounded generally on the north by Shurmier Road, Fellows Road on the south, Cullen Boulevard on the east and Furman Street to the west.

The District, as it was originally created, included approximately 514 acres. Since its creation, the District has annexed certain tracts of land; the District currently includes approximately 874 acres, which contains the Morningside Place, Brunswick Lakes, and Brunswick Meadows subdivisions (which total approximately 478 acres), as well as approximately 147 acres of developed and partially improved commercial and multi-family building development. Additionally, the District includes approximately 4 acres of developable land that remain to be developed and 245 acres that are undevelopable. The District presently has 2,740 completed homes, 0 homes under construction, and 10 vacant developed lots.

Harris County Water Control and Improvement District No. 89 (the “District”) has served the community for over 60 years. The District was originally created effective March 6, 1964, by an Order of the Texas Water Rights Commission (now the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, or TCEQ). The Board of Directors held its first meeting shortly thereafter on April 28, 1964. 

While the District retains its original name as a “Water Control and Improvement District,” it was officially converted to a Municipal Utility District (MUD) on April 11, 1984, by an Order of the Texas Water Commission. This conversion granted the District broad powers to better serve the developing residential and commercial needs of the area. 

Why We Exist 

Special purpose districts like WCID No. 89 are created to provide essential infrastructure to communities where municipal services (like those from the City of Houston) were not historically available or where the city was unable to finance the necessary infrastructure for new development. 

The District operates with a commitment to manage and protect the community’s water resources with integrity and innovation. Our goal is to ensure a safe and reliable water supply for current and future generations, maintain fiscal responsibility, and foster community engagement and environmental stewardship. 

What We Do: Operations and Services 

The District operates as a political subdivision of the State of Texas under Chapters 49 and 54 of the Texas Water Code. We are empowered to purchase, construct, operate, and maintain all facilities necessary to provide the following services to our residents: 

• Water and Wastewater: We manage the supply and distribution of potable water and the collection and treatment of sanitary waste. Our infrastructure includes two water plants, a wastewater treatment plant with a capacity of 0.95 million gallons per day (MGD), and four lift stations. 
• Drainage and Flood Control: We maintain storm sewer drainage systems and detention ponds (including facilities in Morningside Place, Brunswick Lakes, and Brunswick Meadows) to manage stormwater runoff and protect property. 

• Solid Waste Collection: The District contracts with private providers (currently Best Trash) to manage solid waste (garbage) collection and recycling for residents. 

• Security: To ensure public safety, the District contracts with the Harris County Constable’s Office, Precinct 7, to provide patrol services and security monitoring for District facilities. 

District Infrastructure and Location 

The District is located approximately 10 miles south of the central business district of Houston and 7 miles south of the Texas Medical Center. It is generally bounded by Shurmier Road to the north, Fellows Road to the south, Cullen Boulevard to the east, and Furman Street to the west, with South Beltway 8 bisecting the District. 

Our Water Sources: The District provides water through a combination of groundwater and surface water. We operate two water wells and maintain a water supply contract with the City of Houston to incorporate surface water into our system, ensuring compliance with the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District requirements. 

Governance and Transparency 

The District is governed by a five-member Board of Directors elected by the residents to serve staggered four-year terms. The Board establishes policies, sets tax rates, and oversees the management of the District’s assets. 

Because the District does not have its own full-time employees for daily field operations, the Board hires professional consultants to manage day-to-day activities, including: 

• Operator: Manages the water plants, billing, and repairs (currently Municipal Operations & Consulting). 

• Tax Assessor/Collector: Manages tax collections (Wheeler & Associates). 

• Engineer: Oversees infrastructure projects and repairs (MK Engineering). 

• Legal Counsel: Advises on statutory compliance (Norton Rose Fulbright). 

• Bookkeeper: Manages financial records and bill payments (Artesian Financial Services). 

The District operates transparently in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act and the Public Information Act, ensuring that residents remain informed about the District’s financial health and operational decisions.