MUD 391 Spring Creek Wastewater Plant Meeting

**Proposed Wastewater Plant Within Spring Creek Greenway Sparks Concerns Ahead of Public Meeting**

SPRING, TX – A significant public meeting is scheduled for next week regarding a proposed wastewater treatment plant that could impact the cherished Spring Creek Greenway and critical local waterways, including Lake Houston, a primary drinking water source for the region.

Montgomery County Municipal Utility District (MUD) 391 will host a public meeting and hearing on **Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 6:00 PM**. The gathering will take place at **Grand Oaks High School, located at 4800 Riley Fuzzel Road in Spring, Texas**. Residents, environmental advocates, and any interested parties are strongly encouraged to attend to ask questions, voice concerns, and learn more directly from MUD 391 representatives.

The focus of the meeting is MUD 391’s application for Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) Permit No. WQ0015978001. This permit, filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) on June 14, 2023, would authorize the construction and operation of a new domestic wastewater treatment facility. The plant is designed to treat up to 1,000,000 gallons of wastewater per day (1 MGD).

**Location Within a Protected Area Raises Questions**

The proposed plant’s physical location is a 28.9-acre tract situated northeast of the intersection of Riley Fuzzel Road and Imperial Oaks Boulevard. Critically, this site lies **within the Spring Creek Greenway**, a sprawling conservation and recreation corridor that preserves natural floodplains, forests, and wildlife habitats along Spring Creek. The Greenway is a collaborative effort by multiple entities, including Harris County Precinct 4 and Montgomery County Precinct 4, to create the longest continuous urban forested corridor in the nation.

“Placing a wastewater treatment facility directly within a protected environmental corridor like the Spring Creek Greenway raises serious questions about land use planning and long-term ecological impact,” said a local environmental advocate, who preferred not to be named before the meeting. “The Greenway was established to protect these sensitive ecosystems, not to house industrial infrastructure.”

Once operational, the facility would discharge its treated effluent directly into Spring Creek. From there, the water flows into the West Fork San Jacinto River and ultimately empties into Lake Houston, a crucial drinking water source for millions of residents in Houston and surrounding communities. Concerns have been raised about the potential for increased nutrient loading, chemical discharges, and other pollutants affecting water quality in the entire watershed.

**MUD 391 Cites Growth, TCEQ Process**

MUD 391 has stated that the primary purpose of this facility is to provide essential wastewater services for existing customers and accommodate future development within its rapidly growing service area. The area around Riley Fuzzel Road and Imperial Oaks Boulevard has seen significant residential and commercial growth in recent years, driving the need for expanded infrastructure.

The TCEQ’s TPDES permitting process involves rigorous review to ensure that proposed discharges meet state and federal water quality standards. However, public input is a vital component of this process. The official public notice regarding this meeting and proposal was published in The Courier on April 24, 2024.

“This meeting is a critical opportunity for residents to understand the details of this project and make their voices heard,” stated a representative from a local civic association. “The health of our waterways and our drinking water supply depend on careful planning and robust public oversight.”

In addition to attending the public meeting, concerned citizens can submit written comments to the TCEQ regarding Permit No. WQ0015978001. Information on how to submit comments can typically be found on the TCEQ’s website.

**Key Details for Public Meeting:**
* **What:** Public Meeting and Hearing on TPDES Permit No. WQ0015978001
* **When:** Wednesday, May 22, 2024, at 6:00 PM
* **Where:** Grand Oaks High School, 4800 Riley Fuzzel Road, Spring, Texas
* **Hosted by:** Montgomery County MUD 391

For more information on the permit application, visit the TCEQ’s public notice search page: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/wastewater/wq_public_notice_search (Search for Permit No. WQ0015978001).

For details on the Spring Creek Greenway, visit: https://www.springcreekgreenway.org/