Just saw these articles in the local news:
- Houston Public Works seeks $15 billion for new water plant, wastewater improvements and
- Houston-area’s biggest drinking water facility failing, officials scramble for money to replace it.
To be clear, these articles seem to refer mostly to Houston’s drinking water, noting some problems for the wastewater system as well. And problems in general with Houston’s finances.
Those reports led me to research some of my past articles on Bellaire’s drainage and wastewater treatment plans, some with Houston connections. Most of the plans track back to our major floods in 2015, 2016, and 2017, but recently there’s a push to demolish our wastewater treatment plant and connect to Houston’s WWTP on Beechnut.
Why would a city spend $30 million to demolish a public facility and cede control of that vital operation to another city? What happens if there’s a problem with the pumps or the pipeline that moves raw waste and sewage from Bellaire to a wastewater treatment plant located across a busy Houston street and on the bank of Brays Bayou? Or a problem with the City of Houston’s WWTP? Who do you call?
In 2020 City Manager Brant Gary initiated submission of a $65 million dollar grant to move to the Houston service. It was not approved, but included a pipeline to the Almeda-Sims WWTP, 8 to 10 miles from Bellaire. See Item 2 below. Would Bellaire be responsible for more cash flow to Houston for updates and repairs if something changes with the Beechnut plant?
Then we have the $40 million in bonds recently approved by voters to apply towards a $110 million estimate to widen Cypress Ditch, located in Houston and part of a 2021 plan for flood control for our area. Council recently approved another $3 million to Ardurra for this project, and an additional $70 million is needed cover the cost. Bellaire/Harris County/TXDOT committed $335 million towards the overall project. See Item 3 below.
- 2018: 2019: Drainage Plan – Town Hall Meeting – Spruce St
- 2020: Is Bellaire Ready For The Cost, Uncertainty Of Turning Over Wastewater Treatment To Houston And Demolition Of Our Wastewater Treatment Plant? – this is particularly interesting, since part of the grant application included: “Bellaire’s wastewater plant would be gone, and wastewater would be routed to the City of Houston’s Almeda Sims plant via an 8 to 9 mile long pipeline. Public Works would be relocated. Land and new buildings are included in the grant but not a new wastewater treatment plant. Here’s the link to the October 5, 2020 Council meeting. The October 5th CDBG workshop begins about 3 minutes into the meeting.”
- 2021: Master Drainage Concept Plan for City of Bellaire – UPDATE – Preliminary Cost is $335 Million
- 2022: Harris County Flood Control District: Tunnel Visions – an odd one…
- 2022: City Council’s Agreement with Ardurra in December, 2022 from the City of Bellaire website
- 2022: First Report From Ardurra Group Hired To Oversee Regional Drainage Program for Bellaire
- 2024: Two Public Hearings Are Scheduled On August 5, 2024: A Stormwater Ordinance And The FY2025 Bellaire Budget – that’s the new $6.00 charge on your water bill
- 2025: $3 Million To Ardurra In The February 17, 2024 Council Agenda
Ardurra’s suggestions in 2024 for Cypress Ditch improvements
Updated 6/30/2025: $54 million grant in 2025 for Cypress Ditch improvements
No word on who will maintain Cypress Ditch in the future. Find some overhead photos of overgrown Cypress Ditch here.
Speak in person or send comments to the Mayor and City Council via our City Clerk, Tracy Dutton, at tdutton@bellairetx.gov
Construction on the new Bellaire High school is complete. The original building was demolished during the week of July 13-17, 2021. 
FEMA imposes requirements for new structures and limits on existing structures in flood zones. Check with Development Services for more information,