Collaboration and trust powers Houston's southeast transmission line project
The Southeast Transmission Line (SETL) is a potable water line project designed to meet the growing needs of Southeast Houston and its neighboring municipalities. With aging infrastructure and increased demand threatening the water supply's reliability, this collaborative initiative aims to ensure sustainable potable water for its growing population. With a projected completion in 2028, the collaborative approach and the trust generated by all entities involved have become essential for its progress.
Addressing an urgent need
For decades, the 42-inch diameter prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP) water line spanning along State Highway 3 near Fuqua Street to NASA Road 1 was a vital conduit for potable water in Southeast Houston. However, initial reports in 2010 indicated it was at the end of its useful life. The findings of the report were confirmed as frequent breaks occurred, posing risks to reliable water delivery. The SETL, a joint effort led by the City of Houston in partnership with eight co-participants, will replace and upsize this infrastructure, increasing capacity and providing redundancy to the system. The new pipelines will accommodate up to 75 million gallons of surface water per day, supporting the region's development for the next 50 years.
Partners working together
The SETL project exemplifies the power of partnership. Beyond the City of Houston, key co-participants include:
- League City/Gulf Coast Water Authority
- Clear Lake City Water Authority
- Baybrook Municipal Utility District No. 1
- City of Friendswood
- City of Webster
- Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 55
- City of Pasadena
In 2016, all co-participants created an interlocal agreement outlining their shared responsibilities, cost allocations, and mutual commitment to a common goal: delivering potable water efficiently and sustainably.
Engineering a sustainable future
As technical advisors, Lockwood, Andrews, & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) participated in planning the SETL and ensuring the project aligned with the needs of each co-participant. LAN was tasked in 2016 to conduct a feasibility study that resulted in recommendations to replace and upsize 11.4 miles of water transmission lines, which the City of Houston and the co-participants adopted. These recommendations addressed critical aspects, including pipeline size, easement requirements, and cost-sharing mechanisms.
The SETL included a new 54-inch diameter main transmission line connecting to a new 36-inch pipeline. This configuration replaces the aging 24-inch pipeline and ensures system redundancy by tying directly into the Southeast Water Purification Plant. The design enhances reliability and reduces long-term risks by replacing the undersized 42-inch and 24-inch pipelines.
Overcoming technical and bureaucratic challenges
The project was divided into six construction packages, all part of a strategic decision to distribute the workload among multiple engineering firms and minimize risks. LAN employed design techniques to reduce the project's physical footprint while maintaining functionality in areas such as Webster's Medical Center, crossings over State Highway 3 and Union Pacific Railroad corridors.
For instance, tunneling required a single shared shaft instead of the typical two, minimizing disruption in space-constrained zones. Collaborations with property owners, medical facilities, and state agencies ensured the project's smooth execution while addressing localized concerns.
Navigating regulatory hurdles
The project required various easements and permits, including water line easements, temporary construction easements, and access agreements. The alignment through Ellington Airport required negotiations with the Federal Aviation Administration and airport officials. LAN coordinated efforts with the other co-participants to balance the airport's operational needs with the project's objectives.
Being the managing partner among the co-participants, the City of Houston's officials developed a strategy to foster open dialogue and flexibility.
According to Panduranga Kuruva, managing engineer with the City of Houston, the strategy addressed each co-participant’s needs.
“It is challenging to achieve desired objectives when multiple stakeholders are involved with high stakes of achieving goals specific to the constraints of schedule and budget,” said Kuruva.
“Fostering a dialogue through communication is key and pivotal. Communication among stakeholders elicits their needs by balancing with the available resources and meeting the constraints of schedule,” added Kuruva.
State laws, such as Texas's Chapter 26, further mandated demonstrating the need and environmental benefits of the pipeline before proceeding through public parks. Coordinating with oil and gas pipeline owners also required detailed engineering assessments and obtaining "no objection" letters to ensure safety and alignment compatibility.
Building trust through collaboration
At the heart of the SETL's success lies trust—a foundation built on transparency, active listening, and mutual respect among co-participants. Monthly virtual meetings continue to serve as a critical touchpoint, allowing representatives to share updates, address concerns, and collaborate on solutions. These sessions have proven effective, especially when one participant's local knowledge aids others in overcoming property access challenges.
“Utilizing Microsoft Teams to meet virtually assisted us in engaging co-participants effectively. While virtually, these reunions were key to the successful collaboration on the water project,” said Manny De Pau, P.E., LAN’s Sr. Project Manager. As the manager overseeing the final design and construction documents, collaboration between the co-participants was key.
“For instance, the City of Webster played a crucial role by facilitating meetings with property owners, helping us address concerns and secure agreements for routing the large-diameter water lines. Their proactive support ensured smooth communication and alignment, paving the way for timely project progress," added De Pau.
Thanks to the numerous virtual meetings, a critical aspect of SETL that reached a consensus was ensuring financial transparency. Cost-sharing was meticulously calculated based on each participant's water demand, ensuring equitable contributions. For instance, the City of Houston funded specific construction packages to alleviate the financial burden on smaller entities.
Technical advising
LAN's advisory role has been a problem-solver, mainly when challenges arise. In one instance, connecting the 54-inch pipeline to the 96-inch transmission line was deemed too risky due to the latter's aging infrastructure and the risk of pressure loss. LAN proposed an alternative: connecting directly to the Southeast Water Purification Plant. Though this solution added $20 million to the project's cost, it was unanimously supported as it provided enhanced reliability and reduced vulnerability.
By conducting thorough modeling and presenting precise data, LAN ensured that all co-participants understood the long-term benefits of the investment, reinforcing their trust in the process.
A unified vision
The SETL project underscores the importance of collaboration in addressing critical infrastructure needs. Despite the diversity of stakeholders—from municipal water authorities to private property owners—the shared goal of delivering potable water to the community has unified all parties. Through transparent communication and equitable cost-sharing, the project models how large-scale initiatives can succeed when driven by trust and collaboration.
As construction progresses, the SETL will not only replace aging infrastructure but also lay the foundation for a resilient water supply system that meets the demands of Southeast Houston's future. By prioritizing relationships and leveraging innovative engineering, the SETL exemplifies how trust and partnership can turn complex challenges into a sustainable solution.
