Pearland advances Alice plant storage upgrade with $894,000 design contract
City of Pearland Department of Public Works, Texas · Meeting date: October 26, 2026 · Published: October 27, 2026
Pearland City Council has approved an $893,929 professional-services contract with LJA Inc. covering rehabilitation of existing water-storage tanks at the Alice Water Treatment Plant and design of a new 5MG ground storage tank. The project is intended to expand storage capacity at a major City of Houston water-delivery point rather than increase treatment production.
Key points
- Council approved Resolution R2026-168 unanimously, authorising an $893,929 contract with LJA Inc.
- The scope covers rehabilitation of the existing elevated storage tank and ground storage tank, plus design of a new 5-million-gallon ground storage tank.
- Staff said the Alice site already receives 10 million gallons per day from the City of Houston and is one of Pearland's largest distribution points.
- Officials characterised the rehabilitation work as preventative maintenance, with no existing compliance issue identified.
Full report
Pearland has moved forward with engineering for a water-storage programme at its Alice Water Treatment Plant, approving an $893,929 professional-services contract with LJA Inc. for tank rehabilitation and design of a new 5-million-gallon ground storage tank.
City Council approved Resolution R2026-168 on a 7-0 vote on 26 October. The contract covers the Alice Elevated Storage Tank and Ground Storage Tank Project, WA2601, and the Alice WTP New 5MG Ground Storage Tank Project, WA2609.
The work will rehabilitate the plant's existing elevated storage tank and ground storage tank while preparing the design for additional ground storage. A staff member said the Alice site is one of Pearland's largest water-distribution points and receives 10 million gallons per day from the City of Houston.
Council discussion drew a distinction between water-production capacity and storage capacity. Staff said the new tank would not add to Pearland's stated production capacity, but would provide a larger volume of stored water and greater redundancy as development continues, including along the Highway 35 corridor and near County Road 100.
The city said it could determine when to proceed with construction of the new tank after design is complete. Having a design prepared could also help Pearland pursue future funding opportunities through the Texas Water Development Board, according to staff.
Rehabilitation of the existing assets is being undertaken as preventative maintenance. A council member asked whether the work resulted from a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality recommendation following a July 2025 inspection. Staff said there was no current compliance issue, characterising the work as a best-management practice to maintain coatings on steel tanks and prevent accelerated deterioration.
The contract approval came alongside Pearland's separate adoption of its annual intent-to-reimburse resolution for fiscal-year 2027 capital projects. That resolution allows the city to incur approved capital expenditures before reimbursing itself from a future spring bond or debt sale, while requiring project expenditures needing council approval to return to council.
This summary was generated by AI based on the source document and may contain errors.
Source: City Council Regular Meeting, City of Pearland Department of Public Works