SJRA awards $973k contract to Weisinger for Woodlands water well rehabilitation

SJRA awards $973k contract to Weisinger for Woodlands water well rehabilitationThe San Jacinto River Authority has approved a $973,255 construction contract with Weisinger Incorporated to rehabilitate Water Well Nos. 3 and 13, restoring critical groundwater capacity for the Woodlands Division.

Water Well Nos. 3 and 13, which have design capacities of 1,300 gpm and 1,500 gpm respectively, were taken out of service due to significant reductions in pumping capacity.

The $973,255 contract with Weisinger Incorporated includes well video surveys, cleaning, and replacing fabricated well equipment.

As part of a 20-year capital improvement plan, the pump for Water Well No. 3 will be lowered by 50 feet to address regional aquifer trends.

The San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA) Board of Directors has awarded a $973,255 construction contract to Weisinger Incorporated for the rehabilitation of Water Well Nos. 3 and 13 in the Woodlands Division. The approval, granted during the board's June 25 meeting, aims to restore vital groundwater infrastructure that recently experienced significant mechanical issues and capacity reductions. Water Well No. 3, originally installed in 1979 with a design capacity of 1,300 gallons per minute (gpm), was taken out of service in March 2025. Water Well No. 13, installed in 1997 with a 1,500 gpm capacity, was taken offline in June 2024. During the meeting, a staff member explained that the wells in the Woodlands system range in age from 14 to 53 years. Because the wells frequently run at full capacity and 1,800 RPMs, the equipment typically wears out after 10 to 15 years, leading to vibrations, mechanical failures, and reduced flow. "Because of the age of the equipment that's been in there and the amount of wear and tear and because of the mechanical issues we know that have happened or probably have happened, most likely most if not all of the equipment will have to be replaced," the staff member noted. The rehabilitation project, designed in-house by the SJRA Technical Services Department, will involve removing and inspecting the existing pumping equipment, cleaning the wells, conducting video surveys to check for structural issues, and installing new fabricated equipment. In addition to the standard rehabilitation work, the project includes lowering the pump in Water Well No. 3 by 50 feet. This proactive measure aligns with recommendations from a 20-Year Water Well Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) finalized in April 2023, which evaluated water quality, production levels, and potential aquifer decline. Although the mechanical failure prompted an earlier-than-expected rehabilitation for Well No. 3, the authority opted to proceed with the recommended lowering during this service window. Groundwater currently provides 45% to 50% of the total water supply for the Woodlands Division, with surface water serving as a supplementary source. Maintaining reliable well infrastructure is a critical component of the area's overall future water supply strategy, ensuring the system can meet 100% of demand if surface water sources are ever taken offline. The project is being funded through Repair and Replacement (R&R) funds, with substantial completion expected within 180 calendar days of the notice to proceed. Weisinger Incorporated was the sole respondent to the competitive sealed proposal, submitting a bid that closely matched the engineer's estimate of $973,000.