Harris County Pipeline Project Wins National Underground Infrastructure Award
West Harris County Regional Water Authority’s (WHCRWA) Surface Water Supply Project took home Water Project of the Year at the 2025 Underground Infrastructure Awards. This award, sponsored by Underground Infrastructure magazine, recognizes outstanding performance and technological advancement in water infrastructure.
Freese and Nichols transmission and utilities staff partnered with WHCRWA and program manager Gannett Fleming to design 9 miles of surface water supply line through an urban corridor. The 84-inch line will deliver 150+ MGD of water to WHCRWA’s proposed Central Pump Station, keeping the Water Authority on track to achieve 60% surface water by 2025. This goal complies with a Harris-Galveston Subsidence District mandate issued in response to escalating water demands in the Houston area and subsidence mitigation.
Rising to the Challenge
The project included more than 20 tunnels to minimize impacts at major road and creek crossings throughout the densely developed route, requiring significant coordination with utility owners, various stakeholders and public entities. It also required installation of additional pipelines parallel to the proposed 84-inch-diameter pipeline in a 60-foot easement from the Central Pump Station through residential and industrial developments.
Innovative Approaches
To make the project more contractor- and operator-friendly, our team revised approach sections toward deep tunnel crossings from a 45-degree slope to a vertical pipe section. The change reduced the overall depth of cover and used tunnel shaft for vertical piping construction. This innovative design provided a clear tunnel entry point, ideal air valve location and reduced construction footprint at each tunnel shaft.
Positive Results
The design’s effectiveness was illustrated by minimal construction modifications and change orders related to the plans and specifications. WHCRWA worked closely with Freese and Nichols, Gannett Fleming and the contractor to identify and implement several cost-saving measures. The project was the first of the Surface Water Supply Project sections to be completed.
This recognition highlights the Water Authority’s innovative work to help the local Houston community thrive and meet the needs of the rapidly growing population.