Conroe Moves Toward Citywide Building Moratorium Amid Water Crisis

by Bren Brewer

City officials in Conroe are taking bold steps to confront a growing water infrastructure crisis that could significantly affect future residential and commercial development. On June 20, the Conroe City Council voted 3-2 in favor of advancing a citywide building moratorium, citing noncompliance with state-mandated water capacity requirements.

💧 Why Is Conroe Considering a Building Moratorium?

According to Conroe city staff, the city is currently operating beyond its permitted water capacity. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requires municipalities to maintain a 15% reserve water capacity to handle emergency demands and peak usage. Right now, Conroe is falling short of that threshold.

With over 51,000 active water connections and pressure from ongoing residential and commercial development, city leaders are proposing several key actions:

Extending the current 120-day moratorium (already in place for North Conroe)
Requesting a water capacity waiver from the TCEQ
Implementing water conservation measures, such as limiting irrigation to once a week

🏗️ How the Building Moratorium Impacts Growth in Conroe, TX

If approved, the proposed moratorium would pause all new home construction and commercial development projects across Conroe, one of the fastest-growing cities in Montgomery County, TX. This move directly affects real estate investors, home builders, and prospective buyers in neighborhoods like Grand Central Park, Graystone Hills, and Artavia.

The decision follows years of underfunded infrastructure proposals. Since 2011, city staff have requested nearly $195 million for water projects but only received funding for $71 million. In contrast, more than $110 million was spent on parks, trails, and beautification efforts.

According to Brandy Taylor of the Conroe Engineering Department, had the city funded its original water infrastructure plan in 2018, six new wells could be operational today.

🛠️ What’s Being Done to Fix Conroe’s Water Issues?

City officials are working swiftly to address the crisis by prioritizing several high-impact projects, including:

Finalizing Water Plant No. 2 and a bypass waterline for Plant 15
Designing at least four new municipal wells
Seeking regulatory flexibility from TCEQ

The city has acknowledged past planning failures and is now focused on damage control and infrastructure recovery—especially with peak summer water demand fast approaching.

“We are all losers. The job that we have to do moving forward is to mitigate the damage because this city has not done the right thing.”

— Mayor Pro Tem Harry Hardman

👀 What Conroe Residents and Developers Should Watch For

Local homebuyers, builders, and business owners should stay informed about upcoming City Council meetings and public hearings, where community input will be welcome before the final moratorium vote.

As the situation develops, it’s crucial for real estate professionals, investors, and residents to monitor how these changes may affect housing inventory, property values, and development timelines across the Conroe real estate market and surrounding areas like The Woodlands, Willis, and Montgomery, TX.

📌 Stay Updated on Conroe’s Water Crisis and Real Estate News

This unfolding story will shape the future of real estate in Conroe and the Greater Montgomery County region. We’ll continue providing real estate news updates, market insights, and community alerts as new information becomes available.