Dickinson’s Water Future: WCID #1, the Texas Water Fund, and a Resilient Path Forward

Dickinson, Texas, sits at the meeting point of growth, coastal weather, and aging infrastructure. The city’s water story is one of steady modernization, smart funding, and community grit. This post breaks down how Dickinson Water Control and Improvement District (WCID #1), new state-level funding like the Texas Water Fund, and major disaster mitigation projects are working together to protect residents, strengthen systems, and prepare for droughts and storms alike.

You’ll learn:

How WCID #1 delivers safe, reliable water and leads long-term upgrades
What the Texas Water Fund makes possible for local water projects
Why the $50 million GLO-funded flood mitigation project is a game-changer
Practical ways residents can use city weather preparedness resources
How these efforts tie into drought readiness and community resilience

WCID #1: The engine behind Dickinson’s water reliability

WCID #1 is the local government entity that provides drinking water, wastewater, and contracted solid waste services to about 8,700 households and businesses in greater Dickinson. The district’s roots go back to 1938, and it’s now the oldest retail water district in Texas. That history matters: WCID #1 has navigated major shifts—like moving from groundwater to surface water in 1983 to address land subsidence—and built a governance model tuned to local needs.

Key facts:

Governance: Five-member elected board serving four-year terms
Service: Drinking water, sanitary sewer, and contracted solid waste
Supply: Treated surface water purchased from the Gulf Coast Water Authority’s Thomas Mackey Water Treatment Plant, sourced from the Brazos River
Investment: Ongoing capital projects to modernize plants, storage, pumps, and distribution

Why this matters for drought and disaster alike:

A surface water supply adds regional reliability and reduces subsidence risk
Upgrades to pumping, storage, and looping increase pressure stability during high demand or emergency operations
Modernized infrastructure reduces water loss and improves energy efficiency

WCID #1’s commitment to infrastructure also shows up in financing choices. In recent years, the district has used bond elections and state/federal programs to pace upgrades in a fiscally responsible way. This allows the community to match project timing with funding availability while keeping long-term affordability in view.

The Texas Water Fund: New momentum for local projects

Voters approved the Texas Water Fund in November 2023 to boost financing for critical water projects statewide. Administered by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), the fund isn’t a single program—it’s a way to channel dollars into proven tools that communities can use now. For cities like Dickinson and providers like WCID #1, this translates to more options and faster routes to shovel-ready projects.

What the Texas Water Fund supports:

Transfers into existing TWDB programs to accelerate loans and subsidies
At least $250 million reserved for the New Water Supply for Texas Fund, focusing on desalination (marine and brackish), aquifer storage and recovery (ASR), and produced water treatment, plus related infrastructure
Targeted support for rural and smaller municipalities, water conservation, and water loss control
A statewide water public awareness program (with an initial campaign budgeted up to $2 million/year)

How this helps Dickinson:

Faster, more flexible financing for water and wastewater improvements
Potential for subsidized loans and, in some programs, grants for conservation and loss reduction
Support for projects that harden systems against drought, extreme heat, and peak demand
Resources for public outreach and behavior change that reduce system stress

In practice, the Texas Water Fund can dovetail with ongoing WCID #1 plans—think aging pipe replacements, pressure zone improvements, tank rehab, and SCADA upgrades. It also strengthens regional coordination, since Dickinson’s water supply and stormwater dynamics connect to county and Gulf Coast systems.

The $50 million GLO-funded flood mitigation project: Turning lessons into lasting protection

After Hurricane Harvey and repeat flood events, Dickinson prioritized drainage improvements that can move water faster and protect critical facilities. Through the Texas General Land Office (GLO), Community Development Block Grant Mitigation (CDBG-MIT) program, Dickinson secured approximately $49.3 million for a citywide flood mitigation and diversion effort. In the same award slate, WCID #1 received funding for key water plant resiliency upgrades, and neighboring cities gained complementary drainage and wastewater improvements.

What’s included in the Dickinson project:

Two major storm sewer systems to drain floodwaters from several bayous more quickly to Dickinson Bayou
A large eastward storm sewer under Hughes Road with an outfall to Dickinson Bayou downstream, paired with road reconstruction and added floodplain/detention storage
A storm sewer beginning near FM 1266 and Deats Road to pull water from West Gum Bayou, routed southwest and west under multiple corridors and out to Dickinson Bayou
Connections to enhance drainage near the railroad corridor, State Highway 3, and areas flowing to Bensen Bayou

WCID #1 resiliency upgrades funded as part of countywide mitigation:

Elevated booster pump stations above the floodplain at Falco and Hollywood plants
Elevated natural gas emergency generators at each water plant for reliable backup power
Upsized and looped distribution line between plants for redundancy and stable pressure
Inspection, rehabilitation, and repainting of ground storage tanks and the elevated storage tank

Why this matters for drought and reliability:

Protecting water plants from flood damage preserves capacity and pressure during emergencies
Backup power and elevated equipment reduce downtime from storms and power outages
System looping reduces single points of failure and improves flow during peak demand or fire events
Less flood damage means fewer emergency repairs and more budget for proactive drought resilience

The broader county package—totaling $179 million—adds regional strength, since water, wastewater, and drainage networks don’t stop at city limits. When neighboring systems are hardened, Dickinson benefits from fewer upstream backups, cleaner receiving waters, and more reliable shared corridors during evacuations.

Drought contingency planning: The quiet backbone of resilience

While floods grab headlines, drought is a steady pressure in Texas. Drought contingency plans set stage-based measures to manage demand when supplies tighten or peak consumption spikes. For a surface-water-supplied community like Dickinson, drought triggers can come from upstream conditions, river basin constraints, and regional treatment capacity, not only local rainfall.

Common features you can expect in drought planning:

Staged conservation measures (from voluntary reductions to mandatory restrictions)
Limits on outdoor irrigation schedules and non-essential water uses at higher stages
Accelerated leak detection, meter audits, and pressure management to reduce loss
Public education to shift behavior and flatten peak demand

How current investments support drought readiness:

Storage tank rehab improves usable volume and water quality, reducing waste
Pump and motor upgrades improve energy efficiency, lowering operating costs during prolonged heat
System looping and SCADA upgrades give operators more control to balance flow and pressure during restrictions
Texas Water Fund resources can help scale conservation and water loss projects

Put simply, a system that can withstand a hurricane’s surge is better equipped to handle a summer of 100-degree days and tight river conditions. Drought resilience and flood resilience are two sides of the same coin: redundancy, elevation, power reliability, and efficient operations.

Weather preparedness: What residents can do today

Dickinson’s Emergency Management team maintains weather preparedness resources to help households plan before storm season and extreme heat arrive. These aren’t just “nice to have”—they’re force multipliers that make utility operations smoother and keep families safer.

Practical steps:

Build a go-bag and a car kit with water, medications, chargers, flashlights, and copies of IDs
Know evacuation routes and plan for a single family vehicle to reduce congestion
Sign up for local alerts and bookmark the city’s weather resources page
Store water safely, and keep a small stock of shelf-stable foods
If you have a sprinkler system, check timers and consider a smart controller to comply with watering schedules during drought stages

How preparedness helps the whole system:

Fewer last-minute evacuations reduce traffic snarls that can slow utility crews
Adhering to irrigation schedules lowers peak demand and helps maintain pressure citywide
Early reporting of leaks and backflow issues prevents larger losses and contamination risks

Community resilience: Built on planning, funding, and persistence

Dickinson’s approach combines three essentials:

Strong local management through WCID #1 with a focus on infrastructure lifecycle and service reliability
Smart use of state and federal programs—the Texas Water Fund, GLO CDBG-MIT grants, and TWDB financing tools—to accelerate projects and manage costs
Consistent public readiness, from weather planning to day-to-day conservation

Results you can see:

Elevated, modernized water facilities
Improved flood mitigation systems to reduce risk during extreme weather events
Increased water storage capacity to support future growth and reliability
Enhanced community engagement through transparency and education initiatives

These results demonstrate the power of combining smart planning, strategic funding, and consistent management. By leveraging both local expertise and external resources, Dickinson sets a strong example for how communities can build resilient and efficient water infrastructure. It’s a model that prioritizes both immediate improvements and long-term sustainability, ensuring a reliable water system for generations to come.

Dickinson’s Information

Official Website: https://www.dickinsontexas.gov/
Dickinson Customer Service Email: customerservice@gcwcid1tx.gov
Dickinson Conservation Phone: 281-337-1576