Houston City Council approved an agreement March 25 to treat the city of Bellaire’s sanitary and wastewater sewer in exchange for land that will help with flood mitigation.

What this means

Houston will provide sanitary sewer services to Bellaire for the next 100 years in exchange for the Ruffino Hills tract in Bellaire. The agreement also transfers three tracts of land to Bellaire and gives the city a $5.4 million credit for wastewater impact fees.

The city will provide sewer service to Bellaire, averaging 1.6 million gallons per day, with peak flows of up to 6.4 million gallons over two hours, according to the ordinance.

The ordinance also states that Bellaire’s wholesale wastewater service rate will be $1.90 per 1,000 gallons and that when Bellaire connects to Houston’s collection system, Bellaire will be required to pay a one-time impact fee, for which the $5.4 million credit can be applied, city officials said.

Some context

The agreement will help address flooding in the area for both cities. In July 2025, both cities agreed to a deal that would allow Bellaire to acquire the 13.15-acre Beechnut Tract near North Braeswood Boulevard and Loop 610 in exchange for the 76-acre Ruffino Tract near the Brays Oaks neighborhood in Houston.

Bellaire intends to use the Beechnut Tract, which was purchased for $6.46 million, to expand the Cypress Ditch to improve flood mitigation and drainage in the city, according to previous Community Impact reporting, while Houston turns the 76 acres into a flood detention zone to fight against future flooding.

Quote of note

Houston City Council member Abbie Kamin said this is a historic bill in partnership with the city of Bellaire.

“I just want to recognize the partnership and the transformation that is happening in an area that is one of the most repetitively flooded areas, not just in the city but in the region,” Kamin said at the City Council meeting. “Our appreciation to not only Bellaire for their partnership, but the historic nature of this item and the improvements that are coming.”

Kamin said the city will use this as an opportunity to improve its own sanitary sewer and wastewater facilities as well.

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