WEBINAR

Smart Solutions for Greener Communities: Cinco MUD No. 1's Reuse Revolution

Cinco Municipal Utility District No. 1 is setting a new standard for sustainable water management through an innovative reuse initiative that repurposes wastewater effluent for community irrigation. This collaborative effort among multiple Houston-area districts demonstrates how regional partnerships and creative planning can drive meaningful water conservation and environmental stewardship.

December 02, 2025

6:00 PM UTC

1 hour

December 2, 2025

1:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM CT / 10:00 AM PT / 6:00 PM GMT

Duration: 1 hour

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A certificate of attendance will be offered.

Summary

In a bid to conserve water resources and reduce reliance on potable water for irrigation, the Cinco Municipal Utility District (MUD) No. 1 in the Houston area has pioneered innovative water reuse solutions. Their efforts to repurpose wastewater effluent for community irrigation have set a precedent in sustainable water management.

Cinco MUD No. 1, which oversees eight districts in the Katy area, recognized the need for environmentally responsible water use. However, the existing wastewater treatment facilities proved insufficient to meet the growing demand for reuse water across greenbelts and golf courses.

Enter the Cinco Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). With a capacity of 3 million gallons per day, this plant was initially designed to cater to residential and commercial development, leaving limited space for green areas. Consequently, the four districts it serves did not require a comprehensive irrigation system. The treated effluent from this plant ultimately flows into the Barker Reservoir, Buffalo Bayou, and the Houston Ship Channel.

Recognizing the potential for collaboration, discussions between Cinco Regional WWTP and Cinco MUD No. 1 ensued to transfer effluent for irrigation and bolster Cinco MUD No. 1's reuse efforts. However, such a transfer involved complex legal agreements and regulatory permits through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) in coordination with Memorial MUD, the facility owner, and Harris County MUD No. 81, the operator.

Through this collaborative partnership, effluent from Cinco Regional WWTP gains a meaningful repurposed use, contributing to sustainable water conservation in a region where water conservation remains a top priority.

This success story exemplifies the potential for regional cooperation and creative solutions to address pressing environmental challenges, serving as a compelling model for sustainable water management practices across communities.

Speakers

Kate Hallaway, P.E., CFM

Senior Project Manager

BGE, Inc.

With over 20 years of experience, Kate Hallaway is a senior project manager and associate at BGE, Inc. She provides leadership to the Public Works Infrastructure Group, advising on water plants, wastewater plants and large diameter water lines. Kate enjoys working on projects that provide resiliency to the existing infrastructure system, and she is always seeking more efficient ways for utility districts and municipalities to manage their assets. Kate also has served as the 2022 president of the Southeast Chapter of the Texas Section of the American Water Works Association and was the founding chair of the Utility Engineering and Survey Institute Houston Chapter for the Houston Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers. A licensed professional engineer in the State of Texas, Kate received both a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Master of Business Administration from Rice University. She was named 2020 Young Engineer for the Southeast Chapter of TAWWA and received BGE’s Dick Gay Core Values Award in 2021.

Patrick Cathcart

co-presenter and Board President

MUD No. 81

For 40 years, Patrick Cathcart has served on the Board of Directors for Harris County (HC) Municipal Utility District (MUD) No. 81, located in West Harris County in Katy, Texas. As HC MUD 81's current Board President, Mr. Cathcart oversees the district's water and wastewater operational needs*, including drainage improvements and flood resiliency, for 921 acres in the Greater Houston area. Mr. Cathcart has decades of experience in cleaning, repairing, and maintaining critical water infrastructure, including water pipelines and fire hydrants. Born in Ireland, Mr. Cathcart landed in Houston in 1953. He was raised in Bellaire, Texas, before moving further west to proudly lead MUD 81's Board. *HC MUD 81 pumps an average of 40 million gallons of water per month.