As Houston prepares for a forecasted hard freeze and snow, local authorities issued conflicting guidance on how citizens should protect their homes from pipes bursting.
Conventional wisdom is to drip water from faucets to prevent water from freezing in the pipes and breaking them.
Harris County promoted this practice in press conferences and on social media.
Meanwhile, Houston Public Works urged citizens to avoid dripping water from the faucets, pointing to the city’s decaying infrastructure and calling the system fragile. Public Works revealed that the city has over 1,000 active water main leaks.
“We discourage the leaking of your pipes because it affects water pressure for fire suppression, but wrap your pipes, if at all possible,” stated Houston Mayor John Whitmire.
The city said the system is vulnerable and could be overwhelmed by citizens dripping water simultaneously, triggering low-pressure conditions that could result in boil water warnings.
The divergence in these recommendations underscores a broader issue with water infrastructure maintenance and emergency preparedness in Houston.
“Beneath the surface of one of the nation’s most dynamic regions lies a fragile and aging water infrastructure system that is increasingly incapable of meeting today’s demands. From deteriorating pipes and outdated treatment facilities to the pressures of a growing population, Houston’s water challenges require immediate action,” wrote the West Houston Association.
For years, the city’s water system has been criticized for its fragility and lack of adequate maintenance. Under normal conditions, about 15 percent of water leaks out of the system before reaching consumers.
A presentation by the Houston Service Delivery Committee highlighted that, in 2023, Houston lost 31.8 billion gallons of water to leaks. The report also revealed that the number of leaks in the system was growing year over year, totaling 13,911 in 2023.
According to data from the Houston 311 service, water leaks top the list of service requests by citizens.
The issues with Houston’s water infrastructure go beyond the access to reliable potable water service for citizens and industry.
In 2019, a federal judge in Houston approved a consent decree mandating the City of Houston spend $2 billion in sewer upgrades over 15 years. The order resulted from an investigation by Bayou Water Keepers that revealed thousands of instances of sewage overflow, a potential violation of the Clean Water Act.
“Reliable infrastructure is critical to economic growth, ensuring businesses and people thrive. Texas will struggle to attract and retain investments without reliable and safe access to water,” wrote the Greater Houston Partnership.
As residents decide whether to follow the city’s or the county’s advice, they face a dilemma: protect their homes from potential pipe damage and flooding or contribute to a possible city-wide water pressure crisis that could result in a fire risk or water boil notices.
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