As Houston grapples with a water plant crisis that could cost taxpayers up to $15 billion, separate issues stemming from aging infrastructure are causing widespread disruptions, leading to a backlog of 1,400 active work orders related to water problems.
Houston Public Works is facing criticism once again, this time for an ongoing backlog of reports from homeowners who are frustrated with unresolved leak issues. One particular neighborhood has been dealing with persistent street flooding caused by a construction site leak for several weeks.
After reaching out to the public works department, KPRC 2 learned that this isn’t an isolated case. In fact, the department admitted that it’s currently managing a backlog of 1,400 work orders, many of which involve water-related issues such as leaks, valve malfunctions, and fire hydrant problems.
Upon further questioning, officials acknowledged the significant backlog and pointed to two primary causes: aging infrastructure and adverse weather conditions. The department also stated that addressing these issues will require both state and federal assistance.
Replacing just six percent of the city’s outdated waterlines could potentially conserve up to 21 billion gallons of water. Earlier this year, during the Houston snow day in January, the department even advised residents against letting their faucets drip—in direct opposition to advice from Harris County—due to concerns over more than 1,000 active water main leaks.
Furthermore, data from Houston 311 shows that water leaks are by far the most common service requests from residents, further underscoring the scale of the problem.
In a related development, Texas Scorecard reported earlier this week that Greg Eyerly, Deputy Director of Houston Public Works, revealed that the department needs approximately $15 billion to repair and replace the aging water plant. This plant serves about 75 percent of Houston residents, including critical infrastructure such as the Port of Houston and the Texas Medical Center. Eyerly also confirmed that the department is also seeking state funding to address these issues.
This news follows a major corruption scandal in the Public Works department less than a month ago, in which seven individuals pleaded guilty to charges related to a bribery scheme. Among them, Patrece Lee, the former manager of Houston Public Works, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for her involvement. The scandal cost taxpayers millions of dollars, yet only one individual, Danielle Hurts, was ordered to pay restitution to the tune of $50,000. Despite her guilty plea, Hurts has launched a GoFundMe campaign claiming her innocence and asking for public donations to help her get back on her feet.
Texas Scorecard reached out to Houston Public Works for comment on the cost of addressing the backlog of work orders but did not receive a response before publication.
