Houston urged to allocate $20 million for vital sewer line repairs in marginalized communities
(UI) — Environmental organizations are urging the city of Houston to allocate $20 million towards resolving specific issues with sewer lines in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, Houston Public Media reported.
Groups such as the Northeast Action Collective, West Street Recovery, and Bayou City Waterkeeper have highlighted the significant health hazards posed by leaks in private sewer lines, particularly affecting residents in Northeast Houston.
In 2018, Bayou City Waterkeeper served the city with a notice of intent to sue over 9,000 sewage overflows that violated the Clean Water Act, disproportionately impacting marginalized communities. This legal action led to federal enforcement involvement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Although a 2021 legal settlement mandated the city to invest $2 billion in its sanitary sewer system by 2036, focusing on public infrastructure, private sewer laterals connecting homes and businesses have been neglected.
Doris Brown, co-founder of the Northeast Action Collective, emphasized to Houston Public Media the urgent need for investment in repairing these private lines, particularly in marginalized communities.
Despite a decrease in reported sewage overflows associated with private sewer laterals from 2022 to 2023, the issue persists, with leaks causing environmental contamination and health risks. While the city's consent decree primarily emphasizes education and enforcement, environmental groups advocate for financial assistance similar to initiatives undertaken by other cities like Jackson and St. Louis.
Houston Public Works has not yet responded to requests for comment on these concerns.
Kourtney Revels, a Water Justice Organizer with Bayou City Waterkeeper, highlighted the ongoing challenges posed by the gaps in the consent decree, stressing the need for comprehensive action to address Houston's sewage issues, according to Houston Public Media.
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