Parts of southeast Houston faced a rough start to the New Year after a City of Houston wastewater collection line on Goodyear Drive failed, releasing over 100,000 gallons of untreated wastewater last night, officials said. Houston Public Works crews are on site working to stabilize the line and assess the extent of the contamination, while nearby residents have been advised to take precautions.
The failure occurred just south of Highway 225 near Sims Bayou and is believed to have begun around 1 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. By approximately 8 p.m. Friday, the spill had surpassed 100,000 gallons, according to FOX 26 Houston. City officials have not provided a timeline for when the damaged collection system will be fully repaired.
Due to the size of the spill, state regulations required the city to notify the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Houston’s mandatory advisory outlines precautions for residents using private drinking-water wells within half a mile of the site. Those residents are advised to use only distilled water or water boiled for at least one minute for drinking, cooking, and bathing, and to have their wells tested and disinfected before resuming normal use.
What To Avoid
Officials are also advising people to avoid any waste material, soil, or standing water in the potentially affected area and to refrain from swimming in nearby waterways. Anyone who comes into contact with potentially contaminated material is advised to bathe and wash clothing thoroughly as soon as possible, as per ABC13 Houston.
Response And Next Steps
Houston Public Works crews are repairing the structural failure, while the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has been notified and is overseeing the response, according to local reports. Residents served by public water utilities have been told that tap water remains safe to drink and does not need to be boiled. Those using water from private distributors are advised to contact their supplier to confirm safety, as reported by FOX 26 Houston.
How This Fits Into A Pattern
This is not Houston’s first wastewater incident. In 2024, a storage tank failure at the Almeda Sims treatment plant released about 600,000 gallons of sludge, prompting an extended cleanup and regulatory review. That event, along with others, illustrates the ongoing challenges of managing the city’s extensive sewage system…