Houston’s primary water treatment facility is failing, with officials warning of severe infrastructure damage. The city faces a $4.1 billion replacement cost but lacks the funding to fix or rebuild the plant.
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The largest drinking water treatment plant in Houston is currently facing significant disrepair, prompting worries regarding the city's water supply. The East Water Purification Plant, which provides service to approximately 75% of residents in the Houston area, is more than 70 years old and deteriorating, as Greg Eyerly, the head of Houston Water, stated.
An inspection conducted recently uncovered deteriorating infrastructure, visible cracks, and leaks, with sure underground pipes allegedly secured with duct tape. Eyerly and his team contend that the facility is irreparable and are advocating for the construction of a completely new plant on the same site. Nonetheless, the estimated cost of this nine-year project stands at $4.1 billion—funds that the city presently lacks.
“Do we have nine years then?” Eyerly inquired. “The more time that passes, the greater the risk becomes.”
Houston is currently dealing with a $300 million budget shortfall, and $9 billion allocated for water infrastructure is presently constrained by a wastewater consent decree. The financial crisis has resulted in the city lacking the necessary resources to upkeep the aging plant during this period, thereby heightening the risk of water supply disruptions.
City officials actively pursue federal and state no-interest loans to finance the project. Houston's water infrastructure may encounter severe failures without financial assistance, endangering millions of residents.
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