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Broken Pipes

Dust blows across a construction site for a future neighborhood near Wolfforth on Wednesday, April. 26, 2023.

Texas' water infrastructure is in dire condition. The state is losing billions of gallons of water a year to broken pipes and leaks. And so far in 2023, the state has had about eight boil-water notices a day. The problem is more acute in the Lone Star State's smaller and rural towns, which lack the sort of tax base needed to keep up with costly repairs. The Texas Legislature, during its 88th regular session, has a unique chance to inject billions of dollars into the state's patchwork of local water systems. But water advocates worry it won't be enough — just a drop in the bucket.

Water experts urgently call for funding to address threats to Texas infrastructure

By Texas Tribune Events Staff Updated: May 9, 2023

Experts talked about how and where the state can best invest money to keep Texas water safely flowing to the public. Full Story
Texas’ water infrastructure is broken, jeopardizing quality and supply for a growing state

By Pooja Salhotra and Jayme Lozano Carver May 3, 2023

On a daily basis, water managers in cities across the state move from crisis to crisis hoping to keep the water flowing to residents. Full Story

Credit: Mark Felix/The Texas Tribune
Everything you need to know about Texas’ beleaguered water systems

By Jayme Lozano Carver and Pooja Salhotra May 3, 2023

Texas has more than 7,000 water systems. A fraction of them self-reported that they lost 30 billion gallons of water due to broken pipes and leaks in 2021. Full Story

Credit: Chris Stokes for The Texas Tribune

Texas towns need money, technical help and compromise to save their water systems

By Jayme Lozano Carver and Pooja Salhotra May 4, 2023

Water agencies have long resisted working together out of fear of losing their local powers. But an example from Florida could help save the Lone Star State’s water and infrastructure. Full Story

Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune
Texas likely will spend billions fixing its water systems. Will it reach these forgotten colonias?

By Alejandra Martinez May 5, 2023

An estimated 500,000 people live in thousands of colonias along the Texas-Mexico border. Largely built between the 1950s and 1980s, these communities have been promised water — but it has never come. Full Story

Credit: Jorge Salgado for Texas Tribune
Their water is undrinkable. So these West Texas residents have taken matters into their own hands.

By Pooja Salhotra Aug. 30, 2023

The water in these four unincorporated communities near Lubbock has been undrinkable for years, residents say. They hope to win $3 million in state grants to improve their systems. Full Story

Credit: Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune