CROSBY, Texas – Residents say raw sewage has flooded yards, backed into homes and plagued their neighborhood for nearly two decades. Now, county officials are questioning how the system continued operating despite licensing concerns.
When investigators first looked into problems at Roving Meadows, one of the first things they found were serious concerns involving the neighborhood’s sewage and water infrastructure.
A year later, conditions remain under scrutiny
Instead of a secure concrete cover, one drainage area was found covered with nothing more than a wooden pallet.
The discovery raised new questions about how the wastewater system continued operating — and how permits remained in place despite concerns over licensing and oversight.
Now, Harris County says it is taking the wastewater operator back to court.
Residents describe years of sewage problems
For residents of Roving Meadows, the problems are not new.
Neighbors say raw sewage has backed up into homes, flooded yards and spilled into neighborhood streets for years.
One resident told KPRC 2 that the sewage problems have been happening for nearly two decades.
“The sewage literally flooded my whole backyard,” the resident said.
When asked how long the issues had been occurring, the resident responded:
“Since I’ve been here, that’s 17 years.”
Residents also described what happens after heavy rain.
“Everything from snakes to bugs to we’ve had human feces, animal feces. We’ve had everything out here,” another resident said.
Residents fear retaliation after speaking out
Some neighbors said they are afraid to appear on camera because they worry about retaliation.
One resident said concerns included:
“Lack of water, to being threatened verbally on our property.”
The resident said those fears began after KPRC 2’s previous investigation into the neighborhood.
County says operator had licensing issues
After the initial investigation, Harris County officials said they began looking into the situation.
Harris County Attorney Abby Kamin said the investigation helped bring attention to the issue and prompted action.
She said the wastewater operator, registered as Roving Meadows Utilities, was operating without the proper licensing.
“The operator isn’t actually licensed by TCEQ,” Kamin said.
The county is also questioning how the system was able to continue operating while state permits were renewed.
Kamin raised concerns about how a wastewater permit could be issued and renewed without the required licensing.
County asks court to stop sewage problems
Harris County is now asking a judge to permanently stop sewage from flowing into the neighborhood and to provide answers about how the situation was allowed to continue.
The county says the operator also lacked required licensed personnel to operate the wastewater treatment facility, even though state permits were renewed.
Kamin said the case highlights broader concerns with wastewater regulation.
“We’re grappling with an outdated, antiquated system of regulation,” she said. “That’s got to be addressed head on for the safety of residents here in Texas.”
Residents want accountability
Neighbors say they are asking for three things:
- Clean water
- A permanent fix to the sewage problems
- Accountability for what they have experienced
As the legal case moves forward, Harris County says it is also examining a larger question: How are entities without proper licensing able to obtain and maintain permits to operate wastewater systems?