Patrece Lee, former Houston water dept. manager has bond set at more than $400K in waterline repair contract scandal
During her first appearance in Probable Cause court Friday, a judge accosted her for abusing her position as a public servant noting there are still more than half a million dollars worth of unaccounted funds.
‘That’s classic public corruption’: Felony charges filed after ‘DRAINED’ Investigation into shady contracts
A major break in our ‘DRAINED’ Investigation into the City of Houston water department. Seven people at the center of the waterline repair contract scandal KPRC 2 Investigates exposed are charged with bribery, abuse of official capacity and tampering with government documents.
No water for FOUR years. Acres Homes man who launched KPRC 2′s ‘DRAINED’ Investigation still has huge water bill
After nearly two years of dogged reporting in our investigation of water bills “draining” Houstonians the city of Houston has made big changes. Investigative reporter Amy Davis is taking you back and following up with the very first water customer we introduced you to see how he’s doing 18 months later.
Why you may see a credit on your next Houston water bill
If you haven’t received your April water bill from the City of Houston, you may be pleasantly surprised. Several customers reached out to Investigative reporter Amy Davis curious about why they received credits to their bills. We are explaining why water customers are getting money back and what to look for on your own bill.
Ask Amy: Your FAQ about the new Houston water bill plan
Houston water customers DRAINED from inaccurate, exorbitant bills are hopeful the mayor’s new plan to fix the problems will work. But many of you have questions about the process. Investigative reporter Amy Davis has answers to your most common water bill plan questions.
Here’s how much more you will pay for your water bill this month
Houston’s latest water rate increase took effect April 1st. The city said the average customer will notice about a 9% increase in their monthly bill. Investigative reporter Amy Davis crunched the numbers to show you what it looks like on real accounts and she’s sharing what the city may do with the extra money.
‘DRAINED’ results: Houston Mayor announces new water bill improvement plan; here’s what it means for you
After nearly two years of KPRC 2 Investigates DRAINED series exposing failures at the Houston Water Department, Mayor John Whitmire announces major changes. This comes a few weeks after Mayor Whitmire talked with Amy Davis about the ongoing issues and his work to find solutions for people.
How renters can make sure their water bill is right
The KPRC 2 ‘DRAINED’ Investigation is helping people get to the bottom of water bill issues in Houston. Investigator Amy Davis has gotten questions from renters about water bills. Often if you live in an apartment you know water bills can be unpredictable. One month it’s high and the next month it’s low. Here’s a way to determine what you actually owe for your water bill.
‘DRAINED’: Huge water bills at apartment complex, what renters can do
While Houston homeowners struggle with inaccurate, seemingly impossible water bills we are hearing from landlords and renters who say they are ‘DRAINED’. Investigative reporter Amy Davis is getting to the bottom of one apartment complex water bill that - if unresolved- could leave renters homeless.
Water bill hike coming. So what is the city doing with that extra money?
Houston’s water rates are going up again in less than two weeks on April 1st. It’s the fourth increase since September of 2021. Investigative reporter Amy Davis explains how much you can expect your bill to increase and what the city is doing with the extra money.
Who will be in charge of the new water bill relief plan? Here’s what we know
Houston Mayor John Whitmire is sharing new details about a plan to help frustrated water customers. He gave an exclusive interview to Investigative reporter Amy Davis. ‘DRAINED’ has been investigating the water department for nearly two years trying to help many of you deal with excessive and confusing water bills. But we wanted to know, who will be in charge?
‘DRAINED’ Results: Homeowner finally in new home after massive water bill issue
For the first time in nearly six years a Houston victim of hurricane Harvey is waking up in her own bed in a brand new home. It wasn’t just the floodwaters that kept Julia Benjamin from getting back home. A $39,000 City of Houston water bill almost kept her from getting the new home she qualified for from the Texas General Land office.
‘Waste of taxpayer’s money’: City spends money on trinkets amid water bill crisis
While Houston water customers wait for relief from inaccurate and unexplained high water bills that’s left them ‘DRAINED,’ KPRC 2 Investigates has discovered the head of Houston Public Works, memorializing the department with trinkets we’re all paying for.
Public Works has $46.3 million in extra revenue. So why raise water rates again?
Each week we in our ‘DRAINED’ Investigation are showing you water bills for hundreds, even thousands of dollars that are “draining” Houstonians. NEW TODAY: We are asking questions about the planned water bill increases and extra city money. Investigative reporter Amy Davis explains why some are questioning whether the city needs the extra revenue.
Houston area customers charged for water they’re not using can pay one-time fee to have meter locked
Customers who have been hit when never-ending water bills by Houston’s Public Works Department can see some relief if they are willing to pay a one-time fee of $150. KPRC 2 Investigates have been working closely with the Public Works Department, the city of Houston, and local officials to get answers on the ongoing charges.
‘DRAINED’: Houston Mayor still working on plan to tackle high water bills. Council won’t hear details Wednesday.
A big update on KPRC 2′s ‘DRAINED’ Investigation into Houston water bills. Investigator Amy Davis was first to tell you about the outrageous water bills from the city of Houston and she’s been helping customers get thousands of dollars in refunds. Now that there’s a new administration Mayor John Whitmire wants to bring some much-needed relief and prevent these types of bills.
Thousands of Houston customers billed for water they’re not using
Some 7,000 property owners in the city of Houston are paying monthly water bills even though they haven’t used a single drop of water. Houston City Council voted to change the ordinance in December to give those customers are way to stop the never-ending charges. But even with that change, the water department is still sending monthly bills without letting those citizens know there is a way to make them stop.
‘Not a fair process’: Inside look at hearing to fight high water bill
Houston water customers are starting 2024 just as drained as they were in 2023, trying to resolve inaccurate and unexplained water bills. Investigative reporter Amy Davis is giving you peek inside a water customer’s administrative hearing to dispute his big bill.
Water device featured in KPRC 2′s ‘DRAINED’ investigation among top gadgets at CES 2024
It’s always interesting to see the new types of gadgets and technology that people are working on. A product featured during this year’s Consumer Technology Association’s annual trade show (or CES) is something we featured in our ‘DRAINED’ Investigation! KPRC 2 Investigator Amy Davis tested a water monitoring device that could help frustrated water bill customers.
DRAINED: Who is investigating questionable city contracts? What is the Office of the Inspector General?
When KPRC 2 Investigates first exposed the conflicts of interest to the City of Houston city leaders told us they referred the allegations to the Office of Inspector General to investigate. Now, six weeks later Investigative reporter Amy Davis is explaining what that office does and does not do.
‘DRAINED’ Results: How much money we’ve helped customers get back on water bills
We are getting results from our ‘DRAINED’ investigation into Houston water bills. This week city leaders plan to address the issue at city council, hopefully with some solutions. Plus, while we are hearing from more of you who have issues others are getting the help they need.
Is your neighborhood on the list of top places where people ask for water bill help?
We know Houston water customers are ‘DRAINED’ dealing with huge bills you don’t think you owe. Investigative reporter Amy Davis has shared dozens of cases from customers looking for help. KPRC 2 has the hard numbers to show the growing problem and which areas of Houston have the most people asking the city to adjust their bills.
Houston city leaders take action on water billing issues following KPRC 2 DRAINED investigations
The Houston mayor said his administration has a plan to address high water bill issues in our city. He made the announcement late Tuesday, the same day multiple Houston City Council members submitted a notice to place water bill relief on the city council agenda. This is all a result of KPRC 2′s DRAINED investigations.
NEW VIDEO: Houston Mayor’s 2016 beef with KPRC 2′s Amy Davis
A tense moment between KPRC 2 Investigates’ Amy Davis and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner over the city’s water billing and infrastructure problems has gone viral. We’ve gotten a lot of comments and questions about what Mayor Turner was referring to in his comments on Nov. 15.
#RudeForHOU: Viewers react to Houston’s mayor calling Investigator Amy Davis ‘Rude!’ and refusing to answer questions
“You are very rude.” That is what the Mayor of Houston told Investigator Amy Davis when she tried to get him to answer questions about our ‘DRAINED’ Investigation into water bill issues. KPRC 2 viewers are reacting to how the Mayor handled the situation.
Millions of dollars in questionable Houston water department contracts uncovered by KPRC 2 Investigates
KPRC 2 Investigates uncovers millions of dollars in city contracts related to the water department linked to questionable companies. Your tax dollars ‘DRAINED’ while so many people are struggling with increasing water rates and sky-high bills.
How do you really know how much water you are using? We put water usage monitoring device to the test
When customers get bills showing two times, three times, up to ten times the amount of water they normally use they don’t trust the city or the meter. Investigative reporter Amy Davis shows one way to test the city’s reading.
Houston leaders promise change, accountability after DRAINED customers takeover council meeting
On Tuesday, 27 people signed up to speak about their water bill problems after KPRC 2 Investigates asked the community to address the council after 18 months of reporting on unexplained water usage, meter readings, and billing problems.
KPRC 2 ‘DRAINED’ Investigation reveals troubling trend after people complain about getting high water bills
As KPRC 2 Investigates Houston water customers ‘DRAINED’ from dubious and sometimes inaccurate water bills we’ve noticed a troubling trend. Instead of getting to the bottom of what’s causing the irregular bills Investigator Amy Davis says the city is using money earmarked for low-income families to pay itself.
5 steps to take the minute you get a high water bill
Got a high water bill you don’t think you owe? You’re not alone. Since last November we have received calls and emails from more than 500 city of Houston water customers who are feeling ‘DRAINED’. Investigator Amy Davis has five things you should do in this order when you get a crazy high bill.
Homeowner stuck with $39K water bill for home damaged during Hurricane Harvey
A homeowner called KPRC 2 Investigator Amy Davis after dealing with a water bill issue for years. A meter issue left her with a huge bill that stood in the way of getting the federal Hurricane Harvey relief money she needed.
City fixes faulty water meter - still insists customer pay huge water bill
A Houston water customer called KPRC 2 Investigates when she said the city stuck her with a $2,400 water bill caused by its faulty equipment. It’s a six month ordeal that mentally ‘DRAINED’ this Kingwood homeowner. Investigator Amy Davis is getting answers and what you can do if something similar happens to you.
‘DRAINED’ Investigation: Why you might have low water pressure right now
Some water customers in the City of Houston say when they turn on their water, they get only a trickle. Low water pressure is ‘DRAINING’ many of you from downtown to Garden Oaks to southwest Houston. Investigator Amy Davis is getting answers about what the city is doing about it.
Family fights water bill for a home that was demolished 20+ years ago
Imagine getting a water bill for a home that hasn’t existed in more than 20 years. That’s what happened to one family in Shady Acres. They reached out to KPRC 2 Investigates feeling ‘DRAINED’ after trying to resolve a growing bill with the Houston water department for a year!
How the City of Houston’s water department stacks up against other big cities
The latest customer satisfaction survey from J.D. Power shows houston customers are not satisfied with our water department. The KPRC 2 Investigates team is breaking down the score that is down for the third consecutive year.
Volunteer Team repairing Korean War Veteran’s home needs your help
What started as an investigation into a $4,000+ water bill draining an elderly Navy veteran has turned into a touching story of Houstonians stepping up to help the hero make his aging house a home again. When members of The Restoration Team saw investigator Amy Davis’ Facebook post about 92-year-old Jessie Lara’s dilemma, they emailed to ask if they could help. They have been working for weeks in the sweltering heat for a man they didn’t even know.
‘Every month it’s like $400 or $500′: Elderly veteran ‘DRAINED’ over huge water bill
It doesn’t matter who you are, getting a huge water bill is stressful. But one Houston man’s huge water bill debt revealed a dire dilemma. That’s when our ‘DRAINED’ Investigation turned into a community’s call to action, with dozens of people and businesses stepping up to help.
‘DRAINED’: $15K water bill removed from single mom after KPRC 2 investigation
When Andrea Harclerode contacted KPRC 2 Investigates last February, she had already been asking the Houston water department to help straighten out her meter and billing issues since 2019. A bill for more than $15,000 was the last straw. Three months after KPRC 2 investigative reporter Amy Davis got involved, the city finally resolved the issue.
Why you might soon get a surprise water bill
New electronic reading devices that are supposed to make it easier for the city to accurately get your water meter reading are causing astronomical water bills for Houston customers. The KPRC 2 Investigates team is digging into these water department issues leaving you ‘DRAINED.’ Investigator Amy Davis also has what you should do even if you haven’t received one of these big bills.
$896 water bill shock. No answers for many who get unusually high water bills
Getting a water bill for hundreds of dollars more than what you usually owe can be shocking. Water customers tell us they’ve done nothing different, and they don’t have any leaks. KPRC 2 Investigates is asking the city what it’s doing to get to the bottom of these unusually large, unexplained bills.
KPRC 2 Investigates: Outdated water meters = inaccurate bills
We’ve heard from you about inaccurate, inflated, and excessive water bills. As KPRC 2 Investigates continues digging into these Houston water department issues leaving you “DRAINED,” Amy Davis has discovered one of the many problems is outdated and non-working equipment. This problem translates into inaccurate bills.
Amid ongoing Houston water bill woes, Houston Public Works announces events to ‘help community save money’
Houston Public Works said Monday that it is hosting several events in March to highlight ways to save water and save money on your water bill, including events to learn how to fix common water leaks at home.
KPRC 2 ‘DRAINED’ Investigation: Students pay for professor’s giant water bill
Imagine having to start a GoFundMe campaign just to pay your huge water bill. It happened to a Houston college professor. The KPRC 2 Investigates team is sharing his story as we look into Houston water billing issues to help you avoid the same pricey problem.
KPRC 2 ‘DRAINED’ Investigates: Missing water meter found buried under concrete
Imagine paying your water bill every month on time only to learn years later you were actually paying for water your neighbors used. And now the Houston water department says you owe thousands more for your own water. Our KPRC 2 Investigates team has another example of Houston water issues leaving customers ‘DRAINED’.
‘I’m very confused.’ Retired Houston couple stressed over $2,000 water bill
Hundreds of Houston water customers who have paid their bills on time every month are getting slapped with enormous charges months later with no explanation. The KPRC 2 Investigates team is digging into the billing nightmares that are leaving customers “DRAINED.”
KPRC 2 investigates outdated water maps costing city of Houston millions
Water leaks and pipe breaks is an expensive problem in Houston. In our ‘DRAINED’ KPRC 2 Investigation we've learned the reason it often takes so long to fix these issues is because the city of Houston has wrong and outdated water pipe maps.
RESULTS: Changes to your water bill after our ‘DRAINED’ KPRC 2 Investigation
For months KPRC 2 Investigates has been fighting for you - asking why so many people are being “DRAINED" and forced to pay water bills they don't owe. The KPRC 2 Investigates team is actively investigating more than 200 customers who've reached out and our work is getting results.
Here are 5 ways to avoid a high water bill
KPRC 2 Investigates is exposing problems with Houston’s water bills and meter reading issues. In our ‘DRAINED’ Investigation, we learned many of you are getting crazy high bills and waiting months trying to resolve them. As people continue to send us questions and concerns we wanted to share five things you need to do to make sure you are not stuck with an insanely high water bill that you don’t owe.
KPRC 2 Investigates: How does Houston Water Department compare to other major cities?
Inaccurate meter readings and soaring high water bills are leaving many Houston water customers feeling drained. In our KPRC 2 Investigates ‘DRAINED’ series, we have explained the problems. We wanted to know how the City of Houston’s water department compares to other cities. Global research firm J.D. Power has surveyed water customers of municipal utilities for an annual study every year since 2016.
KPRC 2 Investigates: How to fight your water bill
Dozens of you are telling us about your experience with the Houston Water Department. We’ve heard about phone calls, emails unanswered, and little to no communication to explain huge bills that threaten you and your family’s well-being. Now, KPRC 2 Investigates explains a customer’s last chance at getting help and how often it is working.
KPRC 2 Investigates murky, brown drinking water in one community
Drained. That’s how Houston water customers said they feel after trying to get help from the city of Houston. They want explanations about inaccurate meter reads, huge water bills, and now dirty, murky water. KPRC 2 Investigates continues this search for answers with homeowners who say the city of Houston is failing their families.
Ask Amy show notes: Answers to your questions about water bills
You have told us about the issues you are having with water bills in the city of Houston. Our Investigates team is working to find answers and solutions for you. On today’s Ask Amy, Amy Davis, and producer Andrea Slaydon talk about the series of water bill stories the team is working on.
KPRC 2 Investigates: Who is paying the highest water bills in the City of Houston?
All this week, KPRC 2 Investigates is looking into your complaints of irregular and inaccurate water bills. You might be surprised to see how much your neighbors are paying for water bills. We are looking into which homeowners in Houston use the most water and how much they’re paying each month.
KPRC 2 Investigates demands answers about water bill issues all across the Houston area
Our KPRC 2 Investigates team has heard your complaints about your City of Houston water bills. These concerns include everything, from excessive water bills to outrageous and irregular meter readings. Customers are feeling “drained” and frustrated that there is no apparent recourse, and many are finding it hard to get answers from the city. It’s why all this week, the KPRC 2 Investigates team is taking a hard look at these issues and pushing city leaders for solutions.
DRAINED: KPRC 2 Investigates demands answers for you - about water bill issues in Houston
From Acres Homes to Houston’s Energy Corridor and up north in the Crosby area, water customers say they are feeling drained over stressful water bill issues. We are bringing your concerns to city leaders and helping to find solutions.
DRAINED: KPRC 2 Investigates excessive water bills and the struggle to get answers
It’s beyond frustrating when you have a major problem and no one seems to be able to help. For months, our KPRC 2 Investigates team has heard your complaints about your City of Houston water bills. These concerns include everything, from excessive water bills to outrageous and irregular meter readings.