HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS

KPRC 2 Investigates has received a flood of complaints against the city of Houston water department. Customers are calling us when they receive abnormally high, astronomical bills that they believe must be the result of a mistake or billing error. They say their calls and emails to the city go unanswered or drag on for months without resolution.

Houston Public Works announced Wednesday that it’s launching an innovative, eco-friendly, pilot program to clear high weeds and grass around detention ponds and in areas with access issues or high slopes.

Houston Public Works has launched a website that aims to help customers calculate how much their utility bill will change ahead of the city’s water rates increase.

The increase will go into effect starting on September 1.

If you’re wondering, yes--rain barrels and rain harvesting are legal in Texas.

HOUSTON – Houston Public Works has identified seven apartments that are still without water Friday following the last month’s winter freeze. Public works crews are monitoring the apartment buildings daily to make sure plumbers are on-site and working to restore water service, Director of Communications Alanna Reed said in an email. “The water has not been on since the first night of the freeze,” said resident Crystal Williams. The city said if anyone is still without water, they should call 311 to report the situation. It’s possible additional communities are having water issues but they may not have been reported yet, Reed said.

HOUSTON – A higher concentration of normal disinfectants in Houston’s water system is causing an odor that has some people concerned, according to officials. According to Houston Public Works, a blend of chlorine and ammonia, called chloramine, are used to clean surface water. Where these two water sources carrying these disinfectants combine is causing the stink. RELATED READ: Complaints of strange-smelling water across Houston area after boil water notice lifted“This is a harmless odor that we try to avoid in our water system, but right now Houston Water is disinfecting the drinking water at higher concentrations in response to last week’s water emergency,” Carol Haddock, director of Houston Public Works. AdOfficials said the disinfectants are being reduced to normal concentrations, which should reduce the smell in two to three days.

The Brazos Bridge on US 59 (Spur 527) that runs over Smith St and Holman St in Midtown has reopened. HOUSTON – After monthslong repair and construction, Brazos Bridge on Spur 527 that runs over Smith and Holman streets in Midtown has reopened, according to the Houston Public Works. A hole is seen in the deck of the Brazos Bridge near Houston's Midtown neighborhood July 1, 2019. While the Brazos Bridge underwent construction, traffic was being detoured to Travis or Louisiana streets. improvement schematic designThe new construction will help slow vehicles down while turning onto Holman Street from Smith Street.

HOUSTON – At KPRC 2, we’re dedicated to keeping Houstonians informed. As part of our new Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: George asks, What are crews doing on Fountain View Drive between Westheimer, Richmond? Answer: Traffic Expert Anavid Reyes reached out to the City of Houston, and according to Houston Public Works, crews are will be installing sanitary sewer lines, manholes, reinforce concrete pavement, improving curbs, and adjusting water and sanitary sewer lines. Fountain View Drive constructionThe project has two phases:Phase 1: Fountain View Drive from Gulfton to Schumber Lane - Spring 2020 to Spring 2021Phase 2: Fountainview from Schumber Lane to Westheimer - Spring 2021 to Spring 2022

HOUSTON – Houston officials say more than 100,000 gallons of domestic wastewater have been spilled in five locations in Houston as of 6:30 p.m. Tuesday due to the “intense, sustained, rainfall of greater than 10 inches in the last 24 hours,” during Tropical Storm Beta. LIVE BLOG: Read the latest updates from the developing Tropical Depression Beta hereOfficials with Houston Public Works and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality are monitoring the situation. At present, officials say if you receive your water from the city of Houston, you do not need to boil your drinking water. Here’s a map of where the spills occurred:The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality requires the city to provide residents with the following information in event of a wastewater spill:

As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: Does the Americans with Disabilities Act require the city to provide sidewalks? Answer: According to Houston Public Works, the answer is no. However, when the City of Houston builds a sidewalk, it must be accessible to persons with disabilities to the extent technically feasible. You can apply to request a sidewalk to be built near your neighborhood through the Houston Public Works Sidewalk Program.

Question: Who comes up with timing for school zones? Answer: Houston Public Works operates and maintains more than 1,500 school zones within the city of Houston. School zones with 20 miles per hour school speed limits are changed by request. Houston Public Works obtains school hours from the school districts and private schools prior to the beginning of each school year. Current City of Houston school zone timing:Morning times - 45 minutes before drop off and 15 minutes after drop offEvening times - 15 minutes before dismissal and 30 minutes after dismissalTimes may be longer if the school zone is shared by more than one school with different drop off/dismissal times and/or if a school has multiple drop off/dismissal times.

HOUSTON The intersection of Main Street and Sunset Boulevard near Rice University has a history of dangerous accidents, especially for cyclists. In fact, a science professor at Rice University died in a crash in 2017 while cycling into work. These changes come after multiple calls for safer roads west of Hermann Park near Rice University by several local organizations. The Sunset Boulevard and Main Street intersection project is part of Mayor Turners safe streets initiative. New traffic signals are also underway to help with flow and the next phase includes testing those traffic lights.

The question: Why are loads of bricks being delivered around Texas? The city of Houston removed bricks and rocks left on roadsides, which may have been intended to be used during Tuesday’s protests to cause damage and destruction. The Houston Public Works is asking residents to report any suspicious activity after removing several piles of bricks and rocks in Houston. AlertHouston: HPW has removed several piles of bricks and rocks from several locations in Houston this afternoon. Please call 311 (or HPD's non-emergency line, 713.884.3131), to report any suspicious activity or if you see someone leaving these items in th https://t.co/Ccqex1DY0Q — AlertHouston (@AlertHouston) June 2, 2020

HOUSTON – At KPRC 2, we’re dedicated to keeping Houstonians informed. As part of our new Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things HoustonQuestion: When are the potholes going to be fixed on Gellhorn Drive between Market St and Wallisville in the Pleasantville area ? Answer: After speaking with the city’s traffic department, Traffic Expert Anavid Reyes learned Houston Public Works continues to provide routine maintenance to Gellhorn Drive, including pothole repairs and panel replacements. Houston Public Works uses the pavement condition index, international roughness index and traffic volume data, as well as 311 call data to determine which streets need immediate rehabilitation and reconstruction. The community is urged to report potholes and street repair requests to 311.

HOUSTON – The Houston Public Works is asking residents to report any suspicious activity after removing several piles of bricks and rocks in Houston. Officials said the bricks and rocks may have been intended to cause destruction during Tuesday’s demonstrations in the city. Houston Public Works asks residents to call 311 or the Houston Police Department non-emergency line at 713-884-3131 to report any suspicious activity or if you see someone leaving these items in the community. Officials will dispatch a crew to immediately remove the piles of items that may be used to threaten the safety and security of the citizens of Houston.

HOUSTON – Residents in one Eastwood neighborhood have chained their fences and refuse to let city workers on the property to repair a wastewater line, citing coronavirus concerns. Go home.”Houston Public Works is trying to take care of an “urgent” wastewater line repair that is “necessary” to prevent “major health and safety” problems, a city representative said in a statement. However, Jefferson Street residents are not experiencing urgent wastewater problems, Pluecker said. When the bypass was installed, the repair was scheduled so we’d have the right crews and equipment on site. While performing the repair, the pipe will also be upsized to an 8” pipe to support the wastewater needs of the neighborhood.

HOUSTON – Houston Public Works posted a photo Monday of the “culprit” responsible for Thursday’s water main break, which resulted in flooding and a city-wide water boil notice. Crews are replacing the damaged 8-foot pipeline with a new one on Monday. The boil water notice was lifted Saturday morning. A spokeswoman for Mayor Sylvester Turner said it will take crews about a week to complete repairs on the 8-foot water line that feeds water to the city from the Northeast Purification Plant. READ: City of Houston lifts boil water notice in place since Thursday

HOUSTON – Houston Public Works and officials in Missouri City released maps showing the parts of the Houston area that are under a boil water notice after an 8-foot water main break flooded eastern parts of the city Thursday. “Houston Water crews have been able to isolate the break and water pressure should be slowly restored over the next few hours.”Officials at Houston Public Works said areas shaded in orange on the map embedded below are included in the boil water notice. The Houston boil water notice will remain in effect until at least Saturday at 7 a.m, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said in a press conference Friday afternoon. When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes. RELATED STORIESHigh water covers 610 East Loop and several roads in east Houston after 8-foot water main breaksHouston hospitals experiencing water issues, city clinics close Thursday after water main breakSee what’s going on around the city as KPRC 2 reporters give latest updates after massive water main breakLIST: HISD cancels classes Friday; other businesses, restaurants closed due to water main break in east HoustonThese videos show the impact of water main break that flooded east HoustonPHOTOS: High water takes over east Houston neighborhood, roads after water main breakGet real-time Houston traffic updates