In the Pine Oak Forest subdivision north of FM 1960, dozens of households are entering their 12th day of living with tap water they cannot safely drink. A privately owned well that serves the neighborhood began failing in late March, leaving residents with long stretches of low pressure and cloudy water. Many are leaning on bottled water or even backyard pools for basic needs, and neighbors say the crisis has meant extra spending and makeshift workarounds for folks who cannot easily leave home.
According to ABC13 Houston, the well started having problems on March 27, and residents report that pressure has been spotty ever since. Several neighbors told the station they have to let faucets run for 10 to 15 minutes just to gather enough water for a bath. One homeowner estimated he has already spent about $5,000 on food and hotel stays while the system limps along. Harris County Public Health is urging residents to boil water for one to two minutes before using it.
Operator says well is failing
Aggregate Water Services, which took over operations for Pine Oak Forest Water last year, states that the system’s well is no longer producing enough water to keep normal pressure in the lines. The company has posted outage notices and says it is looking at temporary fixes, including the possibility of tying into nearby systems while repairs move forward.
Neighbor district may be tapped but approvals required
An attorney for CNP Utility District told ABC13 Houston that the district will consider a request from Aggregate to connect to its water supply at an upcoming board meeting. Any short-term hookup, though, would need approvals from several government agencies, and there is no clear timeline yet. The CNP Utility District website lists regular public meetings and contact information for district staff, underscoring that the call will ultimately rest with local officials and the board.
How neighbors are coping
With the tap unreliable, some families are boiling and storing water, while others are leaning heavily on bottled supplies and backyard pools to wash up and cook. One neighbor has been running a hose from his private well to help a bedridden resident get by. Several households say that even when pressure briefly returns, the water often looks cloudy. The prolonged strain has left many residents worn down and out-of-pocket as they wait for something more permanent than quick fixes.
Past problems and oversight
Pine Oak Forest Water is a small public water system (PWS ID TX1010751), and its 2024 consumer confidence report notes previous lapses in monitoring and reporting last year. The report also states that Aggregate Water Services assumed operations effective May 1, 2025. Those prior compliance issues mean state regulators and the district are expected to stay closely involved in any short-term or long-term repair plans. The system’s track record will influence how quickly relief can be reviewed, approved and put in place.
Health guidance: boil, disinfect and store
The boiled-water guidance from Harris County Public Health advises residents to bring clear tap water to a rolling boil for one to two minutes before using it for drinking, cooking or preparing infant formula. If boiling is not an option, the county outlines specific steps for disinfecting water with household bleach. Officials recommend avoiding swallowing water in the shower or bath, using boiled or bottled water for brushing teeth, and following detailed instructions for sanitizing dishes and food preparation areas.
For now, Aggregate is still searching for temporary solutions while the district and state regulators weigh their options, and neighbors say they plan to keep pushing for a faster fix. We will continue to watch the board meetings and utility updates and share new information as public agencies release it.
