Houston Public Works Corruption Scandal Casts Doubt on Success of Fixing City’s Water Mains in 2023; no more worries for the 2024 holidays

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — According to Houston Public Works, the team felt victorious this time last year. Fewer than 100 water mains broke down across the city. However, according to Previous reporting from ABC13this number has only increased.

From June 1 to September 30, 2023, the city received 19,170 calls regarding water leaks. After determining which ones the department was responsible for, the city repaired more than 4,200 in the same time frame.

However, after a bribery scheme involving water pipe repair contractors was exposed, the city fears leaks could be a problem again this year.

“Not knowing which repairs were good and which were bad, we will continue to pay for them as taxpayers,” Harris County Prosecutor Kim Ogg said at a news conference Friday.

SEE ALSO: Several people linked to the Houston Public Works corruption scandal appear in court

At that same meeting, Houston Public Works told ABC13 that compared to low numbers this time last year, the city currently has more than 1,000 work orders. Houston Public Works added that a work order ranged from water main breaks to fire hydrant issues.

“You expect good service from government, and when government ends up paying a lot more for a lot less, the public loses,” Ogg said.

Last year’s drought created favorable conditions for a pause, which Houston Public Works hopes won’t happen again this year. However, the impact of this project could be felt in the years to come.

“We will never know how much of the pubis was torn off,” Ogg said.

Now that the city and county have a better idea of ​​the scale of the potential project, Houston Public Works admits that last year’s low number of water main breaks, less than 100, might not have never been real.

“How accurate were these numbers when they were first reported to us? asked Randy Mucchi of Houston Public Works.

SEE ALSO: City says water repairs never stopped amid corruption scandal that could impact infrastructure

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