A 'Grim Diagnosis': Houston's Suburbs are Running out of Water

Houston-area suburbs are growing fast — and their water supplies may not be keeping up, writes Sam González Kelly in the Houston Chronicle. Cities like Conroe and Magnolia are feeling the strain on their water infrastructure, prompting officials to issue building moratoriums to slow their growth. 

The problem, Kelly explains, is less about supply and more about infrastructure. In May 2024, Conroe’s water levels dropped so low the city issued its first ever boil-water notice. “With the water system at a breaking point and no quick fixes at hand, Conroe had no choice but to enact the building moratorium on the north side of the city.” Unlike other cities, Conroe doesn’t charge developer impact fees to help pay for new infrastructure, though officials are now considering them.

Nearby Magnolia, a formerly rural community that is growing quickly, put a moratorium on new construction for the last three years as it upgraded its water infrastructure and facilities. “Magnolia’s population surged by nearly 150% between 2020 and 2024, according to Texas Demographic Center estimates, and that doesn’t include the thousands more who moved to the surrounding area, some of whom are on the city’s water network.” The city has built two new water plants that will double its storage and pumping capacity and plans to end the moratorium by the end of this year, but experts warn cities must plan more carefully to avoid future problems.