Action Center
Take action for our waters
Protecting our waterways starts with people like you. Report a water problem, speak up on decisions affecting your community, connect with local leaders, or join us in protecting the waters and wetlands of the Greater Houston-Galveston region.
Your voice can make a difference
Whether you’re experiencing a water problem, concerned about a proposed development, or looking for ways to get involved, this Action Center connects you with the tools and opportunities to make a difference.
Explore the sections below to report an issue, support a campaign, contact public officials, or participate in community events. Not sure where to begin? Our team can help you find the right next step.
Report a water problem
Pollution, sewage overflows, and damage to wetlands can threaten the health of our communities and ecosystems. Community reports help identify problems, document conditions, and inform efforts to protect our watershed.
See something concerning? Let us know.
Tell us what you’re seeing and where it’s happening. Our reporting tools can help you document the issue and identify the appropriate agencies to contact. When you submit a report to Bayou City Waterkeeper, our team will review the information and follow up within one to two business days.
What would you like to report?
Brown, cloudy, or foul-smelling tap water
Changes in your drinking water’s color, smell, or appearance may signal a problem with your water supply or distribution system.
Who to contact:
Your water provider: Report the issue to your Municipal Utility District (MUD), the operator listed on your water bill, or your municipal water utility. Request an investigation and ask whether the water is safe to use.
City of Houston customers: Call 311 or 713-837-0311, or email waterquality@houstontx.gov.
TCEQ: If the problem persists, recurs, or remains unresolved, file a formal complaint with the state environmental regulator.
If your MUD receives wholesale water from the City of Houston and identifies the problem as originating from that supply, the MUD should coordinate directly with the City to resolve it.
Sewage overflows or wastewater leaks
Sewage flowing from manholes, leaking pipes, or overflowing into streets and waterways can pose risks to public health and the environment.
Who to contact:
Your wastewater utility: Report the overflow to your municipal wastewater provider, MUD, or utility operator. Within Houston, call 311 or 713-837-0311.
TCEQ: File an environmental complaint to document the overflow and request regulatory review.
Harris County Pollution Control: If the incident is in Harris County, you can also report it to Pollution Control Services at 713-920-2831.
Avoid contact with wastewater and keep children and pets away from affected areas.
Pollution in a bayou, creek, or other waterway
Noticed unusual discoloration, chemical odors, oily substances, dumping, or an unidentified discharge entering the water?
Who to contact:
TCEQ: Submit an environmental complaint describing the concern and its location.
Harris County Pollution Control: For incidents in Harris County, call 713-920-2831 or email pollution.control@pcs.hctx.net.
Your local government: Report issues affecting municipal storm drains, public infrastructure, or city-maintained waterways through local service channels.
Include photographs, a location, and the date and time if you can document the issue safely.
Wetlands being filled, cleared, or developed
Wetlands help absorb floodwater, support wildlife, and protect water quality. Filling, draining, or altering wetlands may raise environmental concerns, even when the need for a permit is unclear.
Who to contact:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Report suspected unauthorized filling or dredging in federally regulated waters or wetlands to the Galveston District at CESWGRegulatoryInbox@usace.army.mil or through its online reporting system.
Bayou City Waterkeeper: Share your observations through our Wetland Watch program to help document changes and threats to wetlands across our watershed.
Not all wetland impacts are covered by federal regulations. If you’re unsure whether an activity requires authorization, you can still share your concern with BCWK.
Dead fish or wildlife in the water
Fish kills, dead aquatic animals, or wildlife showing signs of distress may indicate a pollution event or other environmental problem.
Who to contact:
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Call the Kills and Spills Team’s 24-hour reporting line at 512-389-4848.
TCEQ: If you suspect pollution or a discharge, file an environmental complaint as well.
Prompt reporting can help investigators identify the cause while evidence is still available.
Trash, illegal dumping, or blocked drainage
Accumulated trash, dumped materials, and blocked waterways can harm wildlife, pollute waterways, and contribute to localized flooding.
Who to contact:
City of Houston: Report illegal dumping, blocked storm drains, or other city service concerns through 311.
Harris County Flood Control District: Report obstructions, debris, or maintenance concerns in District-maintained bayous, channels, or detention basins.
Harris County Pollution Control: Report suspected illegal dumping or waste pollution at 713-920-2831.
For drainage issues outside Houston, contact your municipality or county precinct.
Chemical spills or environmental emergencies
If you witness a hazardous spill, chemical release, or another incident that poses an immediate danger, keep your distance and call 911.
Additional reporting contacts:
Texas Spill-Reporting Hotline: 1-800-832-8224 (24 hours)
National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802 (24 hours)
Do not attempt to collect samples, touch suspicious materials, or enter contaminated areas.
Is this an emergency?
If there is an immediate threat to life or safety, call 911. For urgent hazardous spills or releases, contact the Texas Spill-Reporting Hotline at 1-800-832-8224 or the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802. Do not approach potentially hazardous materials.
BCWK’s reporting form is not an emergency response service.
Take action now
Decisions about development, pollution, infrastructure, and environmental protections shape the future of our watershed. Your voice can help ensure community priorities are heard.
Explore current opportunities to submit a public comment, sign a petition, support community advocacy, or speak up on decisions affecting our waterways and wetlands.
Stay ready to take action. Sign up for BCWK updates to learn about new campaigns, public comment opportunities, and decisions affecting our watershed.
Contact decision-makers
Local, state, and federal officials make decisions that affect water quality, flood protection, infrastructure, and the health of our communities. Contacting your representatives can help bring attention to concerns and make community priorities part of the decision-making process.
Use the map below to explore our watershed, identify the officials who represent your community, and find ways to contact their offices.
Show up and participate
Protecting our waterways takes more than policies and regulations. It also takes neighbors learning from one another, sharing knowledge, and caring for the places we call home.
Join Bayou City Waterkeeper and our community partners for wetland walks, volunteer opportunities, community science projects, public meetings, and other events across the region.
Not sure what to do next?
We’re here to help you find a way forward.
Experiencing a water problem, concerned about an issue in your neighborhood, or unsure how to get involved? Tell us what’s happening or what you’d like to act on. Our team can help you identify relevant reporting tools, resources, or next steps.