Resource Hub
The Bayou City Waterkeeper Resource Hub is designed to empower communities with the knowledge and tools necessary to advocate for water justice in the Houston region. As a comprehensive platform, it offers community members, local agencies, and stakeholders access to educational materials, resources, and guidance to support their advocacy efforts and advance water justice.
Explore our resources by filtering relevant topics or types of materials that interest you. You can view all resources and refine your search below.
Private Sewer Lateral Policy Brief (Spanish)
Este informe proporciona información general sobre la infraestructura de alcantarillado sanitario, junto con los problemas de alcantarillado en Houston que llevaron a un tribunal a ordenar a la ciudad que invirtiera 2.000 millones de dólares en infraestructura de alcantarillado hasta 2036. A medida que la ciudad marca el tercer año de esta inversión en abril de 2024, este informe de política ofrece nueve demandas de alcantarillado creadas con el aporte de entrevistas comunitarias, divulgación e investigación, así como la experiencia organizativa con la infraestructura de alcantarillado.
2025-26 Policy Agenda by Bayou City Waterkeeper
Building on the foundation of our regulatory engagement, our 2025-26 policy agenda represents a significant step forward in our role as water policy leaders of the region. While continuing our vital work of holding polluters accountable and ensuring regulatory compliance, this agenda broadens our focus to address the root causes of water inequities. It outlines a comprehensive vision for a healthy Lower Galveston Bay watershed, encompassing and emphasizing proactive policy changes to our decision-makers.
Justice in the Sewers: Understanding Your Sewage System
This resource provides context to understanding sewage systems, impacts of SSOs, and how to identify sewage issues in your home.
Justice in the Sewers: Sewage Issues in Pasadena and What We Can Do About Them
This resource provides history and context of sewage issues happening within the city of Pasadena.
Houston City Hall Public Comment Guide and Template
Are you interested in testifying to Houston City Hall, and need assistance preparing your testimony? Use this guide here to give you information on how to testify and for assistance with preparing your testimony.
What is the MS4?/ Qual es el MS4? (English/Español)
Learn about the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) program, a critical component of the federal Clean Water Act that governs how stormwater is managed in urban areas like Houston. This resource explains the significance of MS4s in reducing pollution, the current state of the MS4 permit in Harris County and Houston, and the potential benefits of updating the permit to include green stormwater infrastructure. Explore how this renewal process impacts local communities, especially those historically underserved, and discover how it can lead to cleaner, healthier waterways and neighborhoods.
FEMA Nature Based Solutions Flashcards
Looking for more examples of Nature Based Solutions? FEMA has provided and created definitions for different types of solutions that center nature.
Surge Forward Zine (English/Español)
Looking for a Surge Forward resource to share among friends? Check out this zine.
Surge Forward Fact Sheet (English/Español)
This factsheet was created to give more information and background about the Ike Dike and what alternatives that the Surge Forward Coalition recommends.
Surge Forward Landing Page
What is Surge Forward? Surge Forward is a coalition of organizations here in Texas working towards advocating for alternatives to the Ike Dike, a megaproject that is being proposed along the mouth of Galveston Bay. Looking for where to find resources and updates for our Surge Forward work? Please visit this landing page for more information.
5 Critical Wetland Mapper
Explore wetlands in your community with Bayou City Waterkeeper’s Wetland Mapper. This web map helps you locate key wetland areas and highlights the 5 Most Critical Wetlands identified by our team. Part of our Wetland Watch Hub, this tool supports efforts to protect these vital ecosystems.
5 Critical Wetland Story Map
Discover Houston’s five most critical wetlands and how we can protect them. This story map provides key background information on each site and highlights their importance to our environment. Explore these vital areas and learn what can be done to preserve them. This is also included in our Wetland Watch Hub.
Wetland Watch Hub
Looking for Bayou City Waterkeeper’s wetland resources and maps all in one place? Please visit our Wetland Watch Hub for background on our protecting wetlands work, and also to view our 5 Critical Wetland mapper and story map. Created in partnership with Rice University’s Diluvial Spatial Studies Lab
Justice in the Sewers Map
This interactive map, developed by Bayou City Waterkeeper in collaboration with the Diluvial Studies Lab at Rice University, visualizes City of Houston sanitary sewer overflow data alongside private sewer lateral overflow data. It provides a detailed look at where sewage overflows have occurred, highlighting the areas most impacted by these environmental challenges.
Justice in the Sewers Hub
Our Justice in the Sewers hub is an on-going hub to share information about the wastewater consent decree required Houston to invest $2 billion in sewer upgrades, following our investigation into over 9,300 sewage overflows affecting marginalized communities.This hub links in resources and maps related to BCWK’s Houston SSO work.