The City of Houston is pushing back after residents say they were told a Superfund site was behind their drainage problems.

HOUSTON — Residents in Houston’s Fifth Ward say they have been left frustrated and without clear answers after persistent drainage problems have turned their streets and driveways into flood zones every time it rains.

Robyn Hackett, a resident in the affected area, documented the flooding on video, showing what she says her driveway and the surrounding streets look like after every rainfall. She says the city of Houston has repeatedly shifted its explanation for why the drainage problem exists, and that just within the last week, some residents claim city workers told them the drains could not be fixed until a nearby Superfund site was cleaned up.

The City of Houston responded with a written statement pushing back on that connection.

“The repairs to the City sewer line have been successfully completed as of 3/12/26. 

The sewer line repair is not associated with any neighborhood storm water drainage issues as they are not combined systems. 

Additionally, restoration of the affected resident’s yard is part of the standard repair and recovery process following utility work. This restoration is routine and has no connection to, nor impact on, any Superfund site.”

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