The site for founding Houston was specifically chosen because of its proximity to water. Despite this, the city has always faced challenges with its drinking water supply. It took several decades to build a proper waterworks and even longer to secure high-quality artesian water. Discover the difficult journey of the Houston water system on houstoname.
The Unfulfilled Dreams of Early Citizens
The year after Houston was founded, in 1838, the need for a centralized water supply became immediately apparent. Residents gathered and signed a petition highlighting this urgent requirement. However, the idea remained just that—an idea on paper. The city continued to expand and develop, but the waterworks project stalled.
The issue of establishing a centralized water supply was not revisited until 1870. Local businessmen saw a significant opportunity for profit and were even willing to invest substantial personal funds. Consequently, a group of willing investors formed the Houston City Water Company, which was officially registered on December 30, 1871. Yet, for unknown reasons, the idea never progressed beyond bureaucratic paperwork.
As Houston continued to grow and its population swelled, the water supply problem became a critical necessity. Local activists began independently developing water supply projects. One such plan, authored by F. M. Mahan, was found in the archives; he even presented his vision for a water system to the city council. But once again, the waterworks remained only in the dreams of Houstonians and gathering dust in the archives. There were many such attempts—collaborative, solitary, interesting, and even fantastical. The one thing they all had in common was that they never moved beyond theory.
The Dam Breaks
It wasn’t until 1878 that someone finally managed to cut the Gordian Knot. James M. Lowry, an entrepreneur specializing in industrial plant construction, arrived in Houston from New York. He already had many completed construction projects under his belt; one of his most recent endeavors before visiting Houston was the water system in Long Branch, New Jersey. It’s clear he was aware of Houston’s dire water situation, suggesting his trip to the city was well-planned.
Regardless of his motives, Lowry presented his ideas to local officials. He offered to construct the city’s water system using his own efforts and funds. He was given permission to proceed without hesitation. The official start date for the Houston waterworks project was November 30, 1878. On this day, the city authorities granted the New York businessman, James Lowry, and his partners a 25-year franchise to deliver water to Houston.
Details of the agreement, found in those same archives, reveal Lowry’s company was required to supply the city with 3 million gallons of water daily. A portion of this quantity was to be supplied free of charge to 55 fire hydrants, 3 public fountains, and a 150,000-gallon reserve reservoir. Additionally, Lowry’s team had to lay 4 miles of distribution mains themselves. The water for the pipeline was to be drawn from Buffalo Bayou and filtered before being delivered to citizens for consumption.
After all the formalities were settled, Lowry began construction. The corporation was named the Houston Waterworks Company, with a capital of $75,000 USD. Work quickly ramped up, and there was no shortage of labor. Records show that a common worker on the waterworks construction earned $1 per day, which was later raised to $1.50 in April 1879 after a protest.
Lowry personally oversaw the construction despite juggling other projects across different regions. He was so dedicated to the Houston waterworks that it consumed him. Consequently, in July of the same year, the main element of the system was completed: the water tower. The standpipe was 88 feet (27 meters) high with a 20-foot (6 meters) diameter. After filtration from Buffalo Bayou, the water was pumped into this tower. From there, it reached consumers through the distribution system. The network was gradually expanded to connect new districts and private homes. The system was finally operational, albeit with water of questionable quality.
Lowry became well-known in the region and was invited to other cities to solve their water supply issues. Tragically, his fate was sealed. He contracted malaria while working on the Houston waterworks and, in 1881, the chief engineer, Lowry, passed away. Joseph Richardson, a prominent New York businessman with many companies across the States, became the new president of the Houston Water Works Company. It was rumored that he could walk into any mayor’s office in the US without knocking. Richardson remained the company’s main shareholder until his death in 1897. After that, ownership changed hands with dizzying speed. Joseph Richardson’s niece, Emily Emmet, even held the position of director, which was possible because her generous uncle had gifted her 260 shares of the Houston Water Works Company. Such rapid changes in leadership did nothing to improve the water quality, which remained more suitable for technical use than drinking. Nevertheless, the people of Houston finally had some water.
A New Owner
Under the terms of the franchise, the firm T.H. Scanlan and Associates acquired the Houston waterworks. The new owner undertook a major overhaul of the equipment, replacing pumps with more modern ones, expanding the reservoir, and purchasing a new boiler. In 1886, the company erected a new, larger, and taller water tower. The daily water throughput increased to over 8 million gallons. However, many problems persisted, primarily related to water quality and purification. Another challenge was maintaining adequate pressure across every point in Houston. During peak hours, residents could wait hours for water. The lack of water pressure became particularly critical when fighting fires.
The situation changed dramatically with the discovery of natural artesian water deposits. Geological exploration in the late 19th century located significant reserves of natural, clean water. In 1887, the Franklin well was the first to be opened, significantly improving the water quality for citizens. By the beginning of the 20th century, 14 drinking water wells had been drilled in Houston.
City Ownership
The Houston city government and the Houston Water Works Company coexisted relatively peacefully. The company duly paid its taxes and maintained the agreed supply volumes, while city officials largely turned a blind eye to the water quality. But everything changed at the start of the 20th century. The confrontation reached a peak in 1906. Citizens, outraged by the poor water quality, began to protest. The city government was forced to act. A commission uncovered significant violations by the company. To maintain the necessary water pressure, the suppliers continued to pump river water into the system. Lawsuits quickly followed.
The court ultimately ordered the transfer of the waterworks to city ownership. The company owners received $901,000 for this transfer, which represented the company’s outstanding debt. Water Works Company shares were still in circulation, valued at $434,700 USD. The City of Houston paid the owners $467,000 in bonds for these shares. Houston had finally become the sole owner of the Water Works.
Archival records show that the water quality immediately improved, and the system maintained sufficient pressure. To achieve this, the newly appointed management simply increased the supply from the artesian wells. Furthermore, the rate was lowered to 15 cents per 1,000 gallons (about 4 cubic meters). Previously, Houston residents paid 50 cents for the same volume. This is the paradox: even with the reduced water tariff, the city managed to save nearly $2,500 just on staff salaries alone.
The Modern Water System
Today, Houston boasts an extensive water supply network. However, the city still faces challenges related to natural disasters. For instance, during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, there was a threat of severe flooding as the Barker and Addicks reservoirs overflowed. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was forced to conduct a controlled release of water to prevent widespread urban flooding.
Houston continues to invest in modernizing and expanding its water infrastructure, implementing contemporary technologies. To ensure a stable and high-quality water supply amid climate change, the city engages students and scientists from local universities to research and improve water quality and purification methods.