The Bayou Preservation Association is dedicated to improving surface water quality in Houston's creeks, rivers, and bayous. Much of what BPA does to improve water quality is through bayou clean-up programs, public education, habitat restoration, funding research, and advocating sustainable urban development that minimizes non-point source pollution. Working with governmental agencies and other environmental advocacy groups, the BPA strongly supports actions that would lead to water quality improvements in our waterways. The BPA is currently addressing litter in our bayous with a grant from the Galveston Bay Estuary Program.
The BPA Water Quality Committee, meets the 4th Tuesday of the month at 3:00 at the BPA office. Call the BPA office at 713.529.6443 to confirm the date and time.
How is water quality measured?
Water quality standards are allowable levels of chemical parameters set for each major waterway based on its use. For example, the upper Buffalo Bayou is considered to be a stream used for recreational purposes, such as boating, therefore the allowable concentrations of chemical constituents are based on human contact. These standards, set by state and federal agencies, are checked by collecting water samples and analyzing them in a laboratory. Samples are collected within the rivers and at designated discharge points where urban runoff or wastewater treatment plants empty into the waterway.
The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), a voluntary association of counties, cities, independent school districts, and soil and water conservation districts, administers the Texas Clean Rivers Program in the region. Through Clean Rivers, the H-GAC compiles and tracks water quality data for the region's creeks and bayous.
To learn more, visit H-GAC Clean Rivers Project.
How clean are the bayous?
Each year the H-GAC publishes a Basin Summary Report. The 2005 Report provides the following summary report entitled "How's the Water?", which we quote below:
"So, how's the water? Not bad, as a whole, but as you will see throughout this report, the health of the region's water bodies varies widely, as do the water quality management challenges."
To read more of this report, visit So How's the Water.
Impaired waters in our area - for a "Summary of Water Quality Impairments and Concerns" from H-GAC, click Water Quality.
What actions are being taken to improve water quality in Houston?
The H-GAC has a strong water quality management program with numerous objectives ranging from conducting water quality assessments of rivers to identifying future needs for wastewater collection and treatment facilities. By educating the public and coordinating with local and state government agencies, the H-GAC is working to improve water quality in the Houston area and bring our water ways closer to being swimmable and fishable.
According to federal law, states are required to compile a list of water bodies (rivers, streams, lakes) that are not meeting water quality standards. About 47 water bodies in the H-GAC 13-county region have been identified as water quality limited. For each of these water bodies, the TECQ is required to develop a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). A TMDL is developed by first determining the capacity of a water body to receive a particular pollutant of concern and still meet water quality standards. Second, this amount of pollutant loading is divided up amongst the sources of that pollutant within the watershed. Activities that bring a pollutant to the water body include both non-point sources such as urban runoff and point sources such as treatment plants or industrial discharges. Once sources are identified and the TMDLs are allocated for pollutants of concern, actions can be taken to reduce the loading of pollutants in the future.
What can I do to improve water quality in Houston?
1) Learn more about the flow of water in your neighborhood and discover what bayou receives water from your storm drains. Through the use of maps you can learn where the water from your driveway goes.
2) Be conscious about what goes down your drains. Recycle used oil and dispose of household hazardous waste at city drop-off locations. A map and hours of operation for the City of Houston recycle centers are provided below.
3) Minimize use of pesticides and herbicides in your yard.
4) Volunteer to monitor and clean up the water ways. You can participate in Texas Watch a program that trains and certifies students, volunteers, and professionals in water quality monitoring procedures. Data collected through Texas Watch are used by government agencies to set water quality standards that meet designated uses.
LEARN MORE & SIGN UP! Check out Texas Watch.
Where do I go to properly dispose of used oil and household hazardous waste?
The City of Houston operates the Westpark Consumer Recycling Center at 5900 Westpark. It is a drive-through facility where citizens can drop off their recyclable items. The City of Houston also accepts batteries, oil, paint and antifreeze at this recycling center. The facility is open 9-5 Monday thru Saturday.
The City of Houston also provides collection of household hazardous wastes at the Environmental Service Center. The Environmental Service Center is located at 11500 South Post Oak. The Center is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and the second Saturday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
For more information regarding the City of Houston's recycling and household hazardous waste management program, visit their website at City of Houston-Recycling.
Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria in the bayous:
Every month, the City of Houston samples area bayous for bacterial contamination from fecal coliform organisms such as Escherichia coli (E. coli). As BPA receives the data from the City we post those numbers above 10,000 colonies per 100 ml. The data received runs three to four months behind, so it is an indication of past contamination only. BPA continues to examine bacterial contamination in our bayous and hopes to understand the sources so we can work to reduce these high levels.
High Watershed E. Coli Levels for September and October, 2008 (>/=10,000)
City of Houston Sites in watershed with E. coli levels greater than 10000 colonies/100ml for 2008.
Levels of these bacteria should not exceed 394 colonies/100ml for contact recreation.
Levels should not exceed 605 colonies/100ml for non-contact recreation.
|
Watershed |
Site |
TCEQ |
Date |
E Coli |
Segment |
| Brays Bayou |
@ Hwy. 6 |
15848 |
09/30/08 |
28000 |
1007 |
| Brays Bayou |
Bintliff Ditch @ Bissonnet |
18690 |
09/30/08 |
22000 |
1007 |
| Buffalo Bayou |
Rummel Creek @ Memorial |
11188 |
09/03/08 |
31000 |
1014 |
| Buffalo Bayou |
Bear Creek @ Old Greenhouse Road |
17484 |
10/02/08 |
41000 |
1014 |
| Buffalo Bayou |
Spring Branch Creek @ Wirt |
16592 |
09/29/08 |
25000 |
1014 |
| Greens Bayou |
Big Gulch @ Wallisville |
16662 |
10/07/08 |
26000 |
1006 |
| Halls Bayou |
@ Mesa |
15864 |
09/25/08 |
130000 |
1006 |
| Hunting Bayou |
Schramm Slough @ Cavalcade |
15869 |
10/06/08 |
>240000 |
1007 |
| Sims Bayou |
Plumb Creek @ Old Galveston Road |
16658 |
09/23/08 |
>240000 |
1007 |
| Sims Bayou |
@ Almeda |
15876 |
09/29/08 |
25000 |
1007 |
| Sims Bayou |
@ Swallow |
15878 |
09/23/08 |
74000 |
1007 |
| White Oak Bayou |
Cole Creek @ Bolivia |
16593 |
10/06/08 |
65000 |
1017 |
