Harris County has been enforcing water quality rules for over 50 years - longer than most environmental agencies in the U.S. have been around! Water quality in our bayous had for decades been recognized as suffering misuse from the many demands placed on it, from recreation, fishing, transportation, drinking water, and even as an open sewer.

From the first scientific assessment of water quality in 1946, a new agency was formed in 1953 to enforce air and water regulations. Today, Harris County has many agencies that contribute to protecting and improving water quality.

Harris County’s leadership in the field of water quality continues to this day. In the following links below, you will find many recent publications that Harris County has performed to gain a better understanding of the best ways to address water quality. More studies will be posted as they are completed, so check back.