In Denver Harbor, neighbors say a leak at Hershe and Lathrop streets sent water into the roadway for roughly two months, leaving residents increasingly frustrated.
Residents of the Houston community said meaningful repair work did not begin until Oct. 8, after local TV station ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) started making calls.
Here's what to know
On TikTok, the outlet reported that residents Linda Andrade and Cecilia Escamilla spent about two months waiting for public works crews to address the leak.
@abc13houston Residents say a water leak at Hershe and Lathrop streets went unrepaired for about two months until ABC13 started making calls Thursday.
♬ original sound - ABC13 Houston
Locals said the problem started after the street was repaved.
"This has been going on for about two months," Escamilla told ABC13.
"This is the most action we've seen for that particular problem," Andrade added.
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The delay especially irritated residents because the leak was more than an eyesore. Escamilla pointed to the contrast between rising household bills and water pouring away in plain sight.
"It's just that my water bills are high, and then just seeing that being wasted just makes it really frustrating for me," she explained to the station.
That sentiment also showed up in the comments. One wrote, "I called it in 2 months ago then a month ago. I'm glad it was finally repaired. Not happy about all the water loss. It'll prolly be added to all our bills," while other commenters voiced similar worries that residents would end up covering the loss.
More background
Residents said they wanted the leak addressed before more water was lost and the issue grew worse for the neighborhood.
In the video, Escamilla explained they would "just put a cone," but it would get moved and "it'd be all the same thing all over again."
One resident said bills get quick attention, but "they had three weeks or a month right there, wasting all the water."
Residents questioned whether public systems were protecting shared resources and respecting the people who pay for them. The repair effort also created another problem for residents. They said crews temporarily cut off water service while they kept working.
What's being done?
When ABC13 arrived on scene, public works crews were already at the intersection and had been working for hours to find the leak's source. Footage from the site showed drilling and excavation underway.
Escamilla noted "the only bad thing is we don't have any water for right now," while also expressing hope that crews would "finish it today and don't leave and, you know, leave it half finished."
Support for the workers also appeared in the comments.
"Thank you HPW utility crews," one wrote. "We know you guys are backed up with work and limited on people but we appreciate you!"
For residents who watched water run down the street for about two months, the burst of repair activity underscored how much earlier the problem could have been addressed.
"We're grateful that y'all are out here and that they're finally fixing it," Escamilla concluded to ABC13.
Where can I learn more?
Frustration over wasted water and slow responses isn't limited to one Houston intersection.
• One homeowner said an HOA left a leaking sprinkler running long enough to drive up costs.
• In Potosi, Texas, residents challenged a $4,500 meter demand tied to threatened shutoffs.
• Across Harris County, experts warned that neighborhoods are slowly sinking as groundwater pressures persist.
• In Corpus Christi, officials said the city's water crisis could foreshadow deeper supply strain.
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