THEA Finds Toxic Chemicals In Tap Water Near Jones Road Superfund Site

THEA has released the results of tap water testing at homes near Jones Road and, in coverage by FOX 26 Houston TV News, Harris County Commissioner Tom Ramsey expressed concern over evidence that resident’s drinking water contains harmful chemicals.

The homes are within a two-mile radius of the Jones Road Ground Water Plume Superfund Site, an area still suffering the consequences of a dry cleaner’s decision to dump chemicals behind its store decades ago. The dry cleaner has been out of business for years, but known carcinogens continue to seep into the water table.  

Over the summer, THEA tested the water from 13 homes in the nearby neighborhood at no cost to the residents. The results found water wells that contained Tetrachloroethylene and other related chemicals, in one case at four times the EPA’s threshold. 

For the last year, THEA has worked with the University of Texas Medical Branch to perform more extensive testing in the area. Those results are still being analyzed and will be released when they are this fall. 

Here’s the report from FOX 26 reporter Greg Groogan.