Around 20% of all new homes in Texas are being built in suburban and rural areas that are not yet served by municipal sewer systems. So, they must rely on an On-Site Sewage System (OSSF) to treat their wastewater.
If they are not operating properly, OSSFs can be a source of pollution for groundwater, streams, and lakes. System failures can happen due to issues with maintenance, operation, or installation.
Because all systems that were installed after September 1, 1989 require a permit, it is possible to locate them on a map. To make this easy to do, the Houston-Galveston Area Council has created the OSSF Information System that covers our immediate 13-county area. Using the interactive map, it is possible to see where a system is located, how old it is, and whether it is permitted.
You might be surprised at how many OSSFs there are near your favorite paddling stream. As an example, the panel below shows a screenshot of the area around Spring Creek and Cypress Creek in northern Harris County. You might want to try out the OSSF Information System to size up the situation near your own favorite paddling spots.
