Houston Public Works is seeing a slight increase in water main breaks under the current drought.
Erin Jones is the public information officer for Houston Public Works. She said the shifting ground from the dry climate can contribute to water leaks.
"With the soil and higher-than-normal temperatures, and very decreased annual rainfall combined with an increase in demand, that really is what puts us back," she said.
According to Houston Public Works, there are currently about 300 pending water leaks during the city's Stage One Drought Contingency Plan. Jones said that usually they see less than 100.
She said many of these leaks tend to be reported in parts of Houston with older infrastructure.
"It just depends where the oldest infrastructure is," she said. "Some of that has a tendency to be on the Northeast side, but where we're putting new projects."
Late last year, the city approved funding to address the aging underground infrastructure at a time when water main breaks were increasing. At that time, the city would usually see 400 water main leaks a day.
"It's important that we gather this information so that we can share with our constituents because over the last several months, we are receiving so many complaints about the cost of people's water bills," Vice Mayor Martha Castex-Tatum said at the time.
Houston Public Works is also urging the public to continue reporting any leaks spotted on the streets to 311.
"It doesn't matter if you've already called 311," Jones said. "Call us back again so we can know, and pictures are a great resource.”
