Groundwater Pumping Can Cause Land to Sink

The Gulf Coast Aquifer has many layers of clay mixed with water. When water is pumped out, those clay layers compress and the ground above sinks. This slow sinking is called subsidence. It has happened across parts of the greater Houston area. To slow it down, cities and utilities in Montgomery County must cut how much groundwater they pump.

Starting in 2015, the San Jacinto River Authority began delivering treated surface water from Lake Conroe as an alternative to groundwater. If you are buying in a low-lying area, ask about both subsidence history and flood risk at the same time. Land that has already sunk is more likely to flood during heavy rain.