Houston Public Works head on termination of contract with Inframark: 'We believe this is the best path forward for Houston water treatment operations'

The City of Houston is severing its professional relationship with the operator of a water treatment facility on the city’s northeast side, per a report from Houston NBC affiliate KPRC. 

Friday, March 31 is the last official day of the contract city hall has with Inframark, which oversees the Kingwood Central Wastewater Facility. 

KPRC reported that operations at the plant are the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation.

Houston Mayor Pro-Tem Dave Martin, whose city council district includes Kingwood, said in a statement obtained by the station that the area’s drinking water is still safe to consume.

“Over the past two months, it became apparent that Inframark is in breach of its contract with the City of Houston to run the Greater North East Houston Service Area system, which includes the Kingwood Central Wastewater Treatment Facility,” the press release read. “Mayor Pro Tem Martin continues to appreciate the swift action and response of Houston Public Works. He looks forward to the conclusion of the ongoing criminal investigation.”

City officials asserted that Houston Public Works (HPW) can run its water treatment facilities in Kingwood in the same safe and efficient manner as it does other water treatment facilities elsewhere in the city, KPRC reported.

According to the release, the city intends to “facilitate a smooth transition” with Inframark in relation to the “city-led management of the Greater North East Houston Service Area.”

“We are committed to providing the highest quality water services to Houstonians and believe this is the best path forward for Houston water treatment operations,” HPW head Carol Haddock said in the release. “The fact that the city has moved to terminate us as long overdue upgrades are finally being made is both a surprise and a disappointment.”

Inframark said in a statement of its own that it was taken aback by the city’s decision to cut ties with it, the station reported. 

“Over the last five years, since Hurricane Harvey, we have repeatedly asked the City of Houston to address the serious deficiencies in the condition of the equipment at the Kingwood Central Wastewater Treatment Facility, and until recently the city has slow-walked every request,” the company said. 

Inframark claimed a nearly complete internal investigation into alleged criminal wrongdoing yielded no evidence of any illegal activity that can be traced to its workforce.