Air & Water
What's in the air and the water
Every air monitor in Harris County, read every hour. Every spill, release and fire reported to the state and the Coast Guard. The plants with the longest violation records, and every drinking water system serving the county that broke a federal rule.
The air right now
Worst reading in the county: AQI 41, Good
Air quality index, EPA's scale: 0–50 good, 51–100 moderate, 101–150 unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151+ unhealthy.
Forecast: 10/27/26 OZONE Moderate · 10/27/26 PM2.5 Moderate · 10/27/26 PM10 Good · 10/28/26 OZONE Moderate
| Monitor | Ozone | Fine particles |
|---|---|---|
| Houston Deer Park C35 7 am | 20 Good | 41 Good |
| Clinton C403 7 am | 12 Good | 37 Good |
| Seabrook Friendship Park C45 7 am | 27 Good | — |
| Houston Park Place C416 7 am | 26 Good | — |
| Lynchburg Ferry C1015 7 am | 25 Good | — |
| Channelview C15 7 am | 20 Good | — |
| Houston Croquet C409 7 am | 20 Good | — |
| Houston Aldine C8 7 am | 19 Good | — |
| Houston Monroe C406 7 am | 19 Good | — |
| Baytown Garth C1017 7 am | 19 Good | — |
| Houston Bayland Park C53/C146/C181 7 am | 18 Good | — |
| Houston Westhollow C410 7 am | 17 Good | — |
| Houston North Wayside C405 7 am | 10 Good | — |
| Northwest Harris Co. C26/C110/C154 7 am | 6 Good | — |
| Lang C408 7 am | 6 Good | — |
| Houston East C1 7 am | 6 Good | — |
| Baytown C148 7 am | — | — |
| Houston Regional Office C81 7 am | — | — |
| Houston Texas Avenue C411 7 am | — | — |
| Sheldon C551 7 am | — | — |
| Baytown Wetlands Center C552 7 am | — | — |
| Crosby Library C553 7 am | — | — |
| West Houston C554 7 am | — | — |
| Kingwood Library C555 7 am | — | — |
| La Porte Sylvan Beach C556 7 am | — | — |
| Mercer Arboretum C557 7 am | — | — |
| Tom Bass C558 7 am | — | — |
| Katy Park C559 7 am | — | — |
| Atascocita C560 7 am | — | — |
| Meyer Park C561 7 am | — | — |
| Bunker Hill Village C562 7 am | — | — |
| Huffman Road C563 7 am | — | — |
| Clear Brook High School C570 7 am | — | — |
| Clear Lake High School C572 7 am | — | — |
| Kingwood C309 7 am | — | — |
| Houston North Loop C1052 7 am | — | — |
| Houston SW Frwy C1066 7 am | — | — |
On 4 of the last 7 days on file, at least one Harris County monitor had an hour over 100 on the AQI for ozone or fine particles.
Spills, releases and fires
Fires and explosions reported in the last year
- Oct 11, 2026 · CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL: CALLER REPORTING THE RELEASE OF (220) POUNDS 1,3 BUTADIENE, (2600) POUNDS NITROGEN OXIDES, (6800) POUNDS CARBON MONOXIDE, (200) POUNDS OF BENZENE AND (5300) POUNDS OF ETHYLENE, FROM A FLARE STACK, TO THE THE ATMOSPHERE … (National Response Center report)
- Oct 8, 2026 · Houston: CALLER IS REPORTING A BATTERY EXPERIENCED THERMAL RUNAWAY AT LANDING AND STARTED SMOKING. NO FIRE REPORTED. NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES. BATTERY PLACED IN A THERMAL RUNAWAY BAG AND CONFISCATED BY LOCAL PD. CALLER HAD NO F… (National Response Center report)
- Oct 7, 2026 · Houston: CALLER REPORTING A BOX TRAILER ON FIRE NEXT TO AN AUTO PARTS BUILDING DUE TO AN UNKNOWN CAUSE. THE TRAILER CONTAINED UNKNOWN CORROSIVE AND FLAMMABLE MATERIAL WHICH HAS RELEASED TO THE PAVEMENT AND INTO STORM DRAINS. THE… (National Response Center report)
- Oct 1, 2026 · INEOS PHENOL: CALLER STATES A PUMP FAILURE CAUSED THE RELEASE OF 37.51 POUNDS OF BENZENE, 20.7 POUNDS OF PROPANE, .3491 POUNDS OF NITROGEN TETROXIDE, AND .6969 POUNDS OF CARBON MONOXIDE FROM A FLARE STACK OF THE FACILITY. (National Response Center report)
- Sep 29, 2026 · DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY: THE CALLER REPORTED THAT A FIRE OCCURRED AT A CHEMICAL FACILITY DUE TO UNKNOWN REASONS. THIS RESULTED IN THE RELEASE OF 1000 POUNDS OF SULFURIC ACID, 100 POUNDS OF 2 METHYL ACRYLAMIDE, AND 100 POUNDS OF DIMETHYL ETHER I… (National Response Center report)
- Sep 26, 2026 · CIRCLE K STORE 2741404: Seabrook Fire Department reported a spill that occurred at approximately 4:45 PM of 51 gallons of diesel due to an overfill of the underground PST located at 1910 NASA Parkway, Seabrook, TX 77586. (TCEQ spill report)
- Sep 22, 2026 · AIR PRODUCTS: THE CALLER REPORTED THAT A GENERATOR CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO UNKNOWN REASONS AT A MANUFACTURING FACILITY. THIS RESULTED IN THE RELEASE OF ABOUT 100 GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL ONTO SOIL. NEARBY STORM DRAINS WERE ALSO AFFECTED DUE… (National Response Center report)
- Sep 19, 2026 · Baytown: THE CALLER STATED THAT THEY HEARD A LOUD BOOM AND WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A VALVE OPENING AT A CHEMICAL PLANT. DIRECTLY AFTER THEY OBSERVED YELLOWISH SMOKE RELEASING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL THAT RELEASED I… (National Response Center report)
- Sep 17, 2026 · SPACE CENTER CHEVRON 1: On September 17, 2026, at approximately 17:39, Mr. Melvin Aldridge with Houston Fire Department HazMat Team called with an initial notification of a spill release. On July 17, 2026, approximately 100 gallons of gasoline… (TCEQ spill report)
- Sep 9, 2026 · GESSNER FOOD MART: On September 9, 2026, at approximately 10:11 PM, Mr. Santiago Zamudio with the Houston Fire Department Hazmat Team called with an initial notification of a spill. On September 9, 2026, approximately 50 gallons of gasoli… (TCEQ spill report)
- Sep 6, 2026 · DEER PARK REFINING LIMITED: THE CALLER STATES ELECTRICAL ISSUES CAUSED LOSS OF COMPRESSORS RESULTING IN A RELEASE OF SULFUR DIOXIDE FROM THE NORTH PROPERTY FLARE (1153 POUNDS) AND WEST PROPERTY FLARE (2196 POUNDS). (National Response Center report)
- Aug 29, 2026 · LUBRIZOL CORPORATION: THE CALLER IS REPORTING AN UNKNOWN CHEMICAL ODOR, INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, OF THEIR RESIDENCE FROM THE SRP'S FACILITY. THE CALLER STATES THAT LOCAL FIRE CONDUCTED AN INVESTIGATION AND DISCOVER THAT THE SRP IS DOING ROUTINE … (National Response Center report)
- Aug 11, 2026 · IRONMAN METAL: /// POTENTIAL RELEASE /// CALLER REPORTING A FIRE AT A METAL SCRAPYARD, UNKNOWN IF ANY CHEMICALS ARE RELEASING. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN. (National Response Center report)
- Aug 11, 2026 · IRONMAN METALS: On August 11, 2026, at approximately 7:42 AM, TCEQ Region 12 became aware of a fire. On August 11, 2026, an unknown amount of scrap metal ignited at 1919 Goodyear Drive, Houston (Harris County), TX 77017. (TCEQ spill report)
- Aug 6, 2026 · Houston: CALLER STATES A RESIDENCE RECENTLY CAUGHT FIRE AND THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THE PROPERTY DUMPING THE DEBRIS AND ASBESTOS IN ORDER TO REPLACE THE DRY WALL BUT THE CALLER STATES THEY ARE RELEASING THE ASBESTOS AND IT IS IMPACT… (National Response Center report)
Every report, last 90 days
| Who and where | What | How much |
|---|---|---|
| Not named Oct 18 · Houston | DERAILMENT | |
| L .OLBRA TRUCKING Oct 15 · Houston | OIL: DIESEL | 140 gallon(s) |
| EQUISTAR CHEMICALS Oct 13 · Channelview | BENZENE | 10 pound(s) |
| EQUISTAR CHEMICALS Oct 13 · Channelview | BENZENE | 72 pound(s) |
| EQUISTAR CHEMICALS Oct 13 · Channelview | BENZENE | 72 pound(s) |
| Not named Oct 11 · Channelview | UNKNOWN MATERIAL | 0 unknown amount |
| CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL Oct 11 · Baytown | CARBON MONOXIDE Fire | 6800 pound(s) |
| ODSJELL TERMINALS Oct 11 · Seabrook | ACRYLONITRILE | 3 gallon(s) |
| Not named Oct 10 · Channelview | UNKNOWN MATERIAL | 0 unknown amount |
| UNIVAR SOLUTIONS Oct 8 · Houston | WASTE WATER | 477 gallon(s) |
| UNIVAR SOLUTIONS Oct 8 · Houston | WASTE WATER | 477 gallon(s) |
| Not named Oct 8 · Houston | LITHIUM Fire | 1 each |
| Not named Oct 7 · Baytown | UNKNOWN MATERIAL | 0 unknown amount |
| Not named Oct 7 · Houston | UNKNOWN MATERIAL Fire | 0 unknown amount |
| CMA CGM Oct 5 · Seabrook | NO CHRIS CODE - AMMONIUM POLYPHOSPHATE SOLUTION | 100 gallon(s) |
| Not named Oct 3 · Houston | DERAILMENT | |
| LYONDELL BASELL Oct 2 · Channelview | STYRENE | 0 unknown amount |
| INEOS PHENOL Oct 1 · Pasadena | PROPANE Fire | 20.7 pound(s) |
| DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY Sep 29 · Deer Park | 2 METHYL ACRYLAMIDE Fire | 100 pound(s) |
| EXXON MOBIL Sep 28 · Baytown | NAPHTHALENE | 114 pound(s) |
| U.S. AQUA Sep 26 · Baytown | HYDRAULIC OIL | 3 gallon(s) |
| CIRCLE K STORE 2741404 Sep 26 · 77586 | Diesel fuel into waste Fire | 51 gallons |
| Not named Sep 25 · Houston | DERAILMENT | |
| Not named Sep 25 · Houston | OIL, FUEL: NO. 6 (COKER GAS OIL) | 0 unknown amount |
| MAERSK A/S Sep 24 · | UNKNOWN OIL - EITHER COOKING OIL OR HYDRAULIC OIL | 8 liter(s) |
| KIRBY INLAND MARINE Sep 24 · Deer Park | CALCIUM LIGNOSULPHONATE | 0.5 gallon(s) |
| Not named Sep 22 · La Porte | RESIDUE-FUEL OIL SLURRY | 0 unknown amount |
| OXY Sep 22 · La Porte | SODIUM HYDROXIDE | 1000 pound(s) |
| AIR PRODUCTS Sep 22 · Baytown | OIL: DIESEL Fire | 100 gallon(s) |
| OXY VINYL Sep 21 · Deerpark | CARBON TETRACHLORIDE | 0 unknown amount |
| LBC HOUSTON TANK TERMINALS Sep 21 · Seabrook | OIL, MISC: LUBRICATING | 0 unknown amount |
| COSTCO WHOLESALE WILLOWBROOK 675 Sep 21 · 77064 | Diesel fuel into waste | 30 gallons |
| Not named Sep 20 · | UNKNOWN OIL | 0 unknown amount |
| Not named Sep 19 · Baytown | UNKNOWN MATERIAL Fire | 0 unknown amount |
| GENERIC INCIDENT ZIP CODE 77521 Sep 18 · BAYTOWN 77521 | Drilling mud (oil/gas related) into waste | 100 gallons |
| Not named Sep 17 · Houston | REFRIGERANT GASES | 0 unknown amount |
| SPACE CENTER CHEVRON 1 Sep 17 · 77058 | Gasoline into waste Fire | 100 gallons |
| INEOS PHENOL Sep 16 · Pasadena | NO CHRIS CODE - MIXTURE OF BENZENE AND CUMENE | 50 gallon(s) |
| MAGELLAN TERMINALS HOLDINGS LLC Sep 16 · Galena Park | HYDRAULIC OIL | 0 unknown amount |
| INEOS PHENOL SN5910020 Sep 16 · PASADENA 77503 | Benzene into waste | 50 gallons |
| GOLDING BARGE Sep 15 · Pasadena | ETHYLBENZENE | 0.25 cup(s) |
| TPC GROUP Sep 14 · Houston | 1,3-BUTADIENE | 0 unknown amount |
| EXXON MOBIL Sep 14 · Baytown | AROMATIC CONCENTRATE | 0 unknown amount |
| EQUISTAR CHEMICALS LP Sep 13 · Channelview | SULFURIC ACID | 851 pound(s) |
| EQUISTAR CHEMICAL Sep 10 · Channelview | BENZENE | 18 pound(s) |
| OXY VINYL Sep 10 · La Porte | 1,2 DICHLOROETHANE | 100 pound(s) |
| NVP TERMINALING LLC Sep 9 · Pasadena | HYDRAULIC OIL | 1 gallon(s) |
| GESSNER FOOD MART Sep 9 · HOUSTON 77071 | Gasoline into waste Fire | 50 gallons |
| DEER PARK REFINING LIMITED Sep 6 · Deer Park | SULFUR DIOXIDE Fire | 3349 pound(s) |
| UNITED AIRLINES Sep 6 · Houston | JET FUEL: JP-1 (KEROSENE) | 27 gallon(s) |
| Not named Sep 5 · Houston | OIL, MISC: MOTOR | 0 unknown amount |
| Not named Sep 5 · Houston | TAR | 0 unknown amount |
| ANGLO EASTERN SHIP MANAGEMENT Sep 3 · Houston | OTHER OIL (NGO BUNKER OIL) | 0 unknown amount |
| Not named Sep 3 · Houston | OIL: DIESEL | 1 cup(s) |
| Not named Sep 1 · Houston | UNKNOWN OIL | 0 unknown amount |
| Not named Sep 1 · Houston | UNKNOWN MATERIAL | 0 unknown amount |
| ROYAL WHITE CEMENT Sep 1 · Houston | HYDRAULIC OIL | 10 gallon(s) |
| Not named Aug 31 · | UNKNOWN OIL | 0 unknown amount |
| Not named Aug 30 · Houston | UNKNOWN OIL | 0 unknown amount |
| Not named Aug 30 · Houston | UNKNOWN OIL | 0 unknown amount |
From TCEQ's emergency response spill reports and the National Response Center's incident reports, as first reported (not verified by the agencies).
Plants that keep breaking the rules
Harris County facilities from EPA's enforcement database (in violation in 4 or more of the last 12 quarters) and TCEQ's notices of enforcement and orders. The full list is in Big H-Town.
| Facility | Actions | Penalties |
|---|---|---|
| TEXAS PETROCHEMICALS HOUSTON | 0 | $12.3M |
| CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL COMPANY LLC-CEDAR BAYOU BAYTOWN | 0 | $3.4M |
| HOUSTON REFINING LP HOUSTON | 7 | $3M |
| BAYTOWN OLEFINS PLANT BAYTOWN | 0 | $2.2M |
| PASADENA REFINING SYSTEM, INC. PASADENA | 0 | $2.1M |
| HESS CORPORATION HOUSTON | 0 | $2.1M |
| Equistar Chemicals, LP | 34 | $1.7M |
| EQUISTAR CHEMICALS PASADENA | 0 | $1.4M |
| PASADENA REFINING SYSTEM, INC | 3 | $1.4M |
| EQUISTAR CHEMICALS-LAPORTE LAPORTE | 0 | $1.1M |
| INEOS USA LLC | 7 | $933K |
| CHEVRON PHILLIPS CHEMICAL COMPANY LP | 19 | $850.7K |
| TPC GROUP LLC | 10 | $778K |
| Exxon Mobil Corporation | 25 | $694.2K |
| GEORGIA GULF CHEMICALS & VINYLS, LLC - PASADENA PASADENA | 0 | $542.1K |
| TRANSOCEAN OFFSHORE DEEPWATER DRILLING INC. HOUSTON | 0 | $507K |
| Gemini HDPE LLC | 3 | $503.1K |
| PASADENA TERMINAL PASADENA | 1 | $483.9K |
| SHELL OIL COMPANY | 11 | $463.1K |
| FLINT HILLS RESOURCES HOUSTON CHEMICAL, LLC | 3 | $462.5K |
| DERICHEBOURG RECYCLING USA HOUSTON | 0 | $442.5K |
| SHELL CHEMICAL LP | 14 | $439.7K |
| LCY ELASTOMERS LP BAYTOWN | 5 | $403.9K |
| SHELL CHEMICAL DEER PARK | 2 | $393.3K |
| Air Liquide Large Industries U.S. LP | 7 | $392.3K |
Drinking water
Every federal drinking water violation in the last 5 years for water systems serving Harris County, from EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System. "Health" means a contaminant level or treatment violation, not a missed test or report.
| Water system | Health | All |
|---|---|---|
| HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL SCHOOL TX1013282 · latest 2025-03-06 | 1 | 75 |
| HOUSTON AWESTFIELD TX1012885 · latest 2026-04-01 | 1 | 51 |
| STAY & PLAY CHILD DAY CARE CENTER TX1010662 · latest 2026-04-01 | 1 | 50 |
| SOUTH TAYLOR LAKE VILLAGE WSC TX1011184 · latest 2025-05-01 | 1 | 12 |
| ALLIED CONCRETE PLANT NO THREE TX1013423 · latest 2025-03-01 | 1 | 11 |
| IQ PRODUCTS TX1012936 · latest 2024-12-01 | 1 | 9 |
| RIGID BUSINESS PARK TX1013541 · latest 2026-06-01 | 1 | 8 |
| FOUR SEASONS EQUIPMENT HOUSTON TX1012956 · latest 2025-09-01 | 1 | 7 |
| GREENS ROAD MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY TX1010349 · latest 2024-12-30 | 1 | 6 |
| CEDAR BAYOU CHURCH OF CHRIST TX1013556 · latest 2025-05-01 | 1 | 5 |
| COUNTRY ROAD PARK TX1010674 · latest 2025-07-01 | 1 | 4 |
| SAN JACINTO RIVER AUTHORITY HIGHLANDS TX1013456 · latest 2026-04-02 | 1 | 4 |
| WOODFOREST ACADEMY TX1010852 · latest 2025-05-01 | 1 | 3 |
| COURTESY MART 2 TX1013493 · latest 2026-06-01 | 0 | 124 |
| ROSEWOOD MOBILE HOME PARK TX1011971 · latest 2025-07-01 | 0 | 43 |
| FAIRVIEW ACRES MOBILE HOME SUBDIVISION TX1010706 · latest 2023-01-01 | 0 | 38 |
| MESSIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH TX1013003 · latest 2023-04-01 | 0 | 38 |
| SEGMENT H GPI TX1013671 · latest 2023-02-01 | 0 | 37 |
| FATIMA FAMILY VILLAGE MHP TX1010746 · latest 2023-05-01 | 0 | 30 |
| REFUGE TEMPLE MINISTRIES TX1013433 · latest 2025-04-27 | 0 | 30 |
| GRACE WOMENS CENTER TX1013711 · latest 2024-12-01 | 0 | 25 |
| ELIZONDO RV PARK TX1010812 · latest 2022-01-01 | 0 | 22 |
| HANDI PLUS 69 TX1013029 · latest 2022-09-01 | 0 | 22 |
| CARRIAGE HOUSE CAFE TX1013351 · latest 2024-03-31 | 0 | 19 |
| CONOCO PHILLIPS 66 FOODMART TX1012024 · latest 2023-04-01 | 0 | 18 |
| VFW POST 912 TX1011241 · latest 2024-04-01 | 0 | 13 |
| WESTERN MOBILE HOME PARK TX1011382 · latest 2022-09-01 | 0 | 10 |
| KINGSLAND OFFICE PARK TX1013328 · latest 2024-02-17 | 0 | 10 |
| CONOCO FOOD MART TX1012078 · latest 2024-11-01 | 0 | 9 |
| THE RHODES SCHOOL TX1013001 · latest 2022-04-01 | 0 | 8 |
Latest health violations
- GREENS ROAD MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY, 2024-10-17: Contaminant code 5200, Treatment technique. State action: Returned to compliance (2025-07-21)
- STAY & PLAY CHILD DAY CARE CENTER, 2024-10-17: Contaminant code 5200, Treatment technique. State action: Returned to compliance (2025-05-07)
- COUNTRY ROAD PARK, 2024-10-17: Contaminant code 5200, Treatment technique. State action: Returned to compliance (2025-04-22)
- WOODFOREST ACADEMY, 2024-10-17: Contaminant code 5200, Treatment technique. State action: Returned to compliance (2025-08-14)
- SOUTH TAYLOR LAKE VILLAGE WSC, 2024-10-17: Contaminant code 5200, Treatment technique. State action: Returned to compliance (2025-08-08)
- HOUSTON AWESTFIELD, 2024-10-17: Contaminant code 5200, Treatment technique. State action: Returned to compliance (2025-06-12)
- IQ PRODUCTS, 2024-10-17: Contaminant code 5200, Treatment technique. State action: (2025-06-09)
- FOUR SEASONS EQUIPMENT HOUSTON, 2024-10-17: Contaminant code 5200, Treatment technique. State action: (2026-02-23)
- HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL SCHOOL, 2024-10-17: Contaminant code 5200, Treatment technique. State action: (2025-05-22)
- ALLIED CONCRETE PLANT NO THREE, 2024-10-17: Contaminant code 5200, Treatment technique. State action: Returned to compliance (2025-05-15)
- SAN JACINTO RIVER AUTHORITY HIGHLANDS, 2024-10-17: Contaminant code 5200, Treatment technique. State action: Returned to compliance (2025-08-18)
- RIGID BUSINESS PARK, 2024-10-17: Contaminant code 5200, Treatment technique. State action: Returned to compliance (2025-04-22)
- CEDAR BAYOU CHURCH OF CHRIST, 2024-10-17: Contaminant code 5200, Treatment technique. State action: Returned to compliance (2025-07-02)
Sources
- EPA AirNow hourly observation files
- TCEQ emergency response spill reports (data.texas.gov)
- National Response Center incident reports
- EPA ECHO and TCEQ enforcement data
- EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (Envirofacts)