Residents voice concerns over water contamination from San Jacinto River

BAYTOWN, TX (KTRK) -- Dozens of residents packed a community meeting in east Harris County with concerns about water contamination from the San Jacinto River. Residents tell abc13 that water in Beaumont Place is consistently a dark coffee brown color.

Brandi Gourley says she can't afford to purchase bottled water, but saves up enough money to do so anyway.

"This is what I bought two days ago and I'm needing to get more now," Gourley said. "But you use this water to bathe, to brush your teeth, to shower, everything. Wash our clothes, everything."

At a meeting Thursday night, residents voiced their concerns over water the Environmental Protection Agency has declared toxic.

"It's not fair that they continue selling homes, building homes, putting up schools, when they know the area is toxic. I really have a problem with that," said Pamela Bonta with the San Jacinto River Coalition. "I believe this is a state of emergency."

The EPA is working on a plan to fix the water problems. Although officials met Wednesday to discuss potential plans, Gourley wonders if it's already too late.

"Just recently my family went through a stomach virus and God knows is this was it," she added.

If you have any concerns, contact the San Jacinto River Coalition via e-mail at jyoung@txhea.org or rcantu@lonestarlegal.org.