Home / Environment / Houston Suburbs Sinking as Groundwater Depletion Fuels Costly Subsidence Crisis
Houston Suburbs Sinking as Groundwater Depletion Fuels Costly Subsidence Crisis
14 Nov
Summary
- Tamarron, a master-planned community west of Houston, sinking over 3 cm per year
- Developers continue building new homes despite subsiding ground
- Residents face rising costs to switch to surface water and combat sinking
As of November 2025, the Houston area's western suburbs are experiencing a concerning trend of rapid ground sinking, with the master-planned community of Tamarron leading the way. Measurements by local officials show that Tamarron's homes are situated on the fastest-sinking ground in the region, with a nearby sensor indicating the land is dropping over 3 centimeters per year through a phenomenon known as subsidence.
This aquifer depletion is causing parts of the Houston area to sink faster than any other big city in the U.S. Largely irreversible compaction of the subsurface is triggered by residents, companies, and public utilities extracting huge amounts of underground water, oil, or gas. Despite the risks, the population boom west of Houston has not slowed, with Tamarron topping a 2021 list of the most active building spots in the region.
To combat the subsidence, residents have been paying fees since the early 2000s to two state-established authorities charged with building a surface-water system. However, the rising costs have sparked criticism from residents and city officials, who are concerned about the impact on utility bills. As the ground keeps sinking, homeowners could face foundation cracks and more water pooling during floods, though these problems may not be visible yet in the newly constructed suburbs.
