Parts of the Houston region are sinking, and in some areas the ground has dropped more than a foot over the past two decades. One monitoring station in the Katy area recorded about 14 inches of subsidence between 2007 and 2025, according to the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District. The district's data also show significant subsidence in parts of north and west Harris County.
Subsidence is the gradual sinking of the ground. Groundwater pumping is a major contributor across the region, because the sediments around emptied aquifers can compact. Subsidence can increase flood risk and damage roads and other infrastructure, and it can contribute to foundation damage. Officials say reducing groundwater pumping can help slow the process, but the effects may not be immediate.
Medley D'Elia, who lives in west Harris County, showed reporters cracks inside and outside her home. She said one crack has grown since she moved in a few years ago. Bijay Aryal, a structural engineer with FIF Engineering, examined the home and found separation in a brick joint that he said indicated foundation movement. Foundation cracks do not automatically mean subsidence is the cause, as soil conditions, drainage problems, tree roots and plumbing leaks can also move foundations.