📰 What Happened: Cities that have seen population surges are struggling to upgrade water systems fast enough to keep up. Conroe issued a boil-water notice in May 2024 after its water levels dropped dangerously low. Meanwhile, Magnolia imposed a construction freeze for three years while upgrading.

🔍 A Closer Look: The core issue isn't the water supply, but the capacity of infrastructure to handle higher demand. With no quick fixes on the horizon, some cities are considering new policies, such as developer impact fees, to fund necessary upgrades. Experts warn better long-term planning is needed to avoid future crises.

🧠 Why It Matters: As more people flock to suburbs around Houston, nearby cities must rethink growth strategies to balance development with sustainable infrastructure. Without proper planning, water shortages and related problems could severely impact both residents and local economies.