HOUSTON — Residents in the Candlelight Oaks community of northwest Houston have reported repeated sewage backups during heavy rain over several months and years. These residents claim wastewater has bubbled out of manholes, flowed into neighborhood streets, and backed up into homes.

Monica Mendoza More, a resident, stated that sewage overflowed from a manhole near her home after heavy rain earlier in June 2026. She described seeing human waste and debris in the street, noting a lingering smell after the water receded. "Literally straight up just raw sh** and the thing people put down the toilet is condoms, purple and pink tampons and more condoms," Mendoza More said. She added that every time it rains heavily for consecutive days, the sewage bubbles over.

Resident Rick Scott stated he has witnessed sewage erupting from manholes in the neighborhood. He characterized the odor by saying, "If you ever had gone to an outhouse that's been sitting out in the sun for a couple of weeks, you're getting the idea." Mendoza More's family spent approximately $3,500 on plumbing repairs and a total of about $4,000, including excavation and yard restoration, after one sewage backup.

Several neighbors filed multiple complaints through Houston's 3-1-1 system regarding the sewage backups. A City of Houston spokesperson stated that crews inspected the area after receiving complaints and found no issues at the time of inspection. The City of Houston also stated that personnel plan to observe the area during future heavy rain events to determine whether additional problems occur. Resident Jaunda Payne contacted Houston City Council Member Amy Peck, writing that she had to "manually clean up human feces and toilet paper" from her backyard after heavy rain.