Cypress Edition | February 2026

Environment

BY SARAH BRAGER

EPA kicks o 2nd phase of Jones Road groundwater clean up

Regional sta from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in early January began phase two of an ongoing investigation of groundwater contamination near Jones Road in Cy-Fair. The stretch of Jones Road rst became contaminated over 20 years ago when a now-closed dry cleaning business improperly disposed of cleaning solvents between 1984- 2002, Community Impact previously reported. Hazardous chemicals then seeped into the soil and spread outward through the groundwater, creating a plume. EPA Region 6 Press Ocer Joe Robledo told Community Impact the agency’s latest activities include a type of geological testing called “cone

penetration,” which allows the EPA to sample groundwater at various depths. Additionally, he said sta are continuing to remove contaminants via soil vapor extraction. The EPA is trying to get a better sense of how, if at all, the plume has moved since the agency last mapped it in 2010, said Rachel Jordan, former assistant director of the Texas Health and Environmental Alliance, which has a coalition dedicated to the Jones Road Superfund site. “[The EPA] going back in the Superfund process to redo this remedial investigation and feasibility study is them taking a step back to look at where is the contamination now and how bad is it?” Jordan said.

Harris County “No New Well” boundary

WOODEDGE DR.

Former dry cleaning business

TOWER OAKS BLVD.

SOURCE: TEXAS HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL ALLIANCECOMMUNITY IMPACT

Looking forward

Looking back

The local impact

Andy Escobar said his family moved into their house on Forrest Valley Drive in the 1990s, while the dry cleaning business still operated, but they didn’t learn their water was contaminated until around 2008. “My family transitioned to exclusively using water bottles and water from water- mills,” Escobar said. “It was just like lling the gas tank—as ubiquitous as that.” He said his father, mother and great aunt, who also lived on the property, were diagnosed with cancer within a few years of one another. A study linking the Jones Road groundwater to actual cancer diagnoses has not been done and would be challenging to conduct, but Escobar expressed concern with their years of exposure. The EPA had oered to connect their property to a White Oak Bayou Municipal Utility District waterline, but Escobar said his father didn’t want to take on the monthly water bill through the MUD. Timber Hollow resident John Armon said his house was already connected to the MUD waterline when he purchased the property in 2014, so he didn’t learn about the contam- ination until about a year after he moved in. The EPA initially identi ed ve contam- inants of concern in the area that “pose unacceptable risk to human health and the environment,” per its website. Recent testing shows one contaminant, tetrachloro- ethylene, remains above national drinking water standards.

The EPA has overseen clean-up measures at the site since 2003, but researchers began a new remedial study last year after receiving a $3.2 million grant extension in early 2025, according to Community Impact . The new study comes after the EPA determined in 2022 that past attempts at a remedy were “not protective” as properties within the plume bound- ary continued to test positive for contaminants, per Community Impact reporting. Exposure to the identi ed contaminants can harm the nervous system, liver, kidneys and increase the risk of developing cancer, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry states.

THEA plans to hold another community meeting in April and conduct free groundwater testing around that time, Environmental Outreach Coordinator Kristy Smith said. Past meetings have been held at Bleyl Middle School at 10800 Mills Road, Houston. To receive updates from THEA about upcoming community meetings, visit www.txhea.org. Robledo said the EPA expects to present a proposed remedy to residents for approval by September, but details are subject to change.

Bleyl Middle School

History of the Jones Road Superfund site

1980

1984-2002: Bell Dry Cleaners in operation 2003: Jones Road Superfund placed on EPA's National Priorities List 2006: Harris County establishes "No New Well" area at the site 2008-2019: EPA conducts various tests and clean up eorts 2022: Previous remedy determined not eective 2025: EPA begins new remedial investigation and feasibility study

MILLS RD.

2000

To connect to a public waterline or grant the EPA access to your property

2010

for site testing, contact: • Lauren Guidry-Leach, project manager • guidryleach.lauren@epa.gov • (214) 665-2714

2020

SOURCE: EPA REGION 6COMMUNITY IMPACT

CYPRESS EDITION