Report Uncovers Widespread Unsafe Drinking Water in Texas Prisons

A new report from the Texas Civil Rights Project reveals systemic failures by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) in providing safe drinking water to incarcerated individuals. Prisoners across the state are reportedly forced to consume and use water described as heavily chlorinated, slimy, and foul-smelling, often directly from a small sink above a toilet. This water serves all purposes, including drinking, bathing, and cooking, leading many to attempt rudimentary filtering methods with clothing. The lack of safe water poses significant health risks and financial burdens for those unable to afford bottled alternatives.

At facilities like the Coffield and Michael Units in Tennessee Colony, which share a single water treatment system, inmates are routinely advised by peers and even some staff to avoid tap water. Many attribute chronic stomach infections, skin conditions, and even cancer diagnoses to long-term exposure to the contaminated supply. One anonymous individual at Coffield Unit reported persistent severe gastrointestinal illness and multiple positive H. pylori tests, alleging that medical staff often dismiss these concerns as minor issues. This individual also noted that guards have access to bottled and filtered water, a privilege denied to most incarcerated people.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), responsible for enforcing environmental laws, including the Safe Drinking Water Act, oversees these public water systems. However, the Texas Civil Rights Project found that TCEQ often relies on self-reporting from operators and allows TDCJ discretion in selecting sample sites. Records indicate that the water system serving Coffield and Michael Units has accumulated 22 distinct drinking water violations since 2020, including microbial contamination and exceedances of cancer-linked disinfection byproducts. While TCEQ was cooperative with information requests, TDCJ reportedly obstructed efforts to gather relevant data, highlighting a lack of transparency regarding this critical public health issue.