Houston’s public swimming pools face over 44,000 health violations, but inspectors rarely give citations.
HOUSTON — Heading into the holiday weekend, hundreds of public swimming pools in Houston remain out of compliance with health and safety standards. And city inspectors could be doing more to get them cleaned up, according to a KHOU 11 analysis of Houston Health Department data.
City health inspectors found 44,927 violations from January 2023 to May 2025 for a wide range of infractions. Those include algae-filled water, no emergency phones, no reaching poles with body hooks, no ring buoys, improperly installed drain covers, no self-latching gates and failing pool pumps.
Under city code, inspectors can write citations that carry hefty fines in municipal court. But records reveal they only did so for 1,995 violations—or just five percent of the time.
“It’s very dangerous for little kids,” Estella Cua said in Spanish.
The longtime tenant at 3737 Hillcroft apartments described stagnant, swampy water at the rear pool in the complex.
“A child could get in and fall in,” she said.
Records show city health inspectors found 23 violations since 2023, but didn’t write a single citation. A vice president for Creative Property Management Company said the problem was traced to failing pool pumps which were replaced. The rear pool passed its most recent inspection, but the office pool remained closed for a non-working emergency phone.
City inspectors found 62 swimming pool violations at the Arbors on Westheimer apartments since 2023, but did not write any citations. KHOU 11 Investigates visited the apartment office seeking comment, but nobody at the company has responded.
The Star Voss apartments also has not returned requests for comment. Records show city inspectors found 89 violations at its pools since 2023. Again, they did not write any citations.
A spokesperson for the Houston Health Department said the agency tries to work with operators to get pools safely reopened, and those efforts involve a mix of routine inspections, education and enforcement, depending on the nature of each case.
“Enforcement actions, including citations, are determined by the level of violation and whether it has been corrected by the time of a follow-up,” said Tucker Wilson, Deputy Assistant Director of Communications and Public Affairs.
“In many cases, violations are addressed without the need for formal penalties,” Wilson said.
But records show some pool operators are repeat offenders. At the Village at Piney Point apartments, city inspectors found 128 violations since 2023, but only wrote eight municipal court citations. All four pools at the complex have been “red tagged” and closed by the city for the past two years. A frog was seen swimming in the green water at one of the pools.
“It’s horrible,” tenant Vanessa Adidad said in Spanish. “Horrible.”
“It’s not today, it’s not this year, it’s been a long time,” added tenant Farrah Khan.
Excel Property Management did not return emails requesting comment, so KHOU 11 Investigates visited the manager on site.
“The pool doesn’t have a problem, once or twice a week we clean,” the manager said.
When asked if he was joking, the manager said. “No I’m not kidding with you.”
The gate to one of the pools with swampy green water was propped open on the day KHOU 11 Investigates visited. There is no requirement for red-tagged pools to be secured with a chain and padlock. According to HHD’s Wilson, operators are only required to post a sign reading “pool closed until further notice.”