About Us

Welcome to Houston Public Works — the largest accredited public works organization in the nation and one of the most diverse. With nearly 4,000 employees across a wide range of disciplines, we are committed to delivering the essential services that keep Houston safe, resilient, and strong. From treating over 170 billion gallons of water annually to maintaining more than 16,000 lane miles of streets, Houston Public Works plays a vital role in public health, safety, environmental protection, and economic development.
 
Service Lines

Our department is made up of eight major service lines, each playing a critical role in building and maintaining the infrastructure that supports life in Houston:

• Construction, Engineering, & Planning: Manages critical infrastructure improvements by planning, designing, and delivering large-scale street, drainage, water, and wastewater projects. This group provides technical expertise, project oversight, and quality control, and guides long-term infrastructure planning to ensure projects are innovative, on time, under budget, and support a safe, reliable, and future-ready Houston.
• Houston Permitting Center: Oversees permitting, inspections, and regulatory services for public and private construction projects. HPC ensures that development across Houston complies with safety, quality, and city standards, supporting both growth and sustainability in our communities.
• Houston Water: Operates and maintains the City’s drinking water and wastewater systems, ensuring clean and safe water services that meet or exceed all local, state, and federal regulatory requirements.
• Transportation & Drainage Operations: Maintains and repairs the city's streets, sidewalks, bridges, stormwater infrastructure, and traffic control systems to ensure safe and efficient movement throughout Houston.
• Utility Billing: Manages the billing and customer service operations for water and wastewater accounts, including meter reading, billing inquiries, and customer account management.
• Office of Emergency Management (OEM): Coordinates emergency preparedness, response, and continuity of operations for the department. OEM also oversees Houston Public Works’ presence at Houston TranStar, where our employees support regional transportation and emergency operations in partnership with other local agencies.

Support Services That Keep Us Running

In addition to our core service lines, the department relies on several internal support teams that enable effective service delivery across the department:

• The Director’s Office provides leadership, organizational strategy, and executive coordination across all service lines. The office also includes Communications, Council Liaison Services, Legislative Policy Support, and Strategic Initiatives, ensuring the department remains transparent, aligned with city priorities, and responsive to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Technology Services supports the department’s digital tools, infrastructure systems, websites, and innovation platforms to streamline service delivery.
• Financial Management Services manages the department’s budget, procurement, contracts, and fiscal compliance to ensure responsible use of public resources.

Whether you're supporting field operations, engineering, customer service, or emergency response — your work matters. This site is your internal hub for tools, updates, policies, and resources to help you succeed and stay connected.