KPRC 2’s Investigative team has been named a finalist for the prestigious DuPont-Columbia Award for their series “DRAINED,” which uncovered severe issues within the Houston water department.
Spearheaded by KPRC 2 Investigator Amy Davis, the investigation sheds light on overbilling, malfunctioning water meters, and significant departmental mismanagement. These issues have left countless Houston residents facing exorbitant, sometimes incorrect water bills, with some charged thousands of dollars unjustly.
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We are grateful for the recognition, but we are even more thankful to the Houston residents who trusted us with their experiences.
This nomination underscores our dedication to delivering journalism that advocates for transparency and community accountability. We do this for you!
The DuPont-Columbia Award finalist nod includes Investigative reporter Amy Davis, Senior Investigative Producer Andrea Slaydon, Photojournalist Adrian Montes, Photojournalist Jon Hill, Editor/Photojournalist Bill Carruthers and News Director Ana Lastra.
Winners will be announced in January in New York City.
From the awards website: “Houston’s crumbling municipal water infrastructure led a dedicated reporting team on a monthslong journey through neighborhoods, government offices, worksites, and official records to expose and dismantle a scheme of high-level corruption.”
KPRC 2’s ‘DRAINED’ Investigation 2 years in the works
The KPRC 2 ‘DRAINED’ Investigation so far has seen big results. In May seven people were charged in a water line repair scandal after Amy Davis exposed shady contract dealings.
This is all after the entire Houston water department changed the way they bill Houston customers. Customers are being billed averages until it’s confirmed they have working meter sensors. Check out more information about the plan here.
All of this is also in addition to the massive amount of money Amy and the team have helped claw back for customers with high and confusing water bills.
‘DRAINED’ Renters
The team is still working to help customers. In the most recent part of our ‘DRAINED’ Investigation, Amy worked to get answers for how the bill changes impact renters.
More than half of Houston’s residents are renters, many living in apartment complexes scattered across the city. For those who pay their water bill to their landlord rather than directly to the water department, disputing discrepancies in the bill can become a complex and frustrating process.
Davis explains that if your apartment complex isn’t sub-metered, there is no definitive way to track your exact water usage each month. Here’s more on what renters need to know about the water bill process.
Don’t forget about those charged after Amy’s investigation into shady city contracts
The former Houston city manager at the center of a contract corruption scandal exposed by ‘DRAINED’ went before a judge to request a lower bond last month.
Patrece Lee is facing six felony charges including engaging in organized criminal activity, abuse of official capacity and four counts of bribery.
Lee’s bond had been set at $460,000. Her attorney attempted to lower it. The judge complied, lowering her bond on one of the charges to $250,000. Then, the judge added a bond for the engaging in organized criminal activity charge, bringing Lee’s bond amount to $560,000.
Lee was hit with the engaging in organized criminal activity charge back in July after prosecutors said that she used money illegally as part of a conspiracy with her brother, Andrew Thomas, and Danielle Hurts, who prosecutors described as Patrece Lee’s personal collection agent. Several others are also charged. The process for these people is far from over.
You can check out the full ‘DRAINED’ Investigation here.
The KPRC 2 team remains committed to reporting on stories that drive transparency and positive change within the community.
