Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Houston

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Texas medical centerPhoto: Katie Haugland Brown · CC BY 2.0
The Houston handbook

Living in Houston, TX: what to set up and who to call

The City of Houston water system reported one health-based violation to EPA in the last five years: a surface water treatment requirement (Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule), beginning May 2025. Westpark Consumer Recycling Center takes recycling in Houston, open Mon–Sat 8 am–5 pm (OpenStreetMap).

Trash & dumpWho supplies the water?Which school will my kid attend?How do I register to vote?ZIP codes

I’m new in town

What to set up in Houston, and who provides it. Tap an answer for the details and where they come from.

PowerEntergy Texasinvestor-owned utility · 13.9¢/kWhMore →WaterCity of Houston water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAMore →Internet7 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsMore →Trash & dumpTown pickupTown crews pick up at the curbMore →SchoolHouston Independent School DistrictWhich school depends on grade and addressMore →Register to voteIn personRules from vote.govMore →ZIP codes77036, 77077, 77072 +48Where people live, not P.O. boxesMore →
Home services

Power, water and internet

Who to call to start service at a new address in Houston.

Electricity

Power comes from Entergy Texas

Entergy Texas (Entergy Texas Inc.), an investor-owned utility, serves 98.2% of Houston residents. Its homes paid an average of 13.9¢ per kWh in 2025, about $172 a month (its average across Texas).

Start or move service: entergy-texas.com · (800) 368-3749

Service territory: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map dated Aug 2023). Prices and customers: EIA-861, 2025.

Drinking water · reported to EPA

Water comes from City of Houston water system

The City of Houston water system supplies Houston: about 93% of residents live in its service area. About 3% of homes are outside any mapped community water system, most likely on private wells, which EPA doesn’t regulate. It draws surface water (EPA lists Pine Trails Utility as seller) and serves 2,970,543 people in all.

1 health-based violation reported to EPA in the five years to October 2026: a surface water treatment requirement (Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule), beginning May 2025. 82% of the 27 systems serving more than 1,000,000 people had none.

Lead, 90th percentile5.0 ppb
015 ppb action level20

The latest lead result on file, the 90th percentile of homes sampled in Jan–Jun 2024, was 5.0 ppb, below the 15 ppb action level that applied. That’s higher than 84% of similar systems’ latest results.

The system’s full record: EPA ECHO report

EPA SDWIS via Envirofacts (violations pulled Oct 9, 2026) and ECHO (lead samples, 2026Q3); service area: EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3.0. Violations are counted by the start of their compliance period. TX1010013.

Internet

7 home internet providers serve Houston

99% of 538,760 addresses can get 100/20 Mbps; 62% can get fiber.

ProviderTechnologyAddressesFastest (Mbps)
XfinityCable, Fiber99%2,000/250
AT&TFiber, DSL, Fixed wireless90%5,000/5,000
Tachus Fiber InternetFiber4%8,000/8,000
OptimumCable, Fiber4%940/35
Ezee FiberFiber2%8,000/8,000
VerizonFixed wireless78%300/20

FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025. Availability as providers report it, not speeds people get.

Trash & recycling

Trash and recycling in Houston

Pickup days, the drop-off and recycling in Houston, from the town’s own site.

How trash works hereTown pickupTown crews pick up at the curbhoustontx.gov
Drop-offWestpark Consumer Recycling CenterHours ↓
Drop-off

Westpark Consumer Recycling Center

5900 Westpark Drive, Houston

MTWTFSS
8a
10a
12p
2p
4p
  • Mon8 am–5 pm
  • Tue8 am–5 pm
  • Wed8 am–5 pm
  • Thu8 am–5 pm
  • Fri8 am–5 pm
  • Sat8 am–5 pm

Hours from OpenStreetMap. They can change with the season, so check with the town before you go.

What goes in the recycling bin

Accepted at the curb

  • Newspapers, magazines, catalogs, junk mail, office paper
  • Aluminum cans (rinsed and drained)
  • Bimetal cans (soup, vegetable, fruit, and coffee cans)
  • Glass (bottles, jugs, and jars)
  • Cardboard (flattened)
The town’s guidesE-Waste Recycling - Kingwood (PDF) →E-Waste Recycling - Clear Lake (PDF) →
houstontx.gov
Recycling drop-off

Westpark Consumer Recycling Center

5900 Westpark, Houston, TX 77057

houstontx.gov
Furniture, appliances and bulky itemsHeavy trash collected every other month for eligible addresses, up to six curbside collections per year; set out 6:00 p.m. the Friday before to 7:00 a.m. collection day; maximum 8 cubic yards per set-out
What can be recycledThe town’s recycling pagehoustontx.gov →

From houstontx.gov, the town’s official site, checked Oct 21, 2026. Rules change: the town’s page is the last word. . Drop-off hours: OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Schools

Where your child goes to school

Public school districts and the school path by grade.

Houston kids go to
PK–5171 elementary schoolsDepends on your address
6–851 middle schoolsDepends on your address
9–1239 high schoolsDepends on your address

Most of Houston (47%) is in Houston Independent School District; parts are in Aldine Independent School District (8%) and Katy Independent School District (7%) and Humble Independent School District (6%) and Spring Branch Independent School District (5%) and Alief Independent School District (5%) and Pasadena Independent School District (4%) and Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (4%) and Clear Creek Independent School District (4%).

C−School gradeSee Schools →

U.S. Department of Education, NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25. Enrollment rules and registration are the district’s.

Government & voting

Town hall and registering to vote

Who to call, and how to register.

Official sitehoustontx.govHouston’s own websiteWikidataTown HallBudget, officials, electionsHouston’s government in one page
Who runs elections hereHarris County Early Voting ClerkElections here are run by Harris County (county election office). Most of Houston (98%) votes here; the rest in Fort Bend County (2%). P.O. Box 1148, Houston, TX 77251-1148 · (713) 755-6965FVAP, Jan 2026
Register to voteIn personTexas has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govCheck your registration and polling placeteamrv-mvp.sos.texas.govThe state’s voter lookup

Election office: FVAP local election office directory, updated Jan 2026; jurisdictions: EAC EAVS 2024. Registration rules and links: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.

ZIP codes & area codes

Houston spans 51 ZIP codes

ZIP codes where Houston residents live, with the share of the town in each.

ZIPPost office nameShare of HoustonZIP’s residents in Houston
77036Houston, TX3%100%
77077Houston, TX3%100%
77072Houston, TX2%96%
77081Houston, TX2%100%
77099Houston, TX2%96%
77080Houston, TX2%100%
77057Houston, TX2%100%
77007Houston, TX2%100%
77042Houston, TX2%100%
77074Houston, TX2%100%
77082Houston, TX2%69%
77075Houston, TX2%100%
77034Houston, TX2%100%
77055Houston, TX2%89%
77063Houston, TX2%99%
77035Houston, TX2%100%
77004Houston, TX2%100%
77008Houston, TX2%100%
77009Houston, TX2%100%
77079Houston, TX2%100%
77339Kingwood, TX2%84%
77092Houston, TX2%100%
77087Houston, TX2%100%
77096Houston, TX2%100%
77088Houston, TX1%63%
77045Houston, TX1%100%
77076Houston, TX1%100%
77017Houston, TX1%100%
77060Houston, TX1%71%
77016Houston, TX1%98%
77022Houston, TX1%100%
77033Houston, TX1%100%
77021Houston, TX1%100%
77091Houston, TX1%100%
77018Houston, TX1%100%
77025Houston, TX1%97%
77053Houston, TX1%90%
77345Kingwood, TX1%100%
77023Houston, TX1%100%
77043Houston, TX1%100%
77093Houston, TX1%55%
77024Houston, TX1%65%
77089Houston, TX1%45%
77062Houston, TX1%100%
77020Houston, TX1%100%
77054Houston, TX1%100%
77019Houston, TX1%100%
77006Houston, TX1%100%
77056Houston, TX1%100%
77026Houston, TX1%100%
77061Houston, TX1%100%

A few homes fall in 77047, 77071, 77040, 77044, 77048, 77002, 77027, 77028, 77012, 77051, 77085, 77011, 77013, 77489, 77015, 77098, 77059, 77031, 77078, 77030, 77084, 77005, 77598, 77003, 77067, 77041, 77058, 77070, 77396, 77029, 77494, 77450, 77090, 77037, 77336, 77204, 77049, 77449, 77064, 77032, 77083, 77338, 77038, 77504, 77477, 77407, 77433, 77046, 77346, 77379, 77050, 77375, 77065, 77365, 77429, 77014, 77095, 77086, 77073, 77010, 77377, 77388, 77546, 77373, 77386, 77406, 77532, 77066, 77069, 77498, 77068, 77493, 77545, 77094, 77530, 77380, 77039, 77447, 77587, 77389. 77001, 77052, 77201, 77202, 77203, 77205, 77206, 77207, 77208, 77209, 77210, 77212, 77213, 77215, 77216, 77217, 77218, 77219, 77220, 77221, 77222, 77223, 77224, 77225, 77226, 77227, 77228, 77229, 77230, 77231, 77233, 77234, 77235, 77236, 77237, 77238, 77240, 77241, 77242, 77243, 77244, 77245, 77248, 77249, 77251, 77252, 77253, 77254, 77255, 77256, 77257, 77258, 77259, 77261, 77262, 77263, 77265, 77266, 77267, 77268, 77269, 77270, 77271, 77272, 77273, 77274, 77275, 77277, 77279, 77280, 77282, 77284, 77287, 77288, 77289, 77290, 77291, 77292, 77293, 77297, 77299 are P.O. box or single-organization ZIPs with no homes.

Area codes281, 832, 713Wikidata

Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, by census block; post office names: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). ZIPs created since 2020 are missing.

Everyday places

Getting around, the ER and the library

One line each; the subject pages have the rest.

TrainDixico (UP)Train station in townNearest emergency roomSt. Joseph Medical Center2.9 miles awayGet a library cardHouston Public Library500 Mckinney St. · (832) 393-1313

Train: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors). ER: CMS hospital data. Library: IMLS Public Libraries Survey, FY2024.

Questions about living in Houston

When is the Westpark Consumer Recycling Center open?

Mon–Sat 8 am–5 pm, according to OpenStreetMap (as of Oct 9, 2026). Check houstontx.gov before you go: the town sets the hours and who may use it.

Who supplies Houston’s drinking water, and has it had violations?

The City of Houston water system (EPA ID TX1010013). It reported 1 health-based violation to EPA in the five years to October 2026: a surface water treatment requirement (Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule). 82% of systems its size had none. Its latest lead 90th percentile was 5.0 ppb (Jan–Jun 2024), against a 15 ppb action level.

Who provides electricity in Houston?

Entergy Texas (Entergy Texas Inc.), an investor-owned utility. Its homes paid about 13.9¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA).

What internet providers serve Houston?

Xfinity, AT&T, Tachus Fiber Internet, Optimum, Ezee Fiber, Verizon (FCC, as of December 2025).

What ZIP codes are in Houston?

77036 (3%), 77077 (3%), 77072 (2%), 77081 (2%), 77099 (2%), 77080 (2%), 77057 (2%), 77007 (2%), 77042 (2%), 77074 (2%), 77082 (2%), 77075 (2%), 77034 (2%), 77055 (2%), 77063 (2%), 77035 (2%), 77004 (2%), 77008 (2%), 77009 (2%), 77079 (2%), 77339 (2%), 77092 (2%), 77087 (2%), 77096 (2%), 77088 (1%), 77045 (1%), 77076 (1%), 77017 (1%), 77060 (1%), 77016 (1%), 77022 (1%), 77033 (1%), 77021 (1%), 77091 (1%), 77018 (1%), 77025 (1%), 77053 (1%), 77345 (1%), 77023 (1%), 77043 (1%), 77093 (1%), 77024 (1%), 77089 (1%), 77062 (1%), 77020 (1%), 77054 (1%), 77019 (1%), 77006 (1%), 77056 (1%), 77026 (1%), 77061 (1%), by share of residents. Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas.

What school district is Houston in?

Houston Independent School District. Parts of the city are in Aldine Independent School District and Katy Independent School District and Humble Independent School District and Spring Branch Independent School District and Alief Independent School District and Pasadena Independent School District and Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District and Clear Creek Independent School District.

How do I register to vote in Houston?

Texas has no online registration; you can register in person until 30 days before Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before). Elections here are run by the Harris County Early Voting Clerk. Check your registration at teamrv-mvp.sos.texas.gov.

Sources & dates

Every answer above names its source. Here they are with their dates.

  • Water: EPA SDWIS (Envirofacts, pulled Oct 9, 2026), ECHO SDWA 2026Q3, EPA CWS Service Area Boundaries v3.0.
  • Power: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map Aug 2023); EIA-861 final 2025.
  • Trash: Houston’s own website (houstontx.gov), read Oct 21, 2026, pickup and drop-off facts extracted and checked against the page they came from. Drop-off hours: OpenStreetMap, Geofabrik extract of Oct 9, 2026. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
  • ZIP codes: Census 2020 ZCTA relationship files; GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0).
  • Schools: NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25.
  • Registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024 (read Oct 10, 2026). Official sites and area codes: Wikidata.
  • Election office: FVAP local election office directory (fetched Oct 10, 2026; each record dated), EAC EAVS 2024 jurisdictions; registration and lookup links from vote.gov’s state data, checked Oct 10, 2026.
  • Internet: FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025.