RH Borden is helping Houston fight sewer inflow and infiltration under a federal consent decree, using BASINiQ to pinpoint I&I sources and cut overflow risk near schools.
At the Water Environment Federation’s (WEF) Collection Systems and Stormwater Conference held in Houston, Texas, on July 15, 2025, attendees participated in a full day of specialized workshops. The conference opened with three major workshops: Winning at I&I Reduction, Smart Infrastructure for Sewer Solutions, and The Do’s and Don’ts of Water Consent Decrees. These sessions addressed pressing issues in wastewater management, particularly inflow and infiltration (I&I), smart technology for sewer monitoring, and legal considerations surrounding water consent decrees. R. H. Borden, a key player in the field, is actively working with the City of Houston—currently under a consent decree—to implement sensor-based technologies that help reduce I&I.
During the event, RH Borden showcased its innovative solution, BASINiQ, a real-time technology designed to detect and pinpoint direct sources of I&I within a sewer collection system. This was especially timely, as a recent news article highlighted a clear-water sewer overflow in front of an elementary school, likely caused by capacity issues stemming from excessive I&I. The visual evidence of clear water indicated that the overflow wasn’t due to blockages but rather the inability of the system to manage increased flow. Through the implementation of BASINiQ, RH Borden is helping Houston address such challenges by targeting the sources of inflow, thus enhancing the city’s capacity to comply with the consent decree and ultimately improving system performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is RH Borden working with the City of Houston?
Houston is currently operating under a federal consent decree related to its sewer system, and RH Borden is helping the city implement sensor-based BASINiQ technology to target and reduce inflow and infiltration (I&I) as part of that compliance effort.
What is BASINiQ, and how does it help with I&I?
BASINiQ is RH Borden’s real-time technology designed to detect and pinpoint the exact sources of I&I within a sewer collection system, giving cities specific, actionable locations instead of general problem areas.
What caused the sewer overflow near the elementary school in Houston?
News coverage pointed to a clear-water overflow, visual evidence that the system was letting in excess water it wasn’t built to handle, rather than a blockage. This is a classic sign of I&I overwhelming system capacity.
How does targeting I&I sources help a city meet consent decree requirements?
By identifying and addressing where excess water is entering the system, cities can reduce the unnecessary flow driving capacity issues and overflows, which directly supports compliance with consent decree obligations and improves overall system performance.
Does RH Borden only work with cities under legal or regulatory pressure?
No. While Houston’s situation involves a consent decree, RH Borden partners with municipalities at every stage, whether they’re managing an active compliance requirement or working proactively to prevent one.
