Quick answer
For water damage in El Lago, TX, shut off your main valve first, or turn off the well pump breaker if you are on a private well. For a leak at the meter, call Harris County WCID 50. Then call a water damage restoration company; drying should start within 24 to 48 hours. Texas insurers must acknowledge your claim within 15 days.
Do this first
Local water and septic lines.
The Harris County WCID 50 line and Houston freeze data are on the Taylor Lake Village page, and the county flash flood table is on the Seabrook page.
- Shut off the water. Close your main valve. El Lago lists Harris County WCID 50 as its water utility, so check your bill and call the district about a leak at the meter.
- Make it safe and document it. Cut power to wet rooms from a dry spot, photograph the damage, then report the claim.
- Start drying within 24 to 48 hours. About 55% of El Lago's homes were built before 1980. After any sewage backup, ask the crew to take readings in the lower walls, not just the floor.
El Lago fronts both Clear Lake and Taylor Lake. When a hurricane or heavy rain is forecast, move cars to higher ground early and follow county evacuation orders.
What to know about water damage in El Lago
1961
The year El Lago incorporated. The town grew from 750 people in 1967 to 3,550 by 1975 as workers came to the nearby Johnson Space Center.
Source: Handbook of Texas, El Lago
66 damaged homes
After Hurricane Harvey in 2017, 110 homeowners in ZIP 77586 (El Lago addresses) registered for FEMA aid. Inspectors found damage at 66 homes, totaling about $620,355. Hurricane Ike in 2008 added 39 more, about $413,851. Owners who did not apply are not counted.
Beryl in 2024
After Hurricane Beryl, 200 El Lago homeowners registered with FEMA, and inspectors found damage at 5 homes.
Population swings
El Lago fell to 2,706 people by 2010, then the 2020 census counted 3,090.
Source: Handbook of Texas, El Lago
City Hall
City Hall at 411 Tallowood Drive is open Monday through Thursday and Friday mornings. The city lists CenterPoint for power and Harris County WCID 50 for water.
Source: City of El Lago directory
Homes in El Lago
About 80% are owner-occupied, the median home dates to 1977, and the median value is about $320,900.
Check your ZIP
Flash flood warnings in Harris County
The National Weather Service issued 229 flash flood warnings that included Harris County from 2016 through November 12, 2026. The year-by-year count is on the Seabrook page.
Cost and insurance in El Lago
How much does water damage restoration cost in El Lago?
Most jobs run $450 to $16,000 (Angi). Water that rises in from Clear Lake or Taylor Lake is a flood claim. Keep doors shut and the AC on while equipment runs.
Water removal and restoration in El Lago
The company that answers handles hurricane surge, lakeside flooding, sewer backups, and slab leaks, plus burst pipes, appliance leaks, drying, and septic backups.
El Lago questions
Who supplies water in El Lago?
Harris County WCID 50. Its number is on the Taylor Lake Village page.
How many El Lago homes did Harvey damage?
FEMA inspectors found damage at 66 homes filed under El Lago addresses, about $620,355 in all.
Why did El Lago grow so fast?
Workers came for the nearby Johnson Space Center in the 1960s and 1970s.
Which ZIP codes does this page cover?
The El Lago part of ZIP 77586. The ZIP also covers Seabrook and Taylor Lake Village.
Related guides
Other Texas towns- Burst pipe, not frozen
- Sewage backup: what to do first
- Burst pipe repair cost
- Texas insurance claim deadlines, in plain English
- Frozen and burst pipes: what to do
- Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?
- How long water damage takes to dry
Local phone numbers checked November 2026: