Author: HCMUD 501

Dear Customer:

Due to ongoing drought conditions, Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 501 (MUD 501) has initiated Stage 1 (voluntary) water conservation measures for potable (drinking) water and is requesting that all potable water users reduce their usage immediately. Harris County MUD No. 500, which provides potable water to MUD 501, also has initiated its Stage 1 (voluntary) water conservation measures and is requesting that all water users voluntarily reduce their potable water usage. Potable water usage is increasing rapidly and under MUD 501’s Drought Contingency Plan, we may be required to implement mandatory water use restrictions if conditions continue to worsen. Last summer, when we requested voluntary conservation, you answered the call and were able to ensure a continued sufficient water supply for the Towne Lake community. Now that drought conditions have returned, we need your help again to reduce potable water usage and avoid the need for mandatory restrictions!

Stage 1 (Voluntary) water use restrictions now in place:

Customers are requested to voluntarily limit all outdoor potable water usage, including, but not limited to, lawn and garden watering, car washing, and window washing, as follows:

1. District residents and other users of water within the District with even-numbered addresses should use potable water outdoors only on even-numbered days, and District residents and other users of water within the District with odd-numbered addresses should use potable water outdoors only on odd-numbered days. In the event no street address exists, District residents and other users of water within the District lining on the north and west side of the street should use potable water outdoors only on even-numbered days, and District residents and other users of water within the District on the south and east side of the street should use potable water outdoors only on odd-numbered days. District residents and other users of water within the District with irrigation controllers that do not have an even-odd option should use potable water outdoors no more than every other day.
2. Potable water should not be used outdoors for irrigation or other uses in the morning between the hours of 6:00 am and 10:00 am, and in the evening between the hours of 6:00 pm and 12:00 am (midnight).

Please check the settings on the controller for your irrigation system to make adjustments to the dates and times the system runs to implement these requested changes. Please note that the Towne Lake Community Association uses non-potable water from the lakes for irrigation of certain common areas throughout the Towne Lake community, which helps to reduce demand on the potable water system and preserve the availability of potable water for other uses.

MUD 501 will continue to monitor potable water use and will provide another notice if the drought stage changes or if Stage 1 drought conditions have been lifted. The MUD 501 Board of Directors appreciates your cooperation and perseverance during this challenging time.

As you have been out shopping at the grocery store or other retailers, you may have noticed an increase in the types of pre-moistened disposable wipes, rags, and other products that are labeled as “flushable.” Although the wipes and rags may initially disappear when you flush your toilet, they can cause significant—and expensive—plumbing problems for you and for our the sanitary sewer lines, lift stations, and wastewater treatment plant that serve the MUD 501 community because they don’t break down when exposed to water.

These wipes can combine with fat and other debris to form a clog in sanitary sewer lines, which could lead to a backup of sewage into your home or business. At lift stations and the wastewater treatment plant, the wipes and rags can clog up or break pumps, screens, and other equipment, resulting in costly repairs and difficulty in maintaining normal system operations. The cost of these repairs may add up to tens of thousands of dollars or more per year.

Please help us keep the sanitary sewer system flowing by disposing of wipes and rags in the trash can, and not down the toilet!