Water

There is NO boil water notice in effect for Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 500, which provides water service to Towne Lake residents in the District and Harris County Municipal Utility District Nos. 500, 502, and 503. The City of Houston has issued a Boil Water Notice for their water system and other systems affected by the City’s issue. While local media (and social media) are reporting boil water notices for the City and those other Water Districts in our area, these notices do not pertain to Harris County MUD No. 500 receivers, including the District. Again, Harris County MUD No. 500 is not currently under a Boil Water Notice.

In the event a Boil Water Notice needs to be issued for our MUD, notification will be provided. For immediate and up-to-date 24/7 information, you can always reach EDP’s 24-hour Customer Service line at (832) 467-1599.

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. The West Harris County Regional Water Authority, which provides potable water to Harris County MUD No. 500’s Service Area, including 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. MUD 501 needs your help 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.
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.

Harris County MUD 500, or the Master District, provides regional water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, park, road, and other regional facilities necessary to serve its Service Area, which includes the property within MUD 500, MUD 501, MUD 502, and MUD 503 in the Towne Lake community. For several years, MUD 500 has been undertaking efforts to improve the water supply resiliency in the community, particularly during emergency conditions. One of the projects that is a part of these efforts is the construction of the District’s first water well, which will be located at Water Plant No. 1.

Currently, MUD 500 obtains its potable water from surface water provided by the West Harris County Regional Water Authority (Authority). In emergency circumstances, where the Authority is unable to provide water, the Master District opens an interconnect with the neighboring Remington MUD 1, which supplies groundwater pumped from its wells. MUD 500 currently does not own or operate any water wells. However, to improve resiliency in the community, particularly in area-wide emergency situations like Winter Storm Uri where the Authority was unable to provide water to MUD 500 and other districts, MUD 500 been working to construct its first water well, which will be located at Water Plant No. 1. Following advertisement for competitive bids, MUD 500 recently awarded the construction contract for the water well and expects construction to begin in approximately May 2022.

MUD 500 will use its best efforts to minimize impact to nearby residents, but adjacent homeowners may experience some noise and other impacts as construction progresses.

To stay up to date on MUD 500 projects and information, please visit the MUD 500 website, at https://www.hcmud500.org/, and sign up for MUD 500 e-mail alerts.

With freezing weather predicted to occur over the next several days in the Houston area, it’s time to protect your pipes!  As many people found out in February 2021 during Winter Storm Uri, when a severe storm occurs and you haven’t made adequate preparations, the results can be disastrous.  When water inside a pipe freezes, it expands.  The resulting pressure can cause the pipe to burst.  A few simple steps now can save you a lot of money later.  The District recommends the following:

• Insulate any and all pipes that are exposed to cold air. Hardware and building supply stores sell pipe insulation materials that are easy to install.  If you use electric heat tape, be sure it is UL listed and that any extension cords are properly grounded.
• Winterize your irrigation system by closing the main irrigation valve, draining the system, and wrapping the backflow preventer and any above-ground pipes and valves with insulation.
• Drain any standing water from outdoor faucets and hoses and wrap with insulation.
• If the temperature is expected to stay below freezing for several hours, it’s a good idea to cut off the water to your home and drain the pipes.
• Many water lines are installed behind cabinets and in the attic. Keeping the doors to cabinets, closets, and the attic open during the coldest periods may allow your interior heat to help protect the pipes. IF YOU LEAVE CABINETS OPEN, PLEASE REMOVE ANY CLEANING SUPPLIES OR CHEMICALS TO KEEP CHILDREN OR PETS FROM GETTING TO THEM!
• If you plan to be away for several days during expected freezing weather, don’t turn off your heat. Keeping the air in the 60s will help keep your pipes warm.  Better yet, cut off the water to your home and drain the pipes.

Smart Meters

The Harris County MUD 501 Board recently completed the replacement of all water meters in the District with new ultrasonic smart meters. These meters will allow customers to monitor their water consumption on a daily basis through the Eye On Water website portal or mobile app, which may assist you with the detection of waters leaks and understanding how much water is used during irrigation and with other heavy water use activities.

Getting Started

In order to access the new smart meter tools, you first need to create a new Eye On Water account and register your smart meter. Visit https://eyeonwater.com to access the online portal or to download the mobile app. When creating the account, you will need your zip code and water service account number exactly as shown on your water bill.

Using Eye On Water

The Eye On Water portal and mobile app can help you review your water usage on a daily basis, assist with the detection of water leaks, and even allow you to set up automated leak detection alerts. For more information on viewing your water usage and setting up leak alerts, please view the videos below.

Need Assistance?

If you have any further questions or need assistance regarding your new smart meter or the Eye On Water website portal or mobile app, please contact the MUD 501 operator, Environmental Development Partners, at (832) 467-1599.

Harris County MUD 501 (MUD 501) Board President, Wayne Tyson, and Board Secretary, DeBra Edwards, attended the 2021 Association of Water Board Directors Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas on June 17-20, 2021 in-person. They enjoyed a unique conference experience with seminars from world-leading thinkers in water operations. The opportunity to hear industry experts explain new trends to help districts reach new heights was extraordinary. Winter Storm Uri was a hot topic. Ways to communicate with residents without the benefit of electricity was a great lesson learned. Information regarding Tax Rates in the Age of Senate Bill 2 was also very informative.

One of the most exciting moments was when MUD 501 was recognized a 2020-2021 Water Smart Partner! Water Smart is a public awareness campaign for water conservation sponsored by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Water Development Board. Its message is simple: every citizen, no matter what age or where they live, has a personal responsibility to use water wisely. For more information about the Water Smart program, please visit http://awbd-tx.org/wp/water-smart.

Stay tuned for exciting events sponsored by MUD 501!

The installation of the smart meters throughout MUD 501 is anticipated to be complete by the middle of April. Following the meter installation, MUD 501’s operator will perform meter comparison testing, which is anticipated to be completed by the end of May.

Barring any unforeseen issues, the MUD 501 Board anticipates that the smart meter function will be activated sometime during late June or July. The “Eye on Water” Internet portal and smart meter app will to released to MUD 501 residents at that time, which will allow residents to sign up to monitor their water usage in near real-time, and to set up automated leak detection alerts.

The MUD 501 Board hopes to host an open house in June or July regarding the smart meters, including how to sign up for and use the “Eye on Water” Internet portal and app, and this information will be posted on our website at that time. We expect to host this event as an online event, but also hope to offer an in person option depending on any pandemic restrictions in place at the time. Any questions dealing with the smart meters and the “Eye on Water” Internet portal and app will be answered at the open house.

Additional information will be forthcoming as soon as a firm time line is established.

Click here to view the AWBD Ambassador Program.

On February 17, 2021, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the Harris County MUD No. 501 public water system, PWS ID TX1013403, to issue a Boil Water Notice to inform customers, individuals, or employees that due to conditions which occurred recently in the public water system, the water from this public water system was required to be boiled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

The public water system has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by this public water system used for drinking water or human consumption purposes and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of 2/22/2021.

If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact the District’s operator, Environmental Development Partners at 832-467-1599 or toll free at 1-866-467-1599.

So, what do I do after the Boil Water advisory has been lifted? Some guidance is available at https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/watersystemrepair.html and https://houstonemergency.org/wp-content/uploads/Boil-Water-Notice-2292020.pdf.