Information & Defining Terms

INFORMATION & DEFINING TERMS

Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 81

(HC 81, MUD 81 or "the district") was created by order of the Texas Water Rights Commission (now Commission on Environmental Quality, "TCEQ") effective July 16, 1973, in accordance with the Texas Water Code, Chapter 54. The board of directors held its first meeting on October 2, 1973, and the first bonds were sold on December 19, 1974. The district is empowered, among other things, to purchase, to construct, to operate, and maintain all works, improvements and construct, to operate, and maintain all works, improvements and facilities necessary for the supply of water, for the collection and processing of wastewater and for control and diversion of storm water. It is also allowed to provide parks and recreation, fire protection, garbage and security. It is a political subdivision of the State of Texas and as such authorized to levy and collect taxes, and must abide by the regulations of the above noted Texas government agency among others.

The district is 921 acres, all of which are located in Houston’s Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ). Memorial Parkway sections 1-9 and 13, Cimarron sections 1-6 and Silverstone section 1 are in mud 81. The district has 3090 single family connections, 2 multi-family, 56 commercial and 24 irrigation (sprinkler) connections.

The board of directors is made up of five members who own property and/or live in the district and are elected for a four year term. Registered voters who live in the district are eligible to vote in the water district elections. These elections are held every even year.

The district has four water wells, a lift station and an administrative office building (MUD bldg.). They have an interest in two regional sewage treatment plants (STP), West Memorial and Cinco.

Only residents of MUD 81 may rent the MUD building. The building is available for use by other water boards, fire district, elections, non-profit groups, private parties and commercial groups. The resident must have a water account in their name. There is a charge for use of the building.

Trash

HCMUD 81 contracts for trash/garbage collection as well as recycling in the district. Cimarron & Silverstone have pick-ups on Monday and Thursday with recycling and heavy trash pick-up on Thursday. Memorial Parkway has Tuesday and Friday pick-up with recycling and heavy trash pick-up Friday.

Trash must be placed curb side by 7:00 a.m. there is no limit to the number of containers that may be placed for collection. They must not be so heavy that one man cannot lift them.

Recycling items Items to be placed in the recycling container are:
	Bi-metal (tin) and aluminum cans-food and beverage cans only-no foil, pie tins, aerosol cans or scrap metal. Please rinse out cans. Plastic (codes 1 & 2 only) - soft drink bottles and milk jugs. No other plastics will be accepted. All lids, caps and rings must be removed it is not necessary to remove labels. Please rinse containers.

Although HC81 does not recycle newspapers, there are recycling containers at the elementary schools that take all kinds of paper.

Branches and tree trimmings should be placed curbside by 7:00 a.m. on the second pick-up day, if possible. They must be cut in 4' lengths and no more than 2" or 3" in diameter and in bundles of not more than 40 or 50 pounds.

The recycling container supplied to you remains the property of the trash company and should be left behind if you move from your present address.

Holidays when there is no trash collection are: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. Service will resume on the next regularly scheduled collection day.

Items that will not be taken because of rules for land fills are:
	refrigerant-containing items (refrigerator, freezers, etc.) gasoline, motor oil, oil filters paint tires and batteries large metal pieces (car fenders & engines) construction debris (fence boards, carpet, roofing)

Swimming Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs, Sprinklers

State of Texas regulations require that inspections be conducted on new and existing back flow prevention devices. Pools in and above ground, spas, hot tubs and sprinkler systems must have testable back flow prevention devices. They must be tested when they are installed and then yearly. Residents who already have pools, spas, hot tubs and sprinklers must have a testable back flow prevention device and must have them inspected. The cost of $50.00 residential, $125.00 non residential per trip for the inspection will be added to your water bill. To schedule an inspection call 281-240-1700 and ask for the inspection department. These devices are very important to protect the quality of the drinking water in the district. Failure to have the inspection may result in termination of your water service. Swimming pools, both above and in ground, must drain to the sanitary system. If you have questions call the district office, 281-392-8112 to schedule an inspection call 281-275-1761.

Water consumption

Water facts:
	More than 339 billion gallons of water are used in the U.S. every day Americans drink more than one billion glasses of water a day, the 94 million gallons a day saved could be provide water for one year to Baltimore, MD. On average, 50-70 percent of household water is used on lawns and gardens.

HC MUD 81 has four water wells. One of the wells has an elevated tank. HC MUD 81 pumps an average of 40 million gallons of water per month. On July 16, 2000, 3 million, 400 thousand (3,400,000 gallons of water) were pumped!!! More water is consumed on the week-ends than at other times with the heaviest usage on Sunday evenings between 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. to help avoid water rationing, residents are asked not to water their yards on Sunday evenings between 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. not even with a hand held hose!!!!

Emergency water rationing

When the district pumps three times its average on three consecutive days, water rationing is imposed. There are two levels of water rationing:
	Voluntary		Same as level 1, but no fines imposed
	Level 1	Water restriction	Odd/even watering and no week-end watering. Ending number of your house address determine odd or even.
	Level 2	Water emergency	No outside watering.

Non-compliance may result in a fine of up to $200.00 per violation.

It is necessary that the district have the required water pressure for an emergency.

Watch district signs for restrictions. The four district signs are located on Mason Road by the ditch, highland knolls by Randall’s, Westgreen by ditch and by elevated tank by junior high.

Water conservation

To conserve water and keep water bills low, the district recommends:
	Fix pipe leaks, install low-flow faucets and shower heads, and toilets that use less than 2 gallons per flush.
	Fix toilet leaks
	Do not leave the water running when you brush your teeth or shave.
	Plant grass, flowers that require minimal watering

Call 281-392-8112 for more information.

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INFORMATION & DEFINING TERMS