Prepare for the Freeze
No Boil Water Notice In Effect
There is no boil water notice in effect for Harris County M.U.D. No. 168 residents or businesses. The City of Houston has issued a Boil Water Notice for their water system and other systems effected 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 M.U.D. No. 168 receivers, as the District maintains independent water production facilities. Again, Harris County M.U.D. No. 168 is not currently under a Boil Water Notice.
In the event a Boil Water Notice needs to be issued for our community, notification will be provided. For immediate and up-to-date 24/7 information, you can always reach out to EDP’s 24-hour Customer Service line at (832) 467-1599.
Stage 1 Water Conservation Measures
Due to ongoing drought conditions, The North Harris County Regional Authority (NHCRWA) initiated Stage 1 water conservation measures. Because Harris County Municipal Utility District 168 is located within the boundaries of the NHCRWA, we are required to initiate Stage 1 voluntary water conservation measures. The NHCRWA and Harris County Municipal Utility District 168 may require mandatory water use restrictions if conditions worsen. Effective immediately, the following voluntary water use restrictions are in place:
Voluntary Water Use Restrictions Now in Place:
- Recommend no outdoor water use between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
- Recommend all outdoor water usage, including, but not limited to, lawn and garden watering, car washing, and window washing, to be limited as follows:
- District residents and other users of water within the district with even numbered addresses should consider using water outdoors on even number days (0, 2, 4, 6 or 8)
- District residents and other users of water within the district with odd numbered addresses should consider use of water outdoors on odd numbered days (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9)
- In the event no street address exists, we recommend only district residents and other users of water within the district living on the north and west side of a street use water outdoors on even numbered days. District residents and other users of water within the district on the south and east side of a street should consider using water outdoors on odd numbered days.
Thank you for your cooperation – Customers will be notified when these voluntary restrictions are no longer recommended or if conditions warrant additional conservation measures.
Water Conservation 2022
Water Conservations: What you need to know
We know living in Texas, water conservation can be inherently more difficult during the summer months and that’s why the EPA and the Texas Water Development Board has published water savings tips that will not only show you how to help conserve water, but also help you conserve cost.
The EPA has recommended the following:
Outdoors
- Maximize the use of natural vegetation and establish smaller lawns. For portions of your lot where a lawn and landscaping are desired, ask your local nursery for tips about plants and grasses with low water demand (such as creeping fescue). Consider planting more trees, shrubs, ground covers, and less grass. Shrubs and ground covers provide greenery for much of the year and usually demand less water. Use native plants in flower beds. Native plants have adapted to rainfall conditions in Texas and often provide good wildlife habitat. Cluster plants that require extra care together to minimize time and save water.
- When mowing your lawn, set the mower blades to 2-3 inches high. Longer grass shades the soil improving moisture retention, has more leaf surface to take in sunlight, allowing it to grow thicker and develop a deeper root system. This helps grass survive drought, tolerate insect damage and fend off disease.
- Only water the lawn when necessary. If you water your lawn and garden, only do it once a week, if rainfall isn’t sufficient. Avoid watering on windy and hot days. Water the lawn and garden in the morning or late in the evening to maximize the amount of water which reaches the plant roots (otherwise most of the water will evaporate). Use soaker hoses to water gardens and flower beds. If sprinklers are used, take care to be sure they don’t water walkways and buildings. When you water, put down no more than 1 inch (set out an empty cans to determine how long it takes to water 1 inch) each week. This watering pattern will encourage more healthy, deep grass roots. Over-watering is wasteful, encourages fungal growth and disease, and results in the growth of shallow, compacted root systems that are more susceptible to drought and foot traffic. If an automatic lawn irrigation system is used, be sure it has been properly installed, is programmed to deliver the appropriate amount and rate of water, and has rain shut-off capability.
- Apply mulch around shrubs and flower beds to reduce evaporation, promote plant growth and control weeds.
- Add compost or an organic matter to soil as necessary, to improve soil conditions and water retention.
- Collect rainfall for irrigation in a screened container (to prevent mosquito larvae growth).
- When washing a car, wet it quickly, then use a bucket of water to wash the car. Turn on the hose to final rinse (or let mother nature wash your car when it rains).
- Always use a broom to clean walkways, driveways, decks and porches, rather than hosing off these areas.
For more information, click below
The EPA has recommended the following:
For Every Room in the House With Plumbing
- Repair leaky faucets, indoors and out.
- Consider replacing old equipment (like toilets, dishwahers and laundry machines).
In the Kitchen
- When cooking, peel and clean vegetables in a large bowl of water instead of under running water.
- Fill your sink or basin when washing and rinsing dishes.
- Only run the dishwasher when it’s full.
- When buying a dishwasher, select one with a “light-wash” option.
- Only use the garbage disposal when necessary (composting is a great alternative).
- Install faucet aerators.
In the Bathroom
- Take short showers instead of baths.
- Turn off the water to brush teeth, shave and soap up in the shower. Fill the sink to shave.
- Repair leaky toilets. Add 12 drops of food coloring into the tank, and if color appears in the bowl one hour later, your toilet is leaking.
- Install a toilet dam, faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads.
Laundry
- Run full loads of laundry.
- When purchasing a new washing machine, buy a water saving model that can be adjusted to the load size.
For more information, click below
The Texas Water Development Board offers water saving ideas and cost savings tips!
Lift Station Rehabilitation
Residents,
Harris County Municipal Utility District No . 168 (the District) is currently in the process of rehabilitating the District’s sanitary sewer wastewater lift stations. Unfortunately, while rehabilitating the Lift Station located at the corner of Steeple way Boulevard and Yearling Drive, the parking lot adjacent to the lift station will need to be closed for both resident safety and to allow the contractor access to complete the work. The rehabilitation of the lift station is scheduled to begin the first week of August and be complete by the second week of November.
We apologize for the inconvenience.
Smart Meters
Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 168 recently completed an initiative to convert the District to smart meters, partnering with Environmental Development Partners (EDP) to bring these devices to the District. Smart meters and related technologies are great tools for water conservation, and greatly improve our water system’s operational efficiency.
The District’s goals are lowering water loss due to leaks, visibility of water usage trends, and immediate reporting and handling of problems that may arise.
Residents can sign up for the “EyeOnWater” web service to monitor water usage as well as receive alerts of potential leaks.
Residents are urged to view provided information and instructional videos by going to:
For sign-up questions you may contact the District’s Operator, EDP, at (832) 467-1599, M-F 8AM-5PM
Online Customer Portal
Please note the following important changes that were made to the way online payments are made.
Online Customer Portal
In 2018, we introduced a new online customer portal for making water bill payments. Customers can create an account by visiting www.mud168.org and following the instructions below. Make individual or automatic payments online for a $1.00 fee, when paying by eCheck from a bank account or a 3% fee when paying by credit or debit card.
How to create an account:
- Go to www.mud168.org
- Click on Pay Your Water Bill
- Click on Sign up now
- Follow online instructions beginning with your security code from your most recent water bill.
We hope you enjoy the new features which include:
- Viewing real-time balance & transaction history
- Viewing current and past billing statements
- Viewing your water use history
- Updating your mailing address
- Signing up for eBilling
Changes to Our Auto-Pay Program
The auto-pay program has been moved to the Online Customer Portal. This change will not disrupt auto-payments set up through our original payment program and no action is required. However, we encourage you to sign on to the new customer portal and confirm/update your account information.
For more information or assistance with registration, call EDP at
832-467-1599
Monday – Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm CST.
Visit www.mud168.org for more information.