No Lead Detected During Mandatory MUD 152 Pipe Inspection
Under the Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, public water systems must create an inventory of all potable water services lines within their system. Each state was responsible for ensuring that public water systems properly document their system. In the State of Texas, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (“TCEQ”) is responsible for enforcing this ruling. TCEQ mandated that public water systems inventory both public and private water service lines to determine if there was lead present within the system.
Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 152 (“the District”) was responsible for inventorying our entire water service system and uploading the results to TCEQ.
To do this, the District reviewed historical construction plans, distribution maps, meter connection reports and operational records to confirm that there was no lead present in the water service lines built after the State’s Lead Ban of 1989.
For homes that were constructed prior to the Lead Ban of 1989, a visual inspection was performed at each meter box to confirm that no lead was present in either the private or public service lines.
In total, the District inspected and confirmed that none of the 2,477 connections within the District had lead present. A summary of the findings can be found in the PDF below.
MUD 152 announces update to water and sewage rates
The Harris County MUD 152 Board of Directors met in regular session on Wednesday, July 24th and unanimously voted to increase the District’s water and sewer rates. Customers who use less than 8,000 gallons of water per month will see an increase of $6. Additional details about the changes are outlined in the attached PDF.
Security Meeting- April 25th, 2024
Thursday, April 25, 2024 @ 6:30pm
Timbers Elementary Cafeteria
MUD 152 Board invites residents of Atascocita South and Atasca Woods to meet with members of Pct. 4 Constables office.
- Light refreshments will be provided
- Park in the back parking lot by the new building
The purpose of this meeting will be for residents and businesses to share comments, concerns, complaints, and/or compliments regarding security of Atascocita South, Atasca Woods, and the surrounding business district.
Smart Meter Installation is Complete
MUD 152 is proud to announce that all residences have received their smart meters. You can learn more about creating your online account to get notifications for leaks and water usage by viewing these attached images.
Ground Storage Tank Nears Completion
Construction on the new concrete Ground Storage Tank #1 is nearing completion and on track for entering service by the end of May 2024. As we announced in January, The new GST1 will be a concrete tank with an expected life of 50 years. When considering overall costs, including projected maintenance costs through its life cycle, the concrete structure was a better value for taxpayers. We expect this new tank to serve the residents and businesses in our District for many years to come!
Security Meeting- January 25, 2024
Thursday, January 25, 2024 @ 6:30pm
Timbers Elementary Cafeteria
MUD 152 Board invites residents of Atascocita South and Atasca Woods to meet with members of Pct. 4 Constables office.
- Light refreshments will be provided
- Park in the back parking lot to access cafeteria
The purpose of this meeting will be for residents and businesses to share comments, concerns, complaints, and/or compliments regarding security of Atascocita South, Atasca Woods, and the surrounding business district.
Construction Will Begin on Infrastructure Improvements
MUD 152 is excited to announce that construction will begin on replacing Ground Storage Tank 1 (GST1) at Kline/Walker Water Plant #1 next to Timber’s Elementary on Lonesome Woods Trail in Atascocita South. This project is part of the ongoing infrastructure improvements announced in July 2022 with the selling of Series 2022 bonds. Construction is expected to be completed by May 2024.
The original Water Plant (now known as Kline/Walker Water Plant #1) and GST1 was built and put into service between 1979-1980. GST1 has been recoated and rehabilitated three times over it’s now (almost) 45-year lifespan. With proper maintenance, we expect that bolted galvanized tanks last around 40-50 years. Through the decades, consecutive MUD 152 boards have chosen to invest in regular and optional preventative maintenance to extend the life of GST1. As a result, the District benefited from the tank’s entire useful life.
The new GST1 will be a concrete tank with an expected life of 50 years. When considering overall costs, including projected maintenance costs through its life cycle, the concrete structure was a better value for taxpayers.
We expect this new tank to serve the residents and businesses in our District for many years to come!
FAQs
We anticipate construction will begin the week of October 16, 2023. This is the start of a traditionally low water consumption period, so taking one tank out of service should not impact customers.
Our current projection is to have construction complete and the water tank operating by the end of May 2024.
MUD 152 has worked closely with our engineers and operator to ensure the district’s water needs will be met. We have sufficient capacity to continue operating with our system’s redundant capacity at Water Plant #2 on Will Clayton across from Atascocita High School. In addition, MUD 152 has agreements in place with a neighboring MUD to provide water in an emergency situation. The community can assist by continuing to be mindful of their water usage.
The construction team has a daily working time frame of 7am to 6pm.
No, drop off and pickup should not be disrupted. If the Contractor has any large equipment or deliveries, our project manager will make sure they coordinate those outside of the drop off and pickup hours.
GST2 was built in 2001 and has been re-coated once thus far. The District will continue to maintain GST2 with the same level of attention, while enjoying the benefits of the less overall maintenance required for the new concrete GST1.
The District continues to install the new automated Smart meters. Smart meters provide more accurate readings over the lifetime of the meter and provide customers with access to real time water usage data and leak detection alerts via your personal computer or mobile device. This project is ongoing and your new meter should be installed over the next six months. You will be notified when it is installed. More detailed usage information will be forthcoming once all meters are installed.
Voluntary Water Conservation
MUD 152 is implementing a voluntary water conservation notice for the district. Given the current dry conditions across our area, it is important for homeowners to think about ways to reduce their water usage. Water conservation experts suggest among other approaches, reducing the time spent in the shower, washing only fully loaded washing machines, waiting until the dishwasher is fully loaded before turning it on, and watering your lawn on a more limited basis.
Freezing Weather Notification
Winter weather and freezing temperatures are expected this week across Texas. The National Weather Service is forecasting widespread freezing temperatures on Friday and Saturday mornings. Residents should closely monitor media and the National Weather Service for updates to the forecast. We wanted to assure you that the teams at Inframark are monitoring and working diligently in preparation for a freezing weather event to safeguard your facilities. It is also important that you take action as well in protecting the “Four P’s”: People, pets, pipes and plants.
People
- Keep warm, stay inside if possible.
- If you need to go out, dress in layers and wear hats, gloves and an appropriate coat.
- Avoid overexertion, as cold weather puts added strain on your body.
Pets
- Bring pets inside, and move other animals or livestock to sheltered areas.
- Keep adequate food and water available.
Pipes
- Disconnect outdoor hoses, drain and store in protected area.
- Wrap exposed faucets and pipes – including those outside the house or in unheated crawl spaces, attics, garages and other areas.
Plants
- Bring potted plants inside or store in garage near interior wall to provide extra warmth and protection from wind.
- For cold-sensitive outdoor plants, put down extra mulch and consider covering with a cloth fabric of some kind to shield the plants from wind and frost.
Additionally, if you have an irrigation system, turn off the water to the system at your backflow preventer and then drain the system so your irrigation pipes and sprinkler heads are not damaged.
The following sites can also be used as a source of information and to keep you updated:
Where you can learn more:
- Forecasts: National Weather Service Houston-Galveston
- Winter Weather Safety: National Weather Service
- Local Road Conditions: Houston TranStar
- State Road Conditions: DriveTexas.org
- Space Heater Safety: National Fire Protection Association
Stay safe and stay warm.