Harris County Municipal Utility District # 208
Northwest Harris County, Texas USA

VOLUNTARY WATER CONSERVATION

We are experiencing another spring with significantly less than average rainfall. MUD 208 is always faced with the dilemma of how to conserve water while keeping our gardens and lawns green. Understanding how the lack of rainfall across Texas has impacted the highly publicized situation known as subsidence, the Board has an ongoing responsibility to implement reduced water consumption programs for water conservation.

Responding to the problem as many communities have, we are asking residents to adjust their water usage with the following plan. This is a voluntary program designed to limit the daily amount of water used by residents.

All MUD 208 residents are encouraged to participate in a 5-day watering schedule for outdoor uses avoiding the peak hours between 11am to 7pm. The Harris County Extension Bureau suggests that watering once every 5 days for longer lengths of time is more beneficial to promote deep-rooted vegetation than the every day watering that is common.

Outdoor uses include lawn/shrub/tree watering, vehicle/boat/trailer washing, and the use of landscape sprinkler systems and irrigation, or recreational use of sprinklers. The use of hand held hoses equipped with a positive shut off valve, hand held bucket or drip irrigation systems are the only exceptions to this.

The following uses of water are STRONGLY DISCOURAGED:

Allowing water to run off into a gutter, ditch, drain, or right-of-way

Failing to repair a controllable leak

Washing sidewalks, driveways, patios, or other paved areas, except to alleviate immediate health or fire hazards.

We strongly encourage all residents to comply with the above program to reduce the average daily water consumption, therefore allowing the proper water storage levels to be maintained. If you have any questions, please contact H2O Consulting Services at 281/861-6215, or Fulbright & Jaworski at 713/651-3620.

Water Conservation Rate Schedule

The Board had adopted an annual water Rate Order that is effective every summer between the months of May through September. The following chart will explain the schedule as it is currently is calculated.

WATER RATES

	Summer Rate Schedule (May – Sept)	Remainder Year Rate Schedule
Residential	$8 for first 8 thousand gallons	$12.50 for first 10 thousand gallons
	$2.50 per 1 to 20 thousand gallons	$ 1.25 per thousand for the next 10 thousand gallons
	$3 per thousand over 20 thousand gallons	$ 1.50 per thousand over 20 thousand gallons
Multi-Family/ Commercial	$8 for first 8 thousand gallons	$15.00 for first 10 thousand gallons
	$2.50 per 1 to 20 thousand gallons	$ 1.50 per thousand gallons thereafter
	$3.00 per thousand over 20 thousand gallons
Parks and Recreation	$0.90 per 1 thousand gallons	$ 0.45 per 1 thousand gallons

Sewer service charges remain unchanged at this time.

RESIDENTIAL COST COMPARISON

Monthly Gallons	Summer Schedule	Remainder Year
8,000	$8.00 water 10.00 sewer $18.00 total	$12.50 water 10.00 sewer $22.50 total
15,000	$22.50 water 10.00 sewer $35.50 total	$18.75 water 10.00 sewer $28.75 total
25,000	$53.00 water 10.00 sewer $63.00 total	$32.50 water 10.00 sewer $52.50 total

COMMERCIAL COST COMPARISON

Monthly Gallons	Summer Schedule	Remainder Year
25,000	$53.00 water 18.55 sewer $71.55 total	$37.50 water 15.00 sewer $42.50 total
50,000	$128.00 water 44.80 sewer $172.80 total	$75.00 water 26.25 $101.25

PARKS AND RECREATION COST COMPARISON

Monthly Gallons	Summer Schedule	Remainder Year
100,000	$90.00 total	$45.00 total

HINTS FOR WISE WATER USAGE

Keep a jug of drinking water in the refrigerator to avoid running the water until it is cool.

Turn off the water while you are brushing your teeth, washing your hands or scraping the dishes.

Take short showers and shallow baths.

Fill the dishwasher and clothes washer with soiled dishes and clothes. Washing partial loads wastes electricity, water and money.

Check every faucet and toilet for leaks. Slow drips can waste a lot of precious water each day.

Turn off drinking fountains and sinks in public places.

Don't use the toilet as a trash can to dispose of gum wrappers, tissues or other small scraps.

Install water saving devices.

FERTILIZER HINTS

If you are of the opinion that if a small amount of fertilizer is good, then a little extra will produce great results, think again. What are your expectations?

Too much fertilizer applied, especially before a rainy day, can pollute water supplies. When more nutrients are in the soil than plants can absorb, the water that dissolves these nutrients will also carry them into a storm sewer or street gutter, or penetrate the soil to underground water resources. To put it bluntly, it all goes down the drain.

An overbalance of fertilizer causes excessive plant growth, including algae, which increases plant decay and adversely affects oxygen supplies for fish.

The rate of fertilizer application, the frequency of application, the nutrient ratio and the source of nitrogen all contribute to the lawn's growth rate. The following guidelines will yield reasonable growth and good color.

Fertilizer Rate (NPK)	Fertilizer Analysis	Application Rate Lbs./1,000 sq. ft.
3-1-2	12-4-8 15-5-10 21-7-14	8 7 5
4-1-2	16-4-8 20-5-10	6 5

REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE UPDATE

As part of the ongoing repairs and preventive maintenance program in MUD 208, the Board of Directors has approved the following projects:

1. Lift Station facelift

The Lift Station located at the corner of Rainbow Lake and Park Falls sports a new 6-foot fence and accompanying landscaping.

2. Manhole Update

As our wastewater system ages, the district is systematically evaluating and completing repairs as necessary to keep manholes sealed. This will decrease unwanted storm runoff from entering the wastewater system.

3. Televising of Sewer Lines

To prevent inflow and infiltration problems and major sewer line failures, the district is investigating the option of having the underground lines inspected for any abnormalities. Sewer lines will be repaired as concerns are noted.

4. 4. Meter Replacement Program

As water meters age, the district is replacing residential water meters. This will insure accurates meter readings.

ALTERNATIVE PESTICIDES

Diazinon, dursban and malathion can contribute to potentially serious problems in our environment. In light of these concerns brought to the attention of all the Copperfield MUD districts, alternate forms of pesticides are recommended for residents to limit bug infestation.

Desiccants

Diatomaceous earth, a dust is used primarily outdoors to create a barrier against ants, fleas, ticks and garden pests. Silica aero gel is a compound sprayed into cracks, crevices, and wall voids to control a variety of household and structural pests. This is stocked at pool supply and hardware stores in the lawn and garden section. The cost is comparable to many synthetic products.

Boric Acid

Boric acid is highly recommended for the control of cockroaches, ants and silverfish inside the home. Read and follow the label carefully.

Pyrethrum and Pyrethrim

Pyrethrum is a powder derived from the chrysanthemum flower. Pyrethrim causes insect paralysis in fleas, ticks and other such pests. Pyrethrim can be toxic to cats.

Insecticidal Soap

These soaps are effective against a variety of soft-bodied insects such as aphids and fleas and are virtually non-toxic to humans.

Repellents

Commonly used to discourage the pest's presence, these sprays made from onion, garlic, crushed insects and citrus are used as repellents. Burning citronella candles or oils repel mosquitoes. Bay leaves placed around food storage area discourage ants and other pantry pests. Onions, garlic and some types of herbs are popular plants used to repel pests.

Limonene/Linalool

Low toxicity makes these attractive to use on pets to repel insects.

Baccillus Thuringiensis

A class of microbial insecticide, this uses bacteria to cause death in insects.

Nematodes

Specialized nematodes are commercially available for the control of fire ants, grubs and flies. After application, they can remain effective for several years.

If diazinon or other synthetic forms of pesticides must be used, please read the labels carefully and only used what is recommended from the manufacturer. Dispose of any unused pesticides properly. NEVER POUR UNUSED PESTICIDES DOWN THE SINK OR DRAIN.

MUD 208 Tax Rate Declines

At their January monthly meeting, the Directors of MUD 208 voted to reduce the District property tax rate from 0.60 per $100 valuation to 0.575, a 4.2 percent reduction. This is the seventh year in a row that the rate has stayed the same or gone down.

Residents are reminded that MUD 208 sets tax rates for Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 208 only. Other entities such as the school district, hospital district, etc. set their own tax rates. However, all the taxing entities use an appraisal made by the Harris County Central Appraisal District, not MUD 208.

For questions concerning your taxes, please contact the district's tax consultant, Bob Leared Interests, at 713-932-9011.

Water Well No. 2

Harris County MUD 208 has awarded a contract for the construction of Water Well No. 2. The proposed 350 gallon per minute “shallow” water well will help assure that the District is able to maintain its current level of service into the future. The District’s existing water well is a “deep” well and is currently capable of meeting or exceeding water demands from District residents. However, the Copperfield area continues to experience a decline in water table elevations which will equate to decreasing amounts of water available for withdrawal. The proposed “shallow” well configuration will provide added capacity for the future and can be located at the District’s existing water plant site in close proximity to the District’s “deep” water well. Since the wells will withdraw from different aquifers, both wells can be located at the District’s water plant site. Alternative well sites and designs were considered but not found to be feasible. It is currently anticipated that the new water well will begin production by late 2000.

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