Water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to conserve water during these hot summer months?

Start by checking for leaking toilets, also make sure outside hoses are not leaking, and finally, be mindful of how much and how often your irrigation is running.  To ensure the best possible water usage habits, download the free Eye on Water app and set it for leak alerts.  Have your MUD 367 water bill handy to insert your account number.

What does the NHCRWA fee mean on my bill?

The North Harris County Regional Water Authority (NHCRWA) was created in 1999 by voters. This agency is responsible for constructing the infrastructure to comply with the Harris County-Galveston Subsidence District’s Regulatory Plan that requires a reduction in groundwater usage to no more than 20% of the total water demand by the year 2035. Both MUD 367 and 383 only collect this fee for NHCRWA; neither MUD controls the fee nor tack additional fees onto it.  All residents in the NHCRWA area are required to pay this monthly fee. The NHCRWA holds monthly meetings at their office location: 3648 Cypress Creek Parkway, Suite 110, Houston, 77068 on the first Monday of the month.

For more details on their purpose, or to complain, please visit:

https://www.nhcrwa.com

How can I reduce the amount of water my family uses a month?

There are so many easy steps to reduce the amount of water a family uses each month.

For example: Take shorter showers!  Repair leaky faucets! Only water your yard before sunrise or after sunset and only when necessary! Replace old washers with energy and water efficient models!  And don’t forget to download the Eye On Water app!

The list goes on and on…the price of water will only increase so establishing better water habits will not only help the environment but also help with your monthly bill.  For more tips and valuable insight, please visit:

https://takecareoftexas.org/conservation-tips/conserve-our-water

Why is My Water Bill So High?

There are many reasons why a residential home might receive a higher than usual water bill but the main reason would be an undetected leak.

Have you downloaded the Eye on Water App? Eyeonwater.com

MUD 367 has installed “smart meters” at every residence in the district in our ongoing effort to promote water conservation. Once you download the app, you will have a clear picture of your home’s monthly water usage. You can also set up the app to notify you if there is a water leak!

Here are some common leak issues:

  • Auto fills on pools are the #1 cause of leaks in our district. The valve will get stuck “on” creating a cycle of filling the pool and then reducing the water. Manual valves have been left open as well. Because you don’t see water flowing in your yard or pool, it is hard to actually identify.
  • Sprinkler systems running continuously during the night. You may think your system is running each zone once whereas the system has been erroneously set up to run both A & B, meaning each zone is being watered twice during the night.
  • If your sprinkler system has a broken solenoid valve, this will cause a constant leak. Test each zone manually to ensure accuracy.
  • A leaking toilet can waste thousands of dollars a year! The cost of a plumber to replace a faulty fill valve or flapper is approximately $100-$125. But, why not try to repair it yourself? The replacement part for a flapper is available at Home Depot and/or Ace Hardware for under $20 with Home Depot offering DIY videos on-line.
  • A leaking faucet usually can be repaired by replacing the cartridge. Did you know that Moen and Delta replace their cartridges for the life of the faucet? Once you receive the new cartridge, your licensed plumber can install with only the cost of labor.
  • Over time, water softeners can malfunction causing a steady leak.
  • Outside faucets and garden hoses may have been left on by a child or landscaper.
  • Power washing your driveway, sidewalks and back patio create a beautiful and clean environment but remember when your bill arrives that this is a huge amount of water being used.

The main reason MUD 367 sees high water bills during the summer months is that your sprinkler system is running more than necessary. Unfortunately, far too many people think they have to water every day or every other day to have a lush lawn. This misconception wastes water and actually weakens the lawn. Horticulturists say that watering the lawn deeply and infrequently is the key to forcing grass and plants to grow deep roots so they can access water for a longer period of time and thrive through the long, hot summer. Water close to the surface evaporates long before the deeper moisture. Air is forced out of soil that is continually saturated. Since roots need air, overwatering tends to promote very shallow roots.

To figure out how long to run your sprinkler system, try the Tuna Tin Test…place a series of empty, 1-inch deep tuna cans (at least 3) throughout the area the sprinkler system covers. Turn on the water for the amount of time you think is correct. Each can should have roughly the same amount of water — about 1 inch. If the cans contain less than 1 inch of water, you need to water a little longer. If the cans have an uneven amount of water, the distribution of water needs adjustment. A soil probe (available at most hardware and garden shops) can also determine how deep the water is penetrating into the soil.

If you have spoiled your lawn and landscape areas with frequent ‘soakings’, you may need to wean the area gradually to allow the shallow roots to grow.

Here are a few other important tips to consider to get you started saving water — and money — this summer:

  1. Set system to complete the cycle before 4:00 a.m. This timing will avoid the peak demand for other household uses — like showers, kitchen chores and the use of laundry appliances.
  2. Watering in the heat of day can waste up to 65 percent of the water through evaporation.
  3. Mow only when necessary. Set the mower to the highest setting during warm weather. Longer grass keeps the soil cool, minimizing evaporation and conserving water.
  4. Leave clippings on the lawn. They supply organic matter and supply one third of your fertilizer needs.
  5. Add ¼ to ½ inch compost to lawn in fall or spring. It will decrease water needs and supply nutrients to the lawn.
  6. Most importantly, WATER ONLY WHEN YOUR LAWN NEEDS IT!

North Harris County Regional Water Authority (NHCRWA) Announces Rate Increase

The NHCRWA fee on your water bill is imposed by the North Harris County Regional Water Authority to fund surface water conversion as mandated by the State of Texas. NHCRWA will increase their fee on April 1, 2020 from $4.30 per thousand gallons to $4.70 per thousand gallons. Harris County MUD 367 does not control this fee, which is a direct pass through cost, with increases expected annually. Water conservation practices are strongly encouraged.

For additional information, please click here to read the NHCRWA Amended Rate Order and Updated Pricing Policy.

Click here for water conservation tips.

Resolution Adopting Policy and Procedures For February 2021 Freeze Event Leak Adjustment Credits

Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 367 (the “District”) has adopted a Resolution Adopting Policy and Procedures for February 2021 Freeze Event Leak Adjustment Credits (the “Resolution”) under which the District will consider permitting a credit because of loss of water due to rupture or other damage causing a leak in a customer’s water line(s) due to the winter storm and freeze event of February 2021 (the “Freeze Event”). Credit may be given for water usage and sewer usage in excess of the customer’s average usage, as determined by the District pursuant to the Resolution (the “Freeze Event Leak Adjustment Credit”). The Freeze Event Leak Adjustment Credit is limited to the billing cycle(s) containing the days included in the Freeze Event (the “Applicable Billing Cycle(s)”) and must be requested by May 1, 2021. Customers may apply for no more than one (1) Freeze Event Leak Adjustment Credit per account.

Freeze Event Leak Adjustment Credits Request Form (PDF)

Winterizing Your Sprinkler System

MUD 367 strongly recommends winterizing your sprinkler system to avoid a burst & leak after a freeze. The attached “How To” video offers step by step guidance:

Calculate Your Monthly Water Bill in Real-Time

Harris County MUD 367 has recently developed a simple water bill calculator so that residents can see what their water bill would be on any given day of the billing cycle. From the “Usage” tab in the Eye on Water app, simply look up your current monthly water usage (in thousands of gallons) and then use this value in the drop-down menu of the water bill calculator. The calculator is broken down by the same three components as your monthly water bill. The calculator can be found on the Water Bill Calculator page.

In Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Please Review the Following Information

Harris County Municipal Utility District 367’s Board of Directors is conscious of maintenance costs incurred by the District. Clogged pipes cause major problems in wastewater treatment facilities. They may also cause home plumbing issues. Residents can help maintain a working sanitary sewer system by being mindful of what they put down the drain or flush down the toilet.

The following items should NOT be put down the drain or flushed:

  • DO NOT FLUSH Feminine hygiene products in the toilet:
    Items such as tampons and feminine pads are absorbent and increase in size after exposure to water in the pipes. This causes clogs in plumbing and the District’s sewer system. These items should be disposed of in a wastebasket.
  • DO NOT FLUSH “Flushable” sanitary wipes and baby wipes down the toilet:
    Despite being labeled as flushable by the manufacturer, these products may clump up in the pipes and cause clogs. Instead of flushing these items, keep a waste receptacle by the toilet for disposal.
  • DO NOT FLUSH Cotton swabs such as “Q-tips” in the toilet:
    These items include stiff cardboard or plastic stems in the middle which can clog pipes. Also, if they do make it to a wastewater treatment plant, they must be removed from the water and hauled to a proper trash facility. This creates an extra cost for your District.
  • DO NOT FLUSH Diapers down the toilet:
    Whether cloth or disposable, infant and adult diapers should never be disposed of in the toilet. They are too large to fit through the plumbing of your home and cause blockages in District pipes that take wastewater to treatment plants.
  • DO NOT FLUSH Cotton Balls and Paper Towels in the toilet:
    These items are too bulky to fit through the pipes and will cause plumbing obstructions.
  • DO NOT FLUSH Cigarette Butts in the toilet or wash down the sink:
    Cigarette butts build up over time causing clogs and accumulate with other solid waste that should not have been flushed. These items must be hauled away to a trash facility, costing your District additional expense.
  • DO NOT POUR Cooking Grease down the drain or in the toilet:
    While hot cooking grease may seem easy to pour down the kitchen sink, it cools quickly once exposed to plumbing. Congealed grease can build up over time and create clogs.
  • DO NOT FLUSH Condoms and other prophylactics in the toilet:
    These items may cause clogs in the system and if they make it to a wastewater treatment facility, will have to be hauled to a proper trash disposal plant, increasing costs to your District.

Essentially, only wastewater and human waste should go down the drain or be flushed. Your help in adhering to these guidelines is greatly appreciated and will save your District unnecessary expenses.