Author: HCWCID 96

The HARRIS COUNTY W.C.I.D. #96 will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2023 on October 3, 2023, at 12:00 P.M. at 7930 Fall Creek Bend. Humble, TX 77396. Guests may attend the hearing via Zoom https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85264736072?pwd=RTRBcW8zK0FHNG9NY0RhdTIILIBHUT09 or via Teleconference by dialing 1-346-248-7799. Meeting ID: 852 6473 6072, Passcode 133352. Your individual taxes may increase at a greater or lesser rate, or even decrease, depending on the tax rate that is adopted and on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value of all other property. The change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in the taxable value of all other property determines the distribution of the tax burden among all property owners.

Visit Texas.gov/PropertyTaxes to find a link to your local property tax database on which you can easily access information regarding your property taxes, including information about proposed tax rates and scheduled public hearings of each entity that taxes your property.

Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Rate (PDF)

To ensure that an adequate supply of water is available for drinking and bathing, you are hereby notified that Stage 2 of the Drought Contingency Plan is now in effect. Stage 2 includes the MANDATORY water use restrictions set for the below. Any person who violates the water use restrictions set forth below is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) and not more than five hundred dollars ($500). Each day that one or more of the provisions in this Plan is violated shall constitute a separate offense. If a person is convicted of three or more distinct violations of this Plan, the Operator shall, upon due notice to the customer, be authorized to discontinue water service to the premises where such violations occur. Services discontinued under such circumstances shall be restored only upon payment of a re-connection charge, as set forth in the District’s Rate Order, and any other costs incurred by the District in discontinuing and re-connecting service. In addition, suitable assurance must be given to the District that the same action shall not be repeated while the Plan is in effect. Compliance with this plan may also be sought through injunctive relief in the district court.

WATER USE RESTRICTIONS

(a) Irrigation of residential landscaped areas with hose-end sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems shall be limited to Sundays and Thursdays for customers with a street address ending in an even number (0, 2, 4, 6 or 8), and Saturdays and Wednesdays for water customers with a street address ending in an odd number (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9), and irrigation of landscaped areas is further limited to the hours of 12:00 midnight until 10:00 a.m. and between 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight on designated watering days. However, residential irrigation of landscaped areas is permitted at any time if it is by means of a hand-held hose, a faucet-filled bucket or watering can of five (5) gallons or less, or drip irrigation system.

(b) Irrigation of green belts, esplanades, and sports fields shall be limited to Mondays and Fridays between 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight

(c) Use of water to wash any motor vehicle, motorbike, boat, trailer, airplane or other vehicle is prohibited except on designated watering days between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 10:00 a.m. and between 8:00 p.m. and 12:00 midnight. Such washing, when allowed, shall be done with a hand-held bucket or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shutoff nozzle for quick rises. Vehicle washing may be done at any time on the immediate premises of a commercial car wash or commercial service station. Further, such washing may be exempted from these regulations if the health, safety, and welfare of the public is contingent upon frequent vehicle cleansing, such as garbage trucks and vehicles used to transport food and perishables.

(d) Use of water to fill, refill, or add to any indoor or outdoor swimming pools, wading pools, or jacuzzi- type pools is prohibited except on designated watering days between the hours of 12:00 midnight and 10:00 a.m. and between 8 p.m. and 12:00 midnight.

(e) Operation of any ornamental fountain or pond for aesthetic or scenic purposes is prohibited except where necessary to support aquatic life or where such fountains or ponds are equipped with a re- circulation system.

(f) Use of water from hydrants shall be limited to firefighting, related activities, or other activities necessary to maintain public health, safety, and welfare, except that use of water from designated fire hydrants for construction purposes may be allowed under special permit from the District.

(g) Use of water for the irrigation of golf course greens, tees, and fairways is prohibited except on designated watering days between the hours 12:00 midnight and 10:00 a.m. and between 8 p.m. and 12:00 midnight. However, if the golf course utilizes a water source other than that provided by the District, the facility shall not be subject to these regulations.

(h) All restaurants are prohibited from serving water to patrons except upon request of the patron.

(i) The following uses of water are defined as non-essential and are prohibited:

1. wash down of any sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts, or other hard-surfaced areas;
2. use of water to wash down buildings or structures for purposes other than immediate fire protection;
3. use of water for dust control;
4. flushing gutters or permitting water to run or accumulate in any gutter or street; and
5. failure to repair a controllable leak(s) within a reasonable period after having been given notice directing the repair of such leak(s).

The Board of Directors appreciates your cooperation and perseverance during this Conservation Condition. Once the Conservation Condition ends, we will notify you and you may then return to normal usage. If conditions should worsen, you will be notified of more stringent restrictions, to ensure the availability of water in your community.

This evening we received notice that the City of Houston lost pressure at its East Purification Plant. They then issued a Boil Water Notice for the City. The problem did not extend to the other two Water Plants operated by the City that supply our water. The short answer:

• None of the systems (MUDs) operated by Si Environmental serviced by the East Purification Plant were affected.
• The water authorities shut off their water supply from the COH prior to the boil water notice being issued.
• None of our systems lost pressure or chlorine residual which prevents bacterial contamination

We will continue to monitor the system pressure and chlorine residuals in the distribution systems to maintain the safety of our water.