With freezing temperatures right around the corner, it’s a good time to refresh ourselves on precautionary measures for drops in temperature and cold weather.

The Four P’s to Prepare your Home this Winter:

• People
• Pets
• Pipes
• Plants

People

• Avoid going outside if it is not necessary. If you do, make sure you layer up from head to toe.
• To keep you and your family safe, it is imperative your home is warm.
• Make sure your heat is set to an appropriate temperature to make your entire home comfortable. Remember, heat rises so if you sleep upstairs, your room may be warmer than rooms downstairs.
• If you use a fireplace, make sure you have a screen to catch any embers that might escape or a rolling log.
• Never use your stove or oven to heat your home.
• If you smell smoke or see flames, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Pets

• While protecting your family, it is imperative to protect your pets as well.
• Pets, like humans, are vulnerable to cold temperatures. If not taken care of properly, they can succumb to frostbite and even hypothermia.
• If you have a dog that typically lives outdoors, consider letting them inside when temperatures drop to freezing. While their fur does help to keep them warm, it provides little help in freezing temperatures.
• If you absolutely cannot bring them inside, make sure they have a warm shelter, plenty of food and fresh water so it does not freeze.
• If your pet looks like it has any symptoms resembling frostbite or hypothermia, call your vet.

Pipes

• Turn off the sprinkler system shut-off valve. Most residential devices have two shut-off valves. These are typically covered in blue on the valve handles and located before and after the sprinkler system backflow device. A diagram is shown below.
• Release the water pressure from the bleeder valves. The bleeder valves are usually located under the top of the backflow device. If the water does not stop flowing you may have not shut the valves off completely.
• Leave the smaller bleeder valve open, this will let any remaining water in the line expand without breaking the device. Insulate your backflow device. Most hardware/home services stores carry backflow insulation supplies.
• Make sure to cover all your exposed pipes with a cover. You can also cover your pipes with towels, duct tape or another adhesive strip as long as they are wrapped tightly.
• You can also open up the cabinets to let warm air circulate throughout your home. Just make sure any harmful chemicals are out of reach for children and pets.

Plants

• When cold weather hits, it’s a good idea to bring in all of your outdoor plants.
• If you can’t bring in the plant, cover it with a blanket to make sure they do not die.

Other Tips

• Don’t forget to make sure your car is okay for the freezing temperatures. Check your anti-freeze and your batteries. Also make sure to check your tire pressure and the tread.
• Speaking of cars, make sure when you are on the road that you are mindful parts of the roads may be frozen, particularly bridges. Do not speed and never slam on the brakes.
• Make sure if you use a generator, it is outdoors. Do not use a generator inside, including in your garage.

Harris-Montgomery Counties MUD 386 (the District) lies within the boundaries of the North Harris County Regional Water Authority (NHCRWA) and the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA), and is billed by the regional water authorities for groundwater pumpage. The District passes this fee onto customers which is displayed on your water bill as “NHCRWA Fee” or “SJRA Fee”, depending on which county your home is located. For more information, visit https://www.nhcrwa.com/ or https://www.sjra.net/.

Further information can be viewed in the District’s Rate Order.

There is a Water Outage on Blairs Way at Creekside Forest due to a water main break. Repairs are in process. Please check back for updates.

No Boil Water Notice is in effect for Harris-Montgomery County MUD No. 386. Water is safe to drink. The District does not receive water from the North Harris County Regional Water Authority (NHCRWA) or the City of Houston.

This applies to both the Harris County (Creekside Forest) and Montgomery County (May Valley) portions of the district.

Check back here for updates and be sure to sign up for priority alerts.

No boil water notice has been issued for Harris Montgomery Counties Municipal Utility District No. 386 at this time. Check back here for updates and be sure to sign up for priority alerts.

In preparation for the upcoming Holidays the District would like your help to help us combat a shared enemy. FOG (Fats, Oils, & Grease) is the #1 cause of blockages in sewer system. When you experience a sewer backup in your home the most likely cause is FOG buildup which can become a costly mess.

Below is an example of what pouring fats, oils, or grease down the drain actually does. What we should do instead of going down the drain – COOK IT; CAN IT; OR TRASH IT!

If you do experience a sewer backup, or any other issue with your water or sewer utilities, please contact the Districts operator, Municipal District Services. You can reach them 24/7 at 281-290-6503 or visit them at www.mdswater.com

Tropical Storm Beta
September 20, 2020—2:00 p.m. by HMCMUD 386
The National Hurricane Center is projecting Tropical Storm Beta to affect our area beginning late today through Tuesday producing periods of heavy rainfall rates in a short period of time.

Based on these projections, we urge all residents to secure any loose items; bring garbage cans in off the street; clear any drains on or near your property of trash can lids, floating bags, grass clippings, limbs, and leaves; and move cars to higher ground in order to try and prevent storm drains from getting clogged and vehicles/property from being damaged.

For additional information and future updates, please visit the National Hurricane Center

For Hurricane Preparedness resources, please visit: www.mdswater.com/hurricane-preparedness

To sign up for text message priority alerts from Harris-Montgomery Counties MUD 386, click here.

No Boil Water Notices are in effect for Harris-Montgomery Counties MUD 386 (the District). The District does not receive water from the City of Houston and is not affected by the City of Houston’s water main break. Harris County MUD 387 provides water to the Harris County portion of the District from six (6) groundwater wells and the San Jacinto Water Authority (SJRA) provides water to the Montgomery County portion of the District. The water meets all Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) rules and regulations.

Residents in in the Harris-Montgomery Counties MUD 386 may have recently received a front-door notice titled, “COMMUNITY WATER TEST.” The notice is in a clear bag and includes a small bottle for testing tap water.

Please be informed that this notice is not affiliated with your Municipal Utility District. Water in the District is not tested this way locally.

If you have questions or concerns about your water quality, please contact your water operator, Municipal District Services, LLC, at (281) 290-6507.