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.

The board of directors of Northwest Park Municipal Utility District (the “District”) has implemented a cooperative effort to support the renewal and development of recreational facilities serving residents of the District. The District has appropriated $15,000 for each homeowner’s association (“HOA”) located within the District which may be utilized for any of the following HOA approved projects:

• Parks
• Landscaping
• Parkways
• Greenbelts
• Sidewalks
• Trails
• Public right-of-way beautification projects
• Recreational equipment and facilities

Interested HOAs may submit a description of their proposed project by email to District board member Sherri Whitlow-Lee, or contact her for additional information:

soawie19@gmail.com
Home: (281) 272-1954
Cell: (281) 732-4868

Drip, Drip, Drip…Let’s Talk Leaks!

Guess what! National Fix A Leak Week is March 14-20th and we want to be sure you have the best resources to keep you informed of the little problems caused by water leaks. Awareness of what to look for and knowledge of how to fix any leak issues can go a long way in prevention and saving money. Leaks can run, but they can’t hide!



Did you know that simple faucet leaks amount to approximately 1 trillion gallons of water wasted each year? That’s huge! And so easily preventable! Not to mention, leaks are costly. Taking time each year to perform a preventative check, can help keep your check book in order.
When you are on the hunt for possible leaks, it is important to start with the data… Begin with your water bill, check your meter, and test your toilets. These will give you some clue as to the prevalence of a water leak in your home.

The EPA recommends the following checklist for tracking down a leak! Here are some of the best-known hiding places to start. Keep your ears open!

• Bathroom

  • Toilets
  • Faucets
  • Showerheads
  • Under the sink
  • Don’t forget the tub!

• Laundry Room

  • Check all of your hook-ups!
  • Look for pooling in the washer itself (it could indicate a source leak)

• Kitchen

  • Check all appliances, such as the dishwasher and fridge. Many times, there are leaks behind them.

• Basement and Garage

  • Sinks
  • Exposed pipes
  • Water Heaters

• Outside

  • Spigots
  • Irrigation controls and sprinkler heads

The District is aware of the City of Houston’s boil water notice issued on February 17, 2021. The District is NOT affected by this boil water notice and there is no need for District residents to boil water prior to use. The District’s facilities are currently operating normally during these challenging weather conditions and backup facilities are available should the need arise.

Residents are encouraged to refer to the District’s website for updates.

Northwest Park Municipal Utility District continually undertakes projects to improve and maintain the water supply and wastewater collection facilities in the district. See current and future projects below:

Current Projects

• Northwest Park, Sections Six & Seven Sanitary Sewer Cleansing & Televising
  Description: The Sanitary Sewer Collection system within Northwest Park, Sections Six & Seven are being scheduled for a cleansing and televising. Video footage will show if there is are significant repairs needed due to the age of the pipe, including protruding roots, debris and grease deposits that block a portion of the flow, decreasing the capacity within the line.
  Status: Project is under design
  Start Date: November 2020
  Completion Date: February 2021
• Water Plant No. 5
  Description: The District is actively looking for a site to construct Water Plant No. 5. This plant will consist of a water well, ground storage tank, hydropneumatic tanks, booster pumps and a control building.
  Status: In discussion with various land owners
  Start Date: Unknown
  Completion Date: Unknown

Future Projects

• Northwest Park, Sections Six & Seven Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation
  Description: The Sanitary Sewer Collection system within Northwest Park, Sections Six & Seven are being scheduled for a cleansing and televising. Video footage will show if there is are significant repairs needed due to the age of the pipe, including protruding roots, debris and grease deposits that block a portion of the flow, decreasing the capacity within the line.
  Once the line televising is complete, the rehabilitation will proceed.
  Status: Awaiting completion of televising
  Start Date: Mid 2021
  Completion Date: Late 2021

Completed Projects

• Marketplace @ 249
  Description: A 34-acre commercial development has been completed for multiple commercial properties. Developments are anticipated to include grocery stores, fast food restaurants, banks, and retail centers. Utility and drainage construction has been completed.
  Commercial developments are actively looking at the site for development.
  Status: Complete
• Fallbrook Drive Lighting
  Description: The District worked with Harris County and Centerpoint Energy to provide street lighting along Fallbrook Drive.
  Status: Complete

Northwest Park MUD has employed a special Team of Harris County Law Enforcement Officers to assist each community within our District with additional Security Patrol. This is a special team of undercover Officers that work part time hours and they drive their personal automobiles; each officer is fully uniformed & armed and able to blend in as a regular homeowner that allows them to be undetected by the bad guys. Community Leaders that reside in the District are urged to contact Michael Broussard (mbrou23@sbcglobal.net) for detailed information on how to coordinate this elite Patrol Team to piggy-back your current Crime Prevention activity in your Community.

Northwest Park Municipal Utility District continually undertakes projects to improve and maintain the water supply and wastewater collection facilities in the district. The link below provides a list of current projects in progress and recently completed projects:

New Well at Deer Ridge Water Plant

Antoine Water Plant Natural Gas Generator