Clovercreek Municipal Utility District

Tomorrow, March 13th, the contractor will resume 24-hour operations starting in the evening. Test pumping is expected to be completed by evening of Saturday, March 16th .

Work continues on Clovercreek MUD’s new water well at the southeast corner of the intersection of Cloverleaf Drive and Forest Hill Drive. The contractor is currently ahead of schedule, and the well is expected to be completed by August 2024, instead of October.

The big drilling rig has been moved out and, with that, most of the 24-hour operations have been completed. A smaller well development rig has taken its place.

Well development is currently underway. Those activities will take place between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM.

The next, and last, 24-hour operation is scheduled for a 4-day period in the middle of March. The current schedule is for 3/13/2024 to 3/17/2024, but the exact date depends on how quickly well development goes.

After that, work will return to standard 7 AM-to-7 PM operations. The sound walls will remain up throughout the project.

TNG Utility Corp. Would like to advise residents of potential winter weather and cold conditions coming Saturday evening (1/13) and continuing to Tuesday morning (1/16) as the forecasted cold front moves into our area. While meteorologists are still uncertain regarding how cold it will get, there is the potential for a hard freeze in all non-costal locations.

WHAT IS A HARD FREEZE?

A hard freeze is a temperature under 30° for over eight hours. When water freezes, it expands. When the freeze ends, the result can be broken pipes, no water, a big repair bill and the cost for the lost water. Those are not the only expenses and source of aggravation. You may also have to replace carpet, flooring, sheetrock, furniture, and other possessions. Those are the immediate issues, but there can be latent damage as well. With galvanized pipe, the pipe may not burst, but expansion can occur separating the galvanizing from the pipe and creating an area for corrosion to start and ultimately create leaks.

Below are some basic tips as well as pictures and instructions for irrigation backflow preventors; additionally, residents are always encouraged to consult with an irrigation specialist or plumber.

The irrigation shut off valves and backflow device are one of the common issues that most residents deal with during an extended freeze.

1. Turn off the 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 back flow device.
2. Release the water pressure, with a screwdriver release the water 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.
3. Leave the smaller bleeder valve open, this will let the any remaining water in the line expand without breaking the device.
4. Insulate your backflow device. Most hardware / home services stores carry backflow insulating supplies.

Attached are pictures of the actual device and insulation covers for backflow devices and faucets.

As stated above, with temperatures expected to drop below freezing, it is a good time to refresh on the four P’s: People, Pets, Pipes, and 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.
• 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

• All garden hoses should be disconnected from outside spigots.
• 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.
• Let your faucets drip throughout the day to keep them from freezing.
• You should 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.

Clovercreek MUD is in the process of constructing a 250 gallon per minute Water Well at the South-East corner of the intersection of Cloverleaf Drive and Forest Hill Drive. Construction is expected to be completed by October of 2024.

Please note that some well development tasks require 24-hour tests. For that reason, we are planning on installing a sound wall around the perimeter of the site which will reduce the noise generated from such activities.

Currently the contractor is collecting water samples from the test hole. Water sampling is expected to be completed by the Friday before Christmas, 12/22/23. After that, the contractor will move off site for a month while we wait for lab results. Water well construction operations are expected to resume on 1/23/24.

By then, we will have a sound wall installed around the perimeter of the site. Please note that construction activities that do NOT require 24-hour testing are restricted to Monday thru Saturday, 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. We will provide another construction schedule update by end of January 2024.

Dear Residents of Clovercreek MUD,

We are pleased to announce a significant update regarding our community’s water usage and conservation efforts. Due to collective efforts and improved conditions, Clovercreek Municipal Utility District is moving from Stage 2 Mandatory Drought Restrictions back to Stage 1, where water conservation measures are now voluntary, effective immediately.

Here’s what this means for you:

• Irrigation Schedule: While we still encourage residents to follow the previously established watering schedules for maintaining landscapes, adherence is now voluntary. Even-numbered addresses are encouraged to water on Tuesdays and Fridays, and odd-numbered addresses on Mondays and Thursdays. This schedule helps ensure the sustainability of our water resources.
• Water Use: The limitations on non-essential water use, including washing vehicles, refilling pools, and operating decorative fountains, are no longer mandatory. However, we urge residents to continue practicing mindful water consumption.
• Leaks and Repairs: We advise all residents to continue monitoring for and promptly repairing any water leaks within their properties. A community effort in reducing water loss has a significant impact.
• Conservation: Voluntary restrictions are not enforceable penalties, but we count on the community spirit and the commitment of our residents to preserve water. Every drop counts!

The downgrade from Stage 2 to Stage 1 is a positive step, reflecting both the improved water availability and the effective conservation efforts by our community members during the period of mandatory restrictions. However, we must continue to be vigilant and responsible in our water usage to ensure the sustainability of our resources, especially as we navigate through fluctuating environmental conditions.

We extend our deepest gratitude to each resident for your cooperation and dedication to water conservation during the mandatory restrictions. Your efforts have played an integral part in this positive development. Let’s continue to work together in maintaining responsible water usage practices, ensuring Clovercreek MUD remains a sustainable and thriving community.

Thank you for your ongoing cooperation and support.

The CLOVERCREEK MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2023 on September 14, 2023 at 6:30 pm. The meeting will be held at 422 Melton Street, Magnolia, Texas 77354. 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)

Clovercreek MUD is initiating stage one of the drought contingency plan. Voluntary restrictions are outlined below:

A. Stage 1 – Mild Water Shortage Conditions

1. Supply Management Measures: The District’s Operator shall undertake any actions to achieve an 8% in reduction in daily water demand to reduce the well motor run time from 18-hours to 16-hours or less.
2. Voluntary Water Use Restrictions Applicable to Retail Water Customers: Retail Water Customers with an Even Numbered Address and those responsible for watering common areas such as esplanades and sports fields, are requested to voluntarily limit the irrigation of landscaped and other areas to Tuesday and Friday, and Odd Numbered Addresses to voluntarily limit irrigation to Monday and Thursday, and to irrigate said areas only between the hours of 8:00 p.m. on the designated watering day(s) and 6:00 a.m. on the following day(s). Retail Water Customers are requested to practice water conservation and to minimize or discontinue Non-essential Water Uses.

Update: Water pressure should be now be restored to all residential customers. The District’s Operator, TNG, is continuing to closely monitor this situation. 

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A water main on Nichols Sawmill in Clovercreek MUD has been damaged by a contractor.

The District’s Operator, TNG, is aware of the situation and is working to maintain the water plant and repair the water main. For further information you may reach out to the TNG customer service line at 281-350-0895.

Clovercreek Municipal Utility District of Montgomery County is a participant of the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA), which is a legislatively created conservation and reclamation district charged with regulating the water resources of the San Jacinto River Basin. SJRA developed the Groundwater Reduction Plan (GRP) in response to rules required by the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District to reduce groundwater withdrawals.

This District is a participant of the SJRA’s GRP and are subject to its fees. SJRA Fees included in your water bill are assessed to pay for the facilities required for conversion.

Please note the SJRA fee is a pass-through fee, and the District nor its Directors have the ability to reduce, subsidize, or eliminate it from resident bills. For more information on the SJRA, its mission and goals, or to contact them directly, please visit their website at https://www.sjra.net.