Maintenance of Cypress Creek Tributaries

The Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) project: Major Maintenance of Cypress Creek Tributaries has begun near Guernsey Drive and North Eldridge Parkway.

This is part of an ongoing project with multiple crews, all working on various channels simultaneously.

A more complete project description is available at:

https://www.hcfcd.org/Community/Press-Room?post=Major+Maintenance+of+Cypress+Creek+and+its+Tributaries+Construction+Advisory

Their estimated timeline can be found here:

https://www.hcfcd.org/Activity/Active-Projects/Cypress-Creek/CI-012-Major-Maintenance-of-Cypress-Creek-and-Tributaries

Winterize Your Home Before a Freeze

Before a freeze, the District wants to provide helpful instructions to protect your pipes if the weather predictions are for a Hard Freeze.

According to the National Weather Service, a Hard Freeze occurs when the temperature reaches 28 degrees, or lower, for at least a few hours.

There are a number of ways to protect the pipes in your home, but the graphics below give instructions on how to drain the internal plumbing, and how to winterize and drain your irrigation system.

Additional instructions to protect your pipes are:

  1. Unhook any outdoor water hoses attached to your faucets.
  2. Wrap outdoor pipes and faucets with foam, rags, or other insulating material. To keep the insulation in place, secure it with string, wire, or tape.
  3. Install insulation or covers over outside water faucets.
  4. Open cabinet doors under your sinks to provide warm air circulation.
  5. Circulate water in your home by allowing at least one sink to drip.
  6. Keep the temperature of your home above 55 degrees.

How to Avoid a Sewer Back-Up

The sewer collection system operates through an open gravity system, which means that the sewer pipes are installed with a slope or inclination towards the treatment plant or the lift stations.

There are no pumps to move the sewer wastewater from the houses to the treatment facilities.

What causes sewer back-ups?

Many factors can interrupt the normal sewer flow inside and outside the houses. The most common are items put into the sewer system other than water and human waste, such as:

Grease, baby wipes, rags, paper (other than toilet paper). These items cannot be broken down in the pipes and can build up enough overtime to stop the flow and create a back-up.

Grease is the most common and frequent cause found when clearing the obstructions. Grease must be disposed of in the trash, not in the sink.

Many homeowners believe that by pouring hot water down the drain for an extended time, the grease will dissolve, however this is untrue.

The hot water simply moves the grease a little further in the house lines and ultimately causes a build-up in the pipes.

Please avoid these costly repairs and potential health hazards by disposing all of these items in the trash.

 

Cleaning and Televising Inspection Project

In mid January of 2022, Faulkey Gully MUD will begin a five phase cleaning and televising inspection project of all sanitary sewer lines within the District. The goal of this project is to identify any deficiencies in the District’s sanitary sewer system, and later rehabilitate aging infrastructure as necessary. Sanitary sewer cleaning and televising is performed by water-jetting the main sanitary sewer pipes, and running a camera through to investigate the condition of the pipe.

Access to the pipes is gained via manholes, which are located in front or back yard easements. Each phase will take approximately 60-90 days to complete.

The Phase 1 Cleaning and Televising Contract was recently awarded to Aims Companies. The residents within the Phase 1 project area will receive door hangers from the Contractor between 3 and 14 days prior to work commencing within 200 feet of their property. This project should not disrupt normal water and sanitary sewer service.

Streets Scheduled for Phase I (PDF)

District Office Has Moved

THE DISTRICT OFFICE HAS MOVED TO:
15503-A HERMITAGE OAKS DRIVE, TOMBALL, TX
(entrance through Gettysburg Subdivision)

When Every Drop Counts

Have you hugged a Water Operator Today?

The modern plumbing system is considered one of the greatest innovations of the 19th century. In fact, plumbing dates back to the Greeks and Romans, but luckily has significantly evolved since the olden days.

It’s easy to take for granted how lucky we are to have access to fresh, clean water at the turn of a tap. It’s especially amazing considering that available fresh water only accounts for approximately 2% of all water resources.

It begs the questions, what would life be like without water? While the likelihood of this occurring is relatively low, there are many who struggle with water access in their daily lives. Therefore, we want to take a moment to appreciate all that water does for us.

The Value of Water

  • 40% of water in North America is used to produce food and beverages.
  • In your home
    • 17% ~ Showering
    • 27% ~ Toilet
    • 15% ~ Faucets
    • 22 % ~ Washer
    • 5% ~ Miscellaneous
    • 14% ~ Leaks!
  • Without fresh water, 1/5th of the US Economy would grind to a fast halt.
  • Every job created in the Water Sector helps to add another 3.68 jobs to our National Economy.
  • It takes approximately 12,500 gallons of water to make an ice rink (Hockey!).

Essential. Reliable. Invaluable. Water.

Did you know that the average North American uses 64,240 gallons of water a YEAR!

In reviewing this list, it is a stark reminder of how important it is to protect and preserve our greatest resource. Making those extra efforts ensure that clean, fresh water will be available for generations to come!

What is your Value of Water?

Article Sources

https://imagineadaywithoutwater.org

https://www.awwa.org/AWWA-Articles/imagine-a-day-without-water-a-valuable-reminder

http://thevalueofwater.org/the-facts/waters-value

Want to Learn More?

The Value of Water 

World Water Day 2021

US Water Alliance

Other Resources

http://beta.thevalueofwater.org/the-facts/waters-value

https://register.gotowebinar.com/recording/7998807868742729230

http://uswateralliance.org/sites/uswateralliance.org/files/2021%20Value%20of%20Water%20Survey%20Analysis%20Slides.pdf

WaterSense

AWWA

NRWA

Water.org

DrinkTap.Org

The Value Of Water.org

For Kids

Water Day Lessons for Teachers