Water Plant shutdown
On Tuesday, May 23rd, the District experienced a water plant shutdown due to a Centerpoint power failure. Normally, when there is a power outage, the water plant’s backup generator automatically kicks on to keep the water plant operating until such time as Centerpoint restores power to the area. Unfortunately, the generator failed to start due to two error codes that the District’s remote monitoring company failed to understand and did not dispatch their field tech to resolve. The good news was the District’s Operator, H2o Innovation, was aware the water plant had shut down and quickly dispatched a tech who opened the interconnect to the BILMA (Spring Creek Oaks) water plant to receive water until power to the plant was restored. No service interruption is acceptable but the District was without water for only a short period of time late in the evening before service was restored. MUD Board members recently met with H2o Innovation personnel to put new safeguards in place to ensure a generator failure of this type does not happen again.
A number of residents posted on Nextdoor asking why TNW didn’t have water. None of those responding knew the correct reason for the water outage. Your first call regarding TNW water/sewer operations, including no water, should be to H2o Innovation, the District’s Operator’s call center. The phone numbers are listed on your monthly water/sewer bill and on the District’s website
NW Harris County Regional Water Authority News
Be aware the NHCRWA is considering changes that will increase their fee on your monthly water/sewer bill. The District, and many other MUDs in our area, are closely watching this development and have expressed opposition to the new proposed fee structure. We’ll keep you advised when any change goes into effect. To learn more, you can monitor the RWA’s website (click here), attend, or Zoom into their monthly board meetings held the 1st Monday of every month starting 6pm at the Authority’s office. The agenda is posted on their website.
Reclaim Irrigation News
The District’s reclaim irrigation system and remote monitoring continues to perform beyond expectations. For the month of May, the system saved the POA $1,760.90 and the MUD $2,932.62.
How does the system save the POA and MUD money? Pretty simple, reclaim irrigation water is exempt from the monthly RWA fee, that accounts for the majority of the savings. To encourage reclaim water use for irrigation, the RWA also gives our District a 1/2 RWA fee credit for the gallons used each month, that accounts for the remainder of the monthly savings. The District tracks our usage every month and calculates the savings to ensure we’re receiving the savings we’re entitled to. The District is achieving the expected return on investment.
As previously reported, The Palms Office Condos has been converted to reclaim water for irrigation. The District sells water for irrigation to the Olde Oaks HOA for the TCJ median south of Cypresswood to the bridge over Cypress Creek. That section will be converted to reclaim water for irrigation in June. Converting these two accounts to reclaim saves them and the District money, and helps the RWA achieve Harris Galveston Subsidence District mandated treated water use reductions.
Questions regarding the District’s reclaim water for irrigation program? Read the “Reclaimed Water” section on the District’s website or send an email to TNW.mud@gmail.com. You will always receive a prompt, honest, and accurate reply.
Park News, Greenspaces, & Reclaim Irrigation Update
Walking the TNW parks and greenspaces is a pleasant, relaxing experience but, did you know it also affords you the opportunity to eat some tasty treats along the way? In the park you can find several Boysenberry trees, a small grove of Pecan trees that produce pecans in the fall if you can beat the squirrels to them, several Peach tree saplings are coming along but won’t produce fruit for several years yet. Close to the park trail near the flag pole you’ll find three Texas variety Fig trees planted this year and already producing fruit that should be ready to pick in the couple months. Plans call for adding a Texas variety Olive tree, our climate is well suited for Olive trees. Last, but not least, thanks to good advice from Mike Atkinson, owner of Atkinson Farms, located on Spring Cypress Rd, Spring, TX, the Blackberry rows in the Terravista detention pond are being replanted and hopefully, will thrive and produce berries for the picking every year for years to come.
Is there something you’d like to see planted in the park or greenspaces? Send your idea by email to TNW.mud@gmail.com and we’ll consider it. It is your park and greenspaces!
June MUD Board Meeting
This month’s meeting has been moved from Thursday June 18th to Tuesday June 23rd.
Monthly Board Meetings
As a Board, we encourage you to attend our monthly meetings to learn what is happening in the District. As a resident, your input is always the first item on the agenda.
Regular monthly meetings are held on the third Thursday of every month, at the clubhouse (unless otherwise stated) and start promptly at 6pm. Agendas are posted on the District website no later than 3 days prior to the meeting.
Are you taking advantage of these FREE resources?
1. “Eye On Water”
“Eye on Water” is a very accurate, FREE and easy to use leak alert system. A high water bill (due to a leak) can be prevented by using this app on your smartphone. It is simple, reliable and notifies you when a leak is detected. Timely leak notifications will be sent via text or email. Eye on Water is a quick way to be alerted that you have a leak.
For an informational video showing the ease of setting up an account and viewing your water consumption data, use this link.
For more information on understanding your water bill, available tools for tracking your usage, and helpful water conversation tips, click here.
2. The District’s Emergency Broadcast Messaging System
In the event of an emergency, the Board wants to keep our residents informed as quickly as possible. The District will broadcast messages to communicate critical events affecting the District’s water/sewer operation to residents in real time. The system is also used to communicate periodic routine updates and information to residents.
It is easy to sign up – just go to our district website, (click here) and fill out the alert message window that appears OR click the “Sign Up for Email Alerts” link in the top right hand corner of the homepage.
Another option is to add, alerts@tnwmud.org and +1 (682) 356-5083 to your email and mobile phone contact lists.
The District does not post on social media!
District Website
The District’s website is a great source of information for everything happening in the District. Check out the District’s website by clicking here. If you don’t find what you are looking for online or have questions about anything in this article, please email the District at tnw.mud@gmail.com. You will always receive a prompt, accurate, and honest reply!
Your Terranova West Board of Directors
Tom Lovell, President, Park/Greenspaces Oversight current term ends 5/2027
Rob Sorensen, Vice President, Water Plant/GenSet Oversight, current term ends 5/2027
Shyanne Meekins, Treasurer/Assistant Secretary, current term ends 5/2029
Nannette Burrage, Secretary, Web Oversight, current term ends 5/2029
George Hatfield, At Large, current term ends 5/2027
