Author: HCMUD 341

Due to continued below freezing weather and hazardous road conditions, garbage service will resume on the regular schedule this Thursday. Recycling will resume next Monday. Thank you.

Cold weather is in the forecast for the District. With temperatures expected to potentially drop into the 20’s, it is a good time to refresh on the four P’s:

• 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.
• If you aren’t going to be in your home, you could consider letting your faucets drip throughout the day to keep them from freezing.
• 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.

HCMUD 341 will conduct the annual chlorine flush of the water system. This process will begin on November 2, 2020 and conclude on November 7, 2020. The purpose is to circulate water throughout the district water system using Chlorine, including dead end sections that would not get circulation otherwise. This process may cause your water to be off colored and smell of a higher concentrate of chlorine. HCMUD 341 receives surface water and this process ensures that your system is cleaned from any settled nitrates coming from the surface water received into the district. Please note that the water is safe to drink. We do recommend caution washing clothing that might be impacted by off colored water or a higher concentration of chlorine during this period.

Again, please note that TNG, MUD 341’s operator, will begin the Free-burn process on November 2, 2020. During this time, you will see TNG personnel flushing the system using the fire hydrants and blow off valves located throughout your neighborhood. TNG has experience in this process and utilizes this maintenance in many districts that receive surface water. We understand the inconvenience this causes but feel this is a prudent process to continue to provide high quality water in your homes. We appreciate your patience during this process. If at any time during the free burn process you are still experiencing water issues, please feel free to contact TNG Utility at 281-350-0895.