Effective immediately the City of Hudson Oaks is rescinding all water restrictions for residential and commercial customers. The City still encourages customers to conserve water, but there are no longer any restrictions in place for irrigation, washing cars, filling pools or any other type of water usage.

The City of Hudson Oaks wishes to thank its water customers for their continued patience and cooperation during the recent water emergency.

Residents, business operators and water customers are encouraged to register with the City’s Blackboard Connect phone notification system so they can be notified directly when emergencies occur. A link to the self-registration portal is on the city’s website at www.hudsonoaks.com.

City news and information is also available on the city’s website and facebook page.

If you have any questions please contact City Hall at 682-229-2400.

Next month, the Hudson Oaks City Council will hold a public hearing and take action regarding adoption of the FY 2010-11 Annual Budget (Program of Services). As city administrator, it is my responsibility to develop the budget proposal that the City Council will consider. That budget proposal is being made available in the City Secretary’s Office and on the City’s website, in compliance with state law, so that both the City Council members and the citizens they represent may review it and be aware of its contents before the related public hearing scheduled for September 23, 2010. Questions regarding the budget proposal are welcome and may be answered by a member of the administrative staff during regular business hours at City Hall.

The City of Hudson Oaks has released the following update to their stage 3 water restrictions.

Effective immediately, residential customers with addresses ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 may water trees, shrubs, and lawns with irrigation systems:
*From 8 p.m. Friday evening to 6 a.m. Saturday morning, and
*From 8 p.m. Tuesday evening to 6 a.m. Wednesday morning

Residential customers with addresses ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 may water trees, shrubs, and lawns with irrigation systems:
*From 8 p.m. Sunday evening to 6 a.m. Monday morning, and
*From 8 p.m. Thursday evening to 6 a.m. Friday morning

Commercial water customers may water trees, shrubs, and lawns with irrigation systems:
*From 8 p.m. Wednesday evening to 6 a.m. Thursday morning, and
*From 8 p.m. Saturday evening to 6 a.m. Sunday morning

Hand watering trees, shrubs, and foundations is permitted for all customers beginning at 8 p.m. every day, but must be concluded by 6 a.m. the following morning.

The problem of impaired-driving is a serious one. While America witnessed a decline in the number of impaired-driving fatalities from 2007-2008, the numbers are still too high. That’s why the Hudson Oaks Police Department has announced it will join other law enforcement agencies throughout the country in support of an intensive crackdown on impaired driving this August 20–September 6, known by its tagline, 'Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest.'

The City of Hudson Oaks, Texas Facebook page is open for viewing by anyone who has access to the internet. You do not have to have a Facebook profile to view the wall posts and responses to those posts, the discussion thread, or the pictures. Just visit www.facebook.com. However, if you want to respond to a wall post, discussion thread, or comment on a picture, you must have a Facebook profile to do so.

The City posts to its Facebook page regularly, using it to update visitors on everything from community events to emergency situations. If you would like to receive SMS texts of the City's posts, simply sign in to Facebook, visit the City of Hudson Oaks, Texas page and click on the option for SMS updates located immediately under the City logo.

If you don't want to set up a Facebook profile, but want to respond to a post on the City's Facebook page, please feel free to e-mail your responses or questions to sheri.campbell@hudsonoaks.com. Please make reference to the wall post or discussion thread to which you are responding.

Effective Wednesday, August 11, 2010, Hudson Oaks commercial water customers may water trees, shrubs, and lawns with irrigation systems on Wednesday and Saturday between 8 p.m. and midnight. This does not lift the restrictions on any other non-essential outdoor water use, such as car washing. It only affects outdoor irrigation.

Residential households must continue to follow the watering schedule issued last Friday:
*Homes with addresses ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 may water with irrigation systems on Friday and Tuesday from 8 p.m. to midnight.
*Homes with addresses ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 may water with irrigation systems on Sunday and Thursday from 8 p.m. to midnight.
All other non-essential outdoor water use such as washing cars and filling pools is prohibited.

If a customer violates these restrictions, service will be disconnected. The customer must then contact the City to re-establish service. If a water customer violates these provisions a second time, or anytime thereafter, the City will assess a reconnection fee.

Effective immediately, Residential households with addresses ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 may water trees, shrubs, and lawns with irrigation systems on Friday and Tuesday from 8 p.m. to midnight.

Residential Households with addresses ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 may water trees, shrubs, and lawns with irrigation systems on Sunday and Thursday from 8p.m. to midnight.

All other non-essential outdoor water use such as washing cars and filling pools is prohibited.  If a customer violates these restrictions, service will be disconnected.  The customer must then contact the City to re-establish service.   If a water customer violates these provisions a second time, or anytime thereafter, the City will assess a reconnection fee. Questions regarding this matter should be directed to City Hall at 682-229-2400 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Calling that number after business hours will also provide customers with an on-call number for service reconnection.

Thanks to Hudson Oaks water customers’ compliance with stage 3 restrictions, the City's water system has stabilized without having to use surface water from Weatherford. All customers can rest assured that Hudson Oaks water is safe to use for all domestic purposes, including consumption, without boiling the water.

The use of lawn irrigation systems is still prohibited, as is all other non-essential outdoor water use. However, beginning this evening, water customers may hand water foundations, trees, shrubs, and new plantings between 7 and 11 p.m.

City water crews will shut off water service if a customer is using an irrigation system, or if a customer is hand watering during hours other than 7-11 p.m. If water service is disconnected, the customer may contact the City and have the service reconnected. Questions regarding this matter should be directed to City Hall at 682-229-2400 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Calling that number after business hours will also provide customers with an on-call number for service reconnection.

Due to a water main break at the Weatherford Lake Treatment Facility, the City of Hudson Oaks is declaring a water emergency and immediately moving to Stage 3 water restrictions. Effective immediately, there will be:
1. No irrigation or landscape watering
2. No watering/washing of paved areas, buildings or windows by hose
3. No operation of ornamental fountains
4. No washing or rinsing of vehicles by hose
5. No use of water in such a manner as to allow runoff or other waste.

It is not yet clear how long this emergency situation will last, but it may be several days. Therefore, these restrictions will remain in place until further notice.

If the irrigation system at a home or business is set to run today, and the owner is not on site to turn it off, the water meter will be shut off by city staff to conserve water. However, staff will be available to re-establish water service, without charge, when the owners return.

The 2009 Water Quality Report was distributed to all water customers with the June 2010 billing. This annual publication provides information about the quality of the City's water in the prior year. This year's report was distributed in a new format, which the City hopes will make the report more visually appealing and easier to read.

You're invited to see a copy of the report by following the link below. If you have questions about the City's water system, call 682-229-2400.