Effective Monday evening, July 18, 2011, the City of Hudson Oaks is moving into Stage 2 (Severe) of its Water Conservation Plan.  Unusually high demand, coupled with extremely high fire danger has created the need for the immediate reduction of outdoor water use.

Beginning on July 18, outdoor watering with an irrigation (sprinkler) system or a hose-end sprinkler will be limited to the following:

• Properties with EVEN-numbered addresses may only irrigate on MONDAY and THURSDAY.
• Properties with ODD-numbered addresses may only irrigate on TUESDAY and FRIDAY.
• ABSOLUTELY NO outdoor water use will be permitted at any time of day on WEDNESDAY, SATURDAY, OR SUNDAY.
• ABSOLUTELY NO outdoor water use will be permitted between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on ANY day, because that's when evaporation rates are the highest.

Failure to comply with these restrictions will result in disconnection of water service and the imposition of an $80 reconnection fee.

The October 9-November 8 water usage cycle marked the first time Dyegard and Deer Creek water customers were billed through the City of Hudson Oaks. The City also experienced problems with mail delivery of the bills for ALL water/wastewater utility customers. Here are responses to some of the Frequently Asked questions the City has received.

Q: Why didn’t I receive my bill until after December 1 if it is due on December 10?

A: The third-party vendor the City used got the bills out later than normal, in part because of the Thanksgiving holiday. (The City normally sends bills out on the 25th of each month.) Because of this mailing error, the City plans to extend the payment deadline by a week. Late bills will not be run until after 5 p.m. on December 18. This same extension will apply to ALL City of Hudson Oaks water customers, as well as Dyegard and Deer Creek customers.

Q: Why do the bills for Dyegard and Deer Creek residents have charges for more than 30 days of usage?

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.

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.

On April 22, 2010, the Hudson Oaks City Council adopted a new rate structure for the City's water system. The new rate structure is based on the results of a scientific rate study conducted by a third-party engineering firm specializing in such analysis.

Utility bills mailed to Hudson Oaks Water System customers on April 23 contained a letter from City Administrator Sheri Campbell-Husband explaining the new rate structure and listing the new rates themselves. A copy of that letter is available in the PDF file linked below.

The new rates go into effect with the May 2010 billing cycle, which means they will apply to all water consumption after April 8. Any water customers with questions about the new rates are encouraged to call Hudson Oaks City Hall at 682-229-2400.

The utility bills sent to water customers in November included a letter from Hudson Oaks Mayor Pat Deen. The letter provided an update on issues related to the City's water system, including information about recent media coverage and the ongoing water/wastewater rate study.

A copy of the mayor's letter is available below.