Message from I-Pei Hsiu Hodge, SRE-WSC President
Fri. June 30, 2009; 12:36:09 PM CDT

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Construction activities at your water well site have quieted, as we have completed all of the planned well rehabilitation work: well cleaning, installing the inflatable well packer, installing and testing a propane-powered emergency generator, and replacing the fencing. Activities needed to keep our water supply safe, reliable, and sustainable never completely cease, however, and your volunteer Board works diligently to ensure what is often taken for granted: economical, fresh water from our taps.

Thank you for your part in making the upgrades to our water system possible. Your support and cooperation during the planning and construction phases were essential to the success of our well rehabilitation project. Both the quality of water and reliability of our system during power outages have been markedly improved. If you haven’t yet already, I urge you to take advantage of the cost savings in the amount of salt needed for softener regeneration by adjusting your water softener settings to reflect a total dissolved solids concentration of 25 grains per gallon (down from approximately 90 grains per gallon).

It is no secret that we are in a state of drought. As the temperatures continue to soar to record levels and the prospects for significant rainfall this season dwindles, the Board has determined that the current situation warrants a drought response level of Stage 2 for our water supply. The Stage 2 level requires that we achieve a 15 percent reduction in total water usage, and doubles the usage charge per thousand gallons for consumption in excess of 10,000 gallons per month. Thus, charges for users of 1 through 10,000 gallons per month remain the same, but will increase from $2.00 to $4.00 and from $4.00 to $8.00 per thousand gallons for consumption in excess of 10,000 gallons and 20,000 gallons, respectively.

The Stage 2 drought response level enacts the following water use restrictions for all customers:

1. Irrigation of landscaped areas with hose-end sprinklers or automatic irrigation systems shall be limited to Sundays and Thursdays for customers with a street address or post office box number ending in an even number, and Saturdays and Wednesdays for water customers with an address ending in an odd number. All irrigation of landscaped areas is limited to the hours between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., and between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. on designated watering days. However, irrigation of landscaped areas is permitted at anytime if it is by means of a hand-held hose, a faucet-filled bucket or watering can of 5 gallons or less, or drip irrigation system.
2. Use of water to wash any motor vehicle, motorbike, boat, trailer or other vehicle is prohibited except on designated water days between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., and between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Such washing, when allowed, shall be done with a hand-held bucket or hand-held hose equipped with a positive shutoff.
3. Use of water to fill, refill, or add to any indoor or outdoor swimming pools, wading pools, or Jacuzzi-type pools is prohibited except on designated watering days between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., and between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.
4. Operation of any ornamental fountain or pond for aesthetic or scenic purposes is prohibited except where necessary to support aquatic life or where such fountains or ponds are equipped with a recirculation system.
5. Use of water from hydrants shall be limited to fire fighting, or other related activities necessary to maintain public health, safety, and welfare.
6. The following uses of water are defined as non-essential and are prohibited:
   1. Wash down of any sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts, or other hard-surfaced areas
   2. Wash down of buildings or structures for purposes other than immediate fire protection
   3. Water for dust control
   4. Permitting water to run or accumulate in any ditch or street
   5. Failing to repair a controllable leak(s) within a reasonable period after having been given notice directing the repair of such leaks(s)

These mandatory conservation measures and the Stage 2 tariff are in effect for the July billing cycle.

Enforcing our drought conservation measures is one of several activities required of our WSC by various regulatory entities. Another requirement of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is issuing the 2008 Consumer Confidence Report, enclosed in your June bill statements.

If you have any questions about our conservation efforts or the 2008 Consumer Confidence Report, wish to learn more about your water supply or volunteer your services to our WSC (mechanically-minded and book-keeping brained folks always welcome), please feel free to contact me at (512) 847-9045 or ipeihodge@gmail.com.

Best regards,

I-Pei Hsiu Hodge
President, Skyline Ranch Estates Water Supply Corporation