Service Line Inventory Update: Ensuring Safe Drinking Water for UD 6 Customers

Harris County Utility District No. 6 (UD 6) issued letters to water customers regarding the ongoing service line inventory that is being required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and being administered by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) here in Texas. This service line inventory is a nation-wide requirement for all water systems.

The UD 6 distribution system consists of lines 4” and larger; these lines do not contain lead. Smaller service lines connect the distribution system to the customer and include portions owned by the district and the customer (downstream of the meter). Although local building codes (COH FAQ) used at the time of development banned the use of lead in services lines prior to a state-wide lead ban in June 1988, service lines installed prior to July 1, 1988 are assumed to be “Unknown” until they can be confirmed by record documents or inspection of the service lines.

UD 6 will continue to update the service line inventory until all “Unknown” service lines are confirmed to be non-lead. This effort is anticipated to be completed in the summer of 2025 although this is dependent on the total number of service lines that need to be inspected.

UD 6 conducts regular testing of the drinking water throughout the service area in accordance with TCEQ requirements and issues a Drinking Water Quality Report on a yearly basis (Water Quality Report).  This testing includes periodic sampling for the presence of lead. UD 6 has been and continues to be in compliance with TCEQ water quality standards.

As noted in the service line letter, if you believe your service line has been incorrectly categorized and have information to update the status, please contact us using the email provided in the notice (LCRR@inframark.com). The service line inventory will be updated on an ongoing basis as new information becomes available.

Additional links:

Harris County Utility District No. 6

Harris County U.D. No. 6 provides water and wastewater services.

Harris County Utility District No. 6 is designated a Superior Water District by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

Through HCUD No. 6’s website you can easily find links to the following services:

CUSTOMER FIRST NEWSLETTER – Understanding PFAS and the EPA’s New Regulations

WHAT ARE PFAS AND WHY ARE THEY A CONCERN?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals valued for their water- and stain-resistant properties. Often referred to as “forever chemicals,” PFAS are highly persistent in the environment, resisting degradation and accumulating in water sources, including drinking water.

Exposure to PFAS, even at low levels, is linked to significant health risks, including:

  • Thyroid disorders
  • Immune system suppression
  • Developmental issues
  • Increased risk of certain cancers

These chemicals typically enter drinking water through industrial discharges, firefighting foam, and landfill runoff, making them a growing public health concern.

EPA’S LANDMARK ACTION ON PFAS REGULATION

In April 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS compounds. This new regulation establishes Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for the following PFAS compounds:

ppt: parts per trillion, also expressed as nanograms per liter (ng/L)

MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level Goal. An MCLG is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety and are non-enforceable public health goals.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REGULATION

The regulation includes:

Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs): These are specific limits set for six PFAS compounds to ensure water safety.

Hazard Index (HI): A health risk assessment tool used to evaluate exposure to multiple PFAS chemicals. The HI sums up the fractions comparing each PFAS level in water to health-based water concentrations.

Mandatory Monitoring: Public water systems must:

  • Initial monitoring requirements must be completed by 2027.
  • Conduct ongoing compliance monitoring after initial assessments.

Corrective Actions: Water systems with PFAS levels exceeding MCLs have until 2029 to implement necessary measures to reduce contamination.

Public Notification: Community water systems must notify the public of any MCL violations within 30 days. Beginning in 2027, these systems are also required to include PFAS data in their annual Consumer Confidence Reports.

PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH THROUGH REGULATION

This regulatory milestone underscores the EPA’s commitment to safeguarding public health by reducing PFAS exposure. Advanced filtration technologies, such as activated carbon and reverse osmosis, are highly effective in mitigating PFAS contamination, aligning with the new standards.

LOOKING AHEAD

As governments and regulatory agencies establish stricter PFAS limits, it is crucial to stay informed about developments and take proactive steps to address these challenges. For public water systems and communities, the timeline provides an opportunity to implement advanced solutions, ensuring safer drinking water for all.

Upcoming Changes to Harris County UD 6 Water & Sewer Rates and Understanding the WHCRWA Fee

Harris County UD 6 will be increasing the billing rates for Water & Sewer rates. This will go into effect on the April 2024 water bill.

What is the West Harris County Regional Water Authority (WHCRWA) fee on my bill?

The State of Texas created the Harris Galveston Subsidence District (the “HGSD”) to provide for the regulation of groundwater withdrawal throughout Harris and Galveston counties for the purpose of preventing land subsidence, which leads to increased flooding. The HGSD requires water well owners to reduce the amount of water they pump out of the ground by certain percentages over time, because groundwater use is the primary cause of land subsidence.

The WHCRWA was created by the State of Texas as a regional approach to comply with the HGSD’s requirements for reducing groundwater use and provide for a long-term, adequate amount of alternative water supply, such as surface water from lakes and reservoirs. The HGSD requires the WHCRWA to convert 30% of the water usage within its boundaries to an alternative water supply by 2010, 60% by 2025, and 80% by 2035. If the WHCRWA fails to meet the requirements, water users within its boundaries will be charged a disincentive fee by the HGSD. That disincentive fee is currently $6.50 per 1,000 gallons and is periodically adjusted upwards as well.

The WHCRWA entered into a contract with the City of Houston (the “City”) to obtain a long-term source of treated surface water and is required to pay the City for its share of the transmission, operating, and maintenance costs related to the facilities that provide the water. The WHCRWA charges fees to water well owners within its boundaries to provide the funding needed to pay the contract costs and the costs for designing and constructing a network of transmission lines and storage, pumping, and other facilities required to deliver surface water purchased from the City to water well owners within the WHCRWA. The WHCRWA does not have the ability to tax residents, and all costs are paid from the fees charged to water well owners.

Harris County Utility District No. 6 (“HC UD 6”) is a water well owner located within the WHCRWA. HC UD 6 receives surface water supply from the WHCRWA through water lines and facilities that were built by the WHCRWA to deliver water purchased from the City to HC UD 6. In turn, HC UD 6 supplies its customers with the surface water received from the WHCRWA. The WHCRWA charges HC UD 6 a fee based on the number of gallons of water used. HC UD 6 charges its customers the WHCRWA fee based on the number of gallons of water used without any mark-up, and the fee is identified on HC UD 6’s bills as “WHCRWA.” The current WHCRWA fee is $2.85 per 1,000 gallons. For more information regarding the WHCRWA, please visit www.WHCRWA.com.

Following is information regarding the charges and fees included on HC UD 6’s utility bills per HC UD 6’s Amended Rate Order. A copy of the Amended Rate Order is included on HC UD 6’s website: http://www.harriscountyud6.org.

HC UD 6’s current water rates for Single-Family Residential Users:

 Amount of Payment  Water Usage
 $12.00 (minimum monthly charge)  First 5,000 gallons
 $1.50 per 1,000 gallons 5,001 to 10,000 gallons
$2.00 per 1,000 gallons All over 10,000 gallons
 $10.00 Conservation Charge  All over 15,000 gallons

Following is an example of how to calculate a utility bill based on current HC UD 6 water rates for a customer who used 30,000 gallons of water:

Water:  0 – 5,000 gallons $  12.00
5,000 gallons X 1.50/1,000 gallons $  7.50
20,000 gallons X $2.00/1,000 gallons $  40.00
Conservation Charge for more than 15,000 gallons $  10.00
Water Total $  69.50
WHCRWA Fee:   30,000 gallons X $4.79/1,000 gallons $ 143.70
Sewer Charge (Flat Fee) $  15.00
Voluntary Fee for security services $    2.00
Grand Total   $230.20

How do I calculate my utility bill?

Following is an example of how to calculate a utility bill based on current HCUD No. 6 water rates for a customer who used 30,000 gallons of water:

 Water: 0 – 5,000 gallons  $ 12.00
5,000 gallons X 1.50/1,000 gallons $  7.50
20,000 gallons X $2.00/1,000 gallons  $ 40.00
Conservation Charge for more than 15,000 gallons  $ 10.00
 Water Total  $ 69.50
 WHCRWA Fee: 30,000 gallons X $4.79/1,000 gallons
(+10% to cover the costs of treatment and water loss)		  $ 143.70
 Sewer Charge (Flat Fee)  $ 15.00
 Voluntary Fee for security services  $ 2.00
 Grand Total  $230.20

 

Welcome to Water U

WATER U is a virtual classroom that features FREE “courses” on critical water issues that affect utility districts and residents in WHCRWA. WATER U allows participants to dive into the topics that interest them the most

Click here to attend WATER U.

Sign Up for the District’s Alert System

The District has implemented a text alert system for the residents of Harris County Utility District No. 6. This system is designed to keep you informed of issues related to the District in a quick and timely manner. You may receive messages in text alert format related to the water service in the District, drainage and sewer related topics, and other news that is relevant to the District.

Text message notifications will contain a short amount of information with a link back to the District’s website where the remainder of the information can be viewed.

These notifications are a great way to stay up to date on news and issues within the District and we highly encourage you to sign up and share this information with your neighbors.

If you’d like to sign up to receive important news and updates from the district via text messages, you can send a text message to (720) 500-8276 with the word HCUD6 and you’ll be registered.