Author: PFUD

Announcement: Trash Service Fees Now Included In Water Bill

After thorough evaluations, the Prestonwood Forest Utility District (PFUD) has agreed to assume the cost of trash services for single-family residences from the Prestonwood Forest Maintenance Association (HOA). As a result, the cost of trash services will be included in the cost of water & sewer services beginning On October 1, 2024. The water bill for single-family residences will increase by $20 per month.

A number of years ago the PFUD assumed the costs for electric services in the neighborhood because of constraints within the HOA budget. Now with the escalating cost of various services and the fact that the HOA can only increase its budget by the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI), the HOA is unable to provide trash services within the constraints of the annual budget.

The HOA simply does not have sufficient funds from the annual assessment to provide all the previous services to our neighborhood.

Prestonwood Forest UD’s Upgraded Utility Billing System is Live! Re-register to Access and Pay Online

Great news! Prestonwood Forest UD’s transition to the new enhanced utility billing software is complete and the customer portal is available for enrollment. To pay online please re-register your account on the customer portal at https://wdmtexas.starnik.net/RP_Default.aspx ; this includes all auto draft customers. You must manually make your first payment.

All fees remain the same: There will be a $1.00 processing fee for all echeck payments, including auto drafts or 3.99% processing fee for all credit/debit card payments. These fees are not charged or collected by Water District Management or your District.

Elevating Your Utility Experience: Introducing Our Upgraded Water and Sewer Billing System!

We’re super excited to announce our transition to an enhanced water and sewer utility billing software!

Over the next few months, we will provide updates on this transition. Watch for an insert inside your monthly water/sewer bill that will include your district’s transition date.

To help make the transition easy for you, we will send you an email that contains a button that links directly to your new account number.

If you have any questions or need assistance, call us at (281) 376-8802 or email customerservice@wdmtexas.com.

Notice to Customer Regarding Extreme Weather Emergency

The Public Utility Commission’s rule in Title 16, Chapter 24 Texas Admin. Code § 24.173(d) prohibits your water and sewer provider, Prestonwood Forest Utility District, from imposing a late fee or from disconnecting your retail water or sewer service for nonpayment of bills that are due during an extreme weather emergency until after the emergency is over.

An extreme weather emergency is defined as a period beginning when the previous day’s highest temperature in your area did not exceed 28 degrees Fahrenheit, and the temperature is predicted to remain at or below that level for the next 24 hours according to the nearest National Weather Service reports for your area. For the purposes of these requirements, an extreme weather emergency is over on the second business day the temperature exceed 28 degrees Fahrenheit.

Your water and sewer provider is required to offer a payment schedule to an affected customer that timely requests a payment schedule. If you are affected by an extreme weather emergency, you may request a payment schedule for unpaid bills that are due during the extreme weather emergency.

For affected customers that timely request a payment schedule, your water and sewer provider is prohibited from disconnecting service for nonpayment of bills that are due during an extreme weather emergency. However, once a payment schedule is offered, disconnections may resume if you (1) decline to timely accept the payment schedule, or (2) violate the terms of the payment schedule.

If you have a bill from your water and sewer provider due during an extreme weather emergency, then you qualify to request a payment schedule. Please contact our office: Water District Management 281-376-8802 or contact Customer Service via email: customerservice@wdmtexas.com.

Aviso Al Cliente Sobre Emergencia Por Condiciones Del Tiempo Extremas

La regla de la Comisión de Servicios Públicos en el Título 16, Capítulo 24, del Código Administrativo de Texas § 24.173(d) prohíbe Prestonwood Forest Utility District, su proveedor de agua y alcantarillado imponer un cargo por mora o desconectar su servicio minorista de agua o alcantarillado por falta de pago de las facturas adeudadas durante una emergencia por condiciones del tiempo extremas hasta después de que la emergencia haya terminado.

Una emergencia por condiciones del tiempo extremas se define como un periodo que comienza cuando la temperatura más alta del día previo en su área no superó los 28 grados Fahrenheit y se prevé que la temperatura permanecerá en ese nivel o debajo de él durante las siguientes 24 horas según los informes más cercanos del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional para su área. A efectos de estos requisitos, una emergencia por condiciones del tiempo extremas finaliza el segundo día laborable en que la temperatura supera los 28 grados Fahrenheit.

Su proveedor de agua y alcantarillado debe ofrecer un programa de pago a un cliente afectado que lo solicite oportunamente. Si se ve afectado por una emergencia por condiciones del tiempo extremas, puede solicitar un programa de pago para las facturas impagas adeudadas durante la emergencia por condiciones del tiempo extremas.

Para los clientes afectados que soliciten oportunamente un programa de pago, su proveedor de agua y alcantarillado tiene prohibido desconectar el servicio por falta de pago de las facturas adeudadas durante una emergencia por condiciones del tiempo extremas. Sin embargo, una vez que se ofrece un programa de pago, las desconexiones pueden reanudarse si usted (1) se niega a aceptar oportunamente el programa de pago, o (2) viola los términos del programa de pago.

Si tiene una factura de su proveedor de agua y alcantarillado adeudada durante una emergencia por condiciones del tiempo extremas, entonces tiene derecho a solicitar un programa de pago. Póngase en contacto con nuestra oficina: Water District Management 281-376-8802 o por correo electronico customerservice@wdmtexas.com.

Voluntary Water Use Restrictions

Due to mild water shortage conditions, Prestonwood Forest has initiated Stage 1 of its Drought Contingency Plan. Under this plan, customers are encouraged to voluntarily reduce water consumption by adhering to the following guidelines: Limit irrigation watering to occur no more than two (2) days per week, between the hours of 7:00 pm and 5:00 am. If you have an even numbered address, water only on Thursdays and Sundays. If you have an odd numbered address, water only on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

This plan will remain in effect until notice is given that it has been rescinded, or it may be replaced by a more stringent plan if water shortage conditions worsen. Please check our website at www.wdmtexas.com for updates to this situation or call Water District Management at 281-376-8802.

The Rising Costs of Water – Rates Increase

The current rate charged Prestonwood water users by the North Harris County Regional Water Authority (NHCRWA) is $4.10 per thousand gallons usage, this is a $.25 per 1,000-gallon increase over last year. NHCRWA has indicated they plan to implement annual increases in $.50 increments beginning July 1st. This cost is billed to Prestonwood Forest Utility District (PFUD) and will be passed on to the user unchanged. It shows up on your bill as a line item, “NHCRWA”.

Coincidental to these actions, PFUD is facing increased costs for the maintenance of the water and sewer infrastructure. Hurricane Harvey losses were partially recovered through our insurance. However, the need to implement mitigation measures to attempt to reduce any future flood damages from “Harvey”-like or even lesser storm events, plus the strain of maintaining a nearly 50-year-old infrastructure has caused the Board to rethink the water rates currently in place.

The Board has developed a 5-year plan to accomplish repairs, replacements and “Harvey” mitigation improvements with the intent of pay as you go, with no additional tax burden on Prestonwood users. This plan will require adjustments to the water and sewer rates for users.

Prestonwood will still maintain one of the lowest water and sewer rates in the region if not in the United States. The rates reflect the effort to promote conservation as required by State Law. Costs for usage above 5,000 gallons per month will increase incrementally as usage increases. Also, the board reluctantly determined that the “rebate”, which has been given for the last seven years, should also be eliminated to assist in funding improvements to our utility systems. The complete Rate Order is available on the Prestonwood Forest UD website at PrestonwoodForestud.org click on “Rate Order.”

The bottom line – water remains one of the best values we enjoy today. In view of the rising costs, the most effective way for everyone to keep their water costs low is to conserve this precious resource. The cost of water in the future is going to grow. The Board asks that you please read and consider the water conservation materials that we include as inserts in our mail-out bills, on-line at our web-site and as articles in the Prestonwood Press.

∼ Prestonwood Forest Utility District Board of Directors

Why Does the Cost of Water Keep Going Up? (PDF)