Drip, Drip, Drip…Let’s Talk Leaks!

Guess what! National Fix A Leak Week is March 14-20th and we want to be sure you have the best resources to keep you informed of the little problems caused by water leaks. Awareness of what to look for and knowledge of how to fix any leak issues can go a long way in prevention and saving money. Leaks can run, but they can’t hide!



Did you know that simple faucet leaks amount to approximately 1 trillion gallons of water wasted each year? That’s huge! And so easily preventable! Not to mention, leaks are costly. Taking time each year to perform a preventative check, can help keep your check book in order.
When you are on the hunt for possible leaks, it is important to start with the data… Begin with your water bill, check your meter, and test your toilets. These will give you some clue as to the prevalence of a water leak in your home.

The EPA recommends the following checklist for tracking down a leak! Here are some of the best-known hiding places to start. Keep your ears open!

• Bathroom

  • Toilets
  • Faucets
  • Showerheads
  • Under the sink
  • Don’t forget the tub!

• Laundry Room

  • Check all of your hook-ups!
  • Look for pooling in the washer itself (it could indicate a source leak)

• Kitchen

  • Check all appliances, such as the dishwasher and fridge. Many times, there are leaks behind them.

• Basement and Garage

  • Sinks
  • Exposed pipes
  • Water Heaters

• Outside

  • Spigots
  • Irrigation controls and sprinkler heads

Austin Water, along with Shady Hollow MUD, have lifted the boil water notice for all customers. You no longer need to boil water used for drinking, cooking, and making ice. Water quality testing submitted to the state has confirmed that tap water meets all regulatory standards and is safe for consumption. For more Information, visit AustinTexas.gov/Alerts

El Departamento de Agua de Austin, y Shady Hollow MUD, ha cancelado el aviso de hervir el agua para todos sus clientes. Ya no tienen que hervir el agua para tomar, cocinar y hacer hielo. Las pruebas de calidad del agua enviadas al estado confirmaron que el agua del grifo cumple con todos los estándares reguladores y es segura para consumir. Para más información visite, AustinTexas.gov/Alerts

Visit Austin’s emergency information hub for water notices for Austin water. https://www.austintexas.gov/alerts

Visit the Austin Water website for information regarding the freezing weather in the area.

Customers in your October water bill from Shady Hollow MUD the penalty date is incorrect, the correct date is 11-2-2021. We apologize for the confusion and billing errors for this month’s billing cycle.

If you have questions please call 512-280-6622

Customers if you received an e-bill for shmud6 , please disregard bill with a late fee these were in error the corrected bill has been sent.
If you have questions please call 512-280-6622.

Shady Hollow MUD is considering changing the way customers are charged for their wastewater services from a flat rate method to a winter averaging method. No changes are planned for the immediate future, but the MUD will be collecting data this winter to use in deciding whether a change in the current billing method would benefit the MUD’s customers.

Currently the MUD’s customers are charged flat monthly rates for wastewater: $82.41 for customers in the District and $94.77 for customers outside the District. These rates are constant from month to month and are the same for every customer in the same rate class. Shady Hollow MUD has billed this way since it was created in 1980.

While Shady Hollow MUD is not the only utility to use this flat rate method, most utilities determine charges for wastewater service using a method commonly referred to as winter averaging. In this method, the average water use during the winter months is used to determine wastewater charges for the upcoming year. Usually, December, January and February are used because outdoor water use is minimal during those months so the water used gives the best estimate of how much is actually entering the sewer. It is thought that this billing is fairer to small households and encourages water conservation.

After the water use data from this winter is available, the MUD’s rate consultant will be asked to develop rates that will generate the revenue needed to provide wastewater service. The MUD Board will then consider making changes in the current method. This will likely happen in May – June of 2022.

Citizens are welcome to submit any comments or concerns regarding this on the MUD’s website at shmud.org/contact.

What has transpired for the past 8 years with the water and wastewater service in Shady Hollow Municipal Utility District (SHMUD)?

A Municipal Utility District (MUD) is a political subdivision of the State of Texas authorized by the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to provide water, sewage, drainage, and other services within the MUD boundaries.

Shady Hollow MUD is made up of in-district customers and out-of-district customers. In-district customers pay taxes, vote, and can hold office. Out-of- district customers do not pay taxes. To offset not paying taxes, the MUD is authorized to charge higher rates for out-of-district customers. The increased rates are about the same as the average in-district homeowner’s taxes.

In 2013, the City of Austin (COA) and SHMUD signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) that authorized annexation of Shady Hollow MUD and the surrounding areas in December 2020. Pursuant to the SPA, the water and wastewater system was transferred to the COA in April 2018, at which time the COA began billing customers for those services. As a result of the pending full annexation in December 2020, SHMUD decided to spend down the reserves which had been accumulated since the MUD was created in December 1980. These reserves, upon annexation, would have been transferred to the COA.

In 2017, SHMUD sued the COA due to excessive wholesale water rates. The settlement included a one-time payment of $850,000 (which was returned to customers in the form of monthly bill credits) and required the COA, upon assumption of the District’s water and wastewater system in April 2018, to maintain the water and wastewater rates charged by SHMUD. The water rates remained the same from 2015- April 2021.

In 2019, the Shady Hollow HOA was successful in passing SB 1468, which effectively prevented full annexation of SHMUD by the COA. SHMUD then negotiated with the COA for the return of its water and wastewater system. The new wholesale water contract with the COA included increased wholesale water rates charged to SHMUD.

I hope this is helpful to understand the increased water bills.