With freezing temperatures right around the corner, it’s a good time to refresh ourselves on precautionary measures for drops in temperature and cold weather.

The Four P’s to Prepare your Home this Winter:

• People
• Pets
• Pipes
• Plants

People

• Avoid going outside if it is not necessary. If you do, make sure you layer up from head to toe.
• To keep you and your family safe, it is imperative your home is warm.
• Make sure your heat is set to an appropriate temperature to make your entire home comfortable. Remember, heat rises so if you sleep upstairs, your room may be warmer than rooms downstairs.
• If you use a fireplace, make sure you have a screen to catch any embers that might escape or a rolling log.
• Never use your stove or oven to heat your home.
• If you smell smoke or see flames, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Pets

• While protecting your family, it is imperative to protect your pets as well.
• Pets, like humans, are vulnerable to cold temperatures. If not taken care of properly, they can succumb to frostbite and even hypothermia.
• If you have a dog that typically lives outdoors, consider letting them inside when temperatures drop to freezing. While their fur does help to keep them warm, it provides little help in freezing temperatures.
• If you absolutely cannot bring them inside, make sure they have a warm shelter, plenty of food and fresh water so it does not freeze.
• If your pet looks like it has any symptoms resembling frostbite or hypothermia, call your vet.

Pipes

• Turn off the sprinkler system shut-off valve. Most residential devices have two shut-off valves. These are typically covered in blue on the valve handles and located before and after the sprinkler system backflow device. A diagram is shown below.
• Release the water pressure from the bleeder valves. The bleeder valves are usually located under the top of the backflow device. If the water does not stop flowing you may have not shut the valves off completely.
• Leave the smaller bleeder valve open, this will let any remaining water in the line expand without breaking the device. Insulate your backflow device. Most hardware/home services stores carry backflow insulation supplies.
• Make sure to cover all your exposed pipes with a cover. You can also cover your pipes with towels, duct tape or another adhesive strip as long as they are wrapped tightly.
• You can also open up the cabinets to let warm air circulate throughout your home. Just make sure any harmful chemicals are out of reach for children and pets.

Plants

• When cold weather hits, it’s a good idea to bring in all of your outdoor plants.
• If you can’t bring in the plant, cover it with a blanket to make sure they do not die.

Other Tips

• Don’t forget to make sure your car is okay for the freezing temperatures. Check your anti-freeze and your batteries. Also make sure to check your tire pressure and the tread.
• Speaking of cars, make sure when you are on the road that you are mindful parts of the roads may be frozen, particularly bridges. Do not speed and never slam on the brakes.
• Make sure if you use a generator, it is outdoors. Do not use a generator inside, including in your garage.

Shady Hollow MUD Customers,

Due to a programming error on the wastewater calculation for this billing period your wastewater amount may be incorrect. The error has been corrected and the wastewater bill has been recalculated to reflect the correct amount due. Unfortunately, the paper bills had already been mailed and electronic bills had already been sent. Payclix will update on March 14, 2025 and customers will receive a corrected ebill. This only affects customers with an account number beginning with a 6. If you have already made your payment and you overpaid, that amount will credit to your account. If you have questions or concerns, please call 512-280-6622.

Shady Hollow MUD

The office will be closed on December 23rd, 24th, and 25th.

Happy Holidays!

The SW Austin Water main repair is complete. Austin Water confirmed that customers can resume normal water use now that repairs are complete on the leaking 48-inch water line near the Davis Lane pump station in Southwest Austin. Crews also performed routine procedures to flush and disinfect the repaired lines. During the repair period, Austin Water’s call volume remained near normal with no increased reports of outages in the affected area. Customers experiencing any water service issues for any reason, may call Austin Water’s Customer Service Contact Center at 512-972-1000 and select Option 1 to report the concern.

As always, you can reach us by email at AWWholesale@austintexas.gov or call 512-422-5121 with any questions or concerns.

This is to provide you with updated information regarding the water line repair. Additional details can be found in the press release and below.

As always, can reach us by email at AWWholesale@austintexas.gov with any questions or concerns. In case of an emergency, you can also call 512-422-5121 or contact Austin Water’s 24/7 Customer Service Contact Center at 512-972-1000, Select option 1.

Austin Water reports that repairs to a leaking water main that services Southwest Austin are taking longer than anticipated. Workers have encountered difficulties with connecting the repaired section of pipe to existing infrastructure, causing a delay in the return to normal water use and a second day of bottled water distribution.

Austin Water is repeating its call for customers in Southwest Austin to conserve water and refrain from non-essential water use. Customers in the area are being asked to hold off on activities like washing clothes and dishes, using irrigation systems, and washing cars until they are notified that repairs are complete. The continued conservation efforts of customers have so far helped to maintain adequate reservoir water levels and stable system pressure to service the area.

Bottled water distribution at Bowie High School, 4103 W. Slaughter Ln., Austin, TX 78749, will resume at 9 a.m. for customers near the area of the repair.

If customers experience any water service issues, they should call Austin Water’s Customer Service Contact Center at (512) 972-1000 and select Option 1 to report the concern.

Austin Water will provide additional updates once repairs are complete and normal water use can resume.

About Austin Water
Austin Water provides safe, reliable, high quality, sustainable and affordable water services that have met the community’s needs for over 100 years. Austin Water services over 1 million people in the Austin metropolitan area across more than 548 square miles.

Bottled Water distribution site at Bowie High School available to Southwest Area Austinites for essential uses during a water main repair

A bottled water distribution point will be set up for Southwest area customers on Friday, June 7, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m., at Bowie High School, 4103 W. Slaughter Lane. Austin Water is making this available to the community to ensure the affected customers have access to free cases of bottled water for essential uses. This will further assist with the Southwest area community’s efforts to conserve and help with water availability should a service disruption occur during the waterline repair.

The repair work, as announced on Monday, involves repairing a leaking 48-inch waterline and temporarily taking it out of service for up to 12 hours, depending on field conditions. The work will begin on June 7 at 7:00 a.m. and continue until complete. Austin Water repair crews and contractors have already begun prepping the site and are committed to restoring the line as quickly as possible.

This does not impact all Austin Water customers. Customers can refer to an interactive map at this link to determine if their address is in the affected area.

While the pipeline is out of service, Austin Water will have limited ability to refill area reservoirs. To assist in maintaining water pressure, all affected area customers are asked to limit water use during the repair. Residents and businesses can help during this repair by limiting consumption to only essential water use. This includes refraining from outdoor watering, power washing, and washing cars; turning off irrigation systems; and postponing washing clothes and dishes.

To report any service issues, customers can contact Austin Water’s 24/7 Customer Service Contact Center at 512-972-1000, Select option 1.

About Austin Water
Austin Water provides safe, reliable, high quality, sustainable and affordable water services that have met the community’s needs for over 100 years. Austin Water services over 1 million people in the Austin metropolitan area across more than 548 square miles.

AUSTIN – Austin Water customers in the Southwest area of the City are urged to conserve water and limit non-essential water use beginning Friday, June 7, while the utility repairs a major water line near the Davis Lane pump station. A leaking 48-inch waterline must be temporarily taken out of service, which may cause low water pressure and service disruptions. While customers may not experience any impacts, Austin Water is notifying the community out of an abundance of caution so that customers can have water for essential uses on hand, should a service disruption occur. The repair is estimated to last up to 12 hours but may exceed this timeframe, depending on field conditions.

Austin Water repair crews and contractors have already begun prepping the site and are committed to restoring the line as quickly as possible. Austin Water’s southwest reservoirs are being filled to capacity before the repair work starts. While the pipeline is out of service, Austin Water will have limited ability to refill area reservoirs. To assist in maintaining water pressure, all affected area customers are asked to limit water use during the repair. Residents and businesses can help during this repair by limiting consumption to only essential water use. This includes refraining from outdoor watering, power washing, and washing cars; turning off irrigation systems; and postponing washing clothes and dishes.

Austin Water will offer free cases of bottled water at a location convenient to customers in the affected area beginning on Friday morning at 7:00 a.m.  Customer notifications about specific water pick-up locations will go out later this week.  Austin Water also urges customers to store water for essential uses, 1 gallon per person per day, no later than Thursday, June 6, by filling containers in advance of repair work. Customers can refer to the affected area map or interactive map at austinwater.org to determine if their address is in the affected area and for detailed location-specific information during the repair. This work will also impact three of Austin Water’s wholesale customers: Shady Hollow, High Valley Water Supply Corporation, and Mid-Tex Utility.

“Inspecting, maintaining, and repairing thousands of miles of pipe is a routine occurrence for Austin Water, but any situation that may degrade service to our customers for more than a couple of hours triggers our incident response plan,” Austin Water Director, Shay Ralls Roalson said. “While I’m confident that our team will complete the needed repair as efficiently as possible, Austin Water is committed to implementing a well-planned incident response to mitigate any extended customer service issues.” Roalson has directed her management team to take a proactive and aggressive stance in advance of the repair. The Austin Water incident management team is engaged and will be activated in advance of the repair.

A vital part of the plan also includes informing customers about this work and ongoing notices and updates. Communications with area residents and businesses, especially medical facilities and vulnerable customers, have begun and will continue through My ATX Water portal messaging, emails, phone calls, and Next Door notifications.

“We are monitoring the Southwest Austin water main repair progress and are ready to support the needs of Austinites in the affected area as we ask them to help us conserve,” Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said. “Looking to the future, City Council has approved new contracts for additional water storage and transmission for South Austin. When complete, those projects will improve system resiliency for situations such as this one.”

Customers with service concerns or questions may contact Austin Water’s 24/7 Customer Service Contact Center at 512-972-1000 and select option 1 for immediate assistance.

About Austin Water
Austin Water provides safe, reliable, high quality, sustainable and affordable water services that have met the community’s needs for over 100 years. Austin Water services over 1 million people in the Austin metropolitan area across more than 548 square miles.

With freezing temperatures right around the corner, it’s a good time to refresh ourselves on precautionary measures for drops in temperature and cold weather.

The Four P’s to Prepare your Home this Winter:

• People
• Pets
• Pipes
• Plants

People

• Avoid going outside if it is not necessary. If you do, make sure you layer up from head to toe.
• To keep you and your family safe, it is imperative your home is warm.
• Make sure your heat is set to an appropriate temperature to make your entire home comfortable. Remember, heat rises so if you sleep upstairs, your room may be warmer than rooms downstairs.
• If you use a fireplace, make sure you have a screen to catch any embers that might escape or a rolling log.
• Never use your stove or oven to heat your home.
• If you smell smoke or see flames, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Pets

• While protecting your family, it is imperative to protect your pets as well.
• Pets, like humans, are vulnerable to cold temperatures. If not taken care of properly, they can succumb to frostbite and even hypothermia.
• If you have a dog that typically lives outdoors, consider letting them inside when temperatures drop to freezing. While their fur does help to keep them warm, it provides little help in freezing temperatures.
• If you absolutely cannot bring them inside, make sure they have a warm shelter, plenty of food and fresh water so it does not freeze.
• If your pet looks like it has any symptoms resembling frostbite or hypothermia, call your vet.

Pipes

• Turn off the sprinkler system shut-off valve. Most residential devices have two shut-off valves. These are typically covered in blue on the valve handles and located before and after the sprinkler system backflow device. A diagram is shown below.
• Release the water pressure from the bleeder valves. The bleeder valves are usually located under the top of the backflow device. If the water does not stop flowing you may have not shut the valves off completely.
• Leave the smaller bleeder valve open, this will let any remaining water in the line expand without breaking the device. Insulate your backflow device. Most hardware/home services stores carry backflow insulation supplies.
• Make sure to cover all your exposed pipes with a cover. You can also cover your pipes with towels, duct tape or another adhesive strip as long as they are wrapped tightly.
• You can also open up the cabinets to let warm air circulate throughout your home. Just make sure any harmful chemicals are out of reach for children and pets.

Plants

• When cold weather hits, it’s a good idea to bring in all of your outdoor plants.
• If you can’t bring in the plant, cover it with a blanket to make sure they do not die.

Other Tips

• Don’t forget to make sure your car is okay for the freezing temperatures. Check your anti-freeze and your batteries. Also make sure to check your tire pressure and the tread.
• Speaking of cars, make sure when you are on the road that you are mindful parts of the roads may be frozen, particularly bridges. Do not speed and never slam on the brakes.
• Make sure if you use a generator, it is outdoors. Do not use a generator inside, including in your garage.

New watering restrictions take effect August 15

AUSTIN – (Austin)—The combined storage level of water in Lakes Travis and Buchanan is projected to drop below 900,000 acre-feet within the next few days. Austin’s Drought Contingency Plan identifies this as the point at which Stage 2 water conservation measures should be enacted. To give the community advance notice that these new restrictions are coming, and consistent with the City’s Water Conservation Code, Interim City Manager Jesus Garza has ordered implementation of Stage 2 watering restrictions to be effective and enforceable, beginning on August 15, 2023.

“For many years, Austin has leaned into water conservation in normal weather as well as drought,” said Austin Water Director Shay Ralls Roalson. “As our current drought continues, we know that the entire Austin community will respond to the need to conserve our most precious resource. We’re all in this together, and there is no substitute for water.”

Stage 2 Watering Restrictions Summary

• Automatic irrigation and hose-end watering is restricted to one day per week.
• Automatic irrigation runtime is reduced by 3 hours with cutoff at 5 a.m. instead of 8 a.m.
• Water waste is prohibited.
• Restaurants may serve water only upon request.
• Charity car washes are prohibited, and home car washing must use an auto-shut-off valve or a bucket.
• Patio misters at commercial properties, including restaurants and bars, may operate only between 4 p.m. and midnight.
• Large ornamental fountains can no longer be operated.
• New landscape-establishment irrigation is no longer exempt from the watering schedule.

Austin Water will continue its investigations of reported non-compliance received via Austin 3-1-1 and water waste patrols. To report a violation, call 3-1-1 or use the 3-1-1 mobile app.

For complete details about the Austin Water drought response, visit austinwater.org.