December 25, 2022

Prairie Grove Utilities – Extreme Winter Weather Update #6

Update 10:45 am Sunday:
We hope you’re having a very Merry Christmas with your families.
Water has been on since 8 am, but because we ended last night empty, it was only able to replenish about 40% by this morning. And on top of that, the draw on the system has increased yet again.
At the current draw, we’re projecting that we will run out of water again around 11:30 am.
If you find some time during your Christmas celebrations, please check your property again for leaks. If your neighbors are not on facebook, please let them know that we’re asking everyone to be on the lookout for leaks. A BIG thank you to those of you that have been vigilant and caught and fixed leaks so far.
Here’s how to check: turn off everything in your home that uses water and then look at the leak detector on your meter to see if any water is still flowing.
Leaks on water mains are unlikely because they’re buried and therefore insulated, but if you see any suspicious looking wet areas or running water on the ground, please let us know as quickly as you can.
Assuming we do run out at 11:30, we will try and let the tanks refill over the afternoon so that we can open them back up for a few hours this evening. Likely from 6-8pm or until they’re empty again. As we get closer to 6 we will know more.
Then Monday morning we will start the hunt for leaks again.
We will get through this together, and soon we will have upgrades to help prevent this in the future.
Thank you again.
December 24, 2022

Prairie Grove Utilities – Extreme Winter Weather Update #5

Update 8:10pm:
The water has run out, and we’ve shut the system down for the night.
We’re going to have it back on in the morning at 8am sharp, but we’re ending the day today with significantly less than yesterday.
The thaw that happened this afternoon almost doubled the draw on the system and we’re still seeing that draw now despite several of you finding leaks and fixing them, and our crews also fixing one service line leak and finding several customer side leaks and turning meters off.
It’s going to be a scramble in the morning to find all the additional leaks that this draw on the system would indicate.
If we’re unable to locate a significant number of them quickly, we will likely be out of water again midday tomorrow.
We very much appreciate any help you all can provide in checking your properties for leaks again in the morning after the water is back on.
Thank you all again.
Have a Merry Christmas!
We’ll be back in the morning.
December 24, 2022

Prairie Grove Utilities – Extreme Winter Weather Update #4

Update 4:50 Saturday:
The leak on Sherwood is repaired and the system is turned back on. We’re still seeing more going out than we have coming in.
The plan right now is to let the system run until it’s out of water, or until 9 pm, whichever comes first.
We will continue hunting leaks in the meantime, and we will have it back on at 8 am tomorrow.
I’m sure you’re tired of hearing it by now, but it remains true:
We apologize for the inconvenience, and we appreciate your patience, your understanding, and your willingness to actively help us as we work through to get through this.
You’re a great group and we’re proud to be associated with you.
December 24, 2022

Prairie Grove Utilities – Extreme Winter Weather Update #3

Extreme Winter Weather Update 8am:
The system has been turned back on as of 8am.
The ground storage tanks recovered to 90% full while it was off, and our crews will be out in the system today looking for any potential leaks.
If you notice a leak please notify us as quickly as you can.
A boil water notice will remain in effect for the duration of this extreme cold weather.
We apologize again for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding and patience.
December 23, 2022

Boil Water Notice Issued for Prairie Grove Utilities

December 23, 2022
To: Prairie Grove Utilities Customers (Public Water System ID # 0030027)
Subject: BOIL WATER NOTIFICATION

Due to low water pressures in the water distribution system, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has required the Prairie Grove Utilities public water system (PWS ID Number 0030027) to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions.

To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.

When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, Prairie Grove Utilities officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking or human consumption purposes. Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, Prairie Grove Utilities will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.
If you have questions regarding this matter you may contact Mr. Chris Key, P.E., Operations Division Manager, Angelina & Neches River Authority at (936) 632-7795 or (800) 282-5634.

If you wish to contact TCEQ, you may call 512-239-4691.

December 23, 2022

Prairie Grove Utilities – Extreme Winter Weather Update #2

Extreme Winter Weather Update 9pm:
As of 9pm Friday we’ve turned the system off for the night to allow the system to replenish and try to avoid daytime outages for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We will turn it back on at 8am promptly.
The Diboll interconnect will remain open for the duration, but it has historically provided only minimal pressures for homes very close the the intersection of FM 1818 and Gossett.
When we turn the system back on, there will be a boil water notice because of the low pressures that will be happening while it’s off. We will not plan to perform the testing needed to lift the boil water notice until after we’re fully past this extreme weather.
As always, we apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience and understanding.
We will see you in the morning!
December 23, 2022

Prairie Grove Utilities – Extreme Winter Weather Update

Extreme Winter Weather 6:15 p.m. Update for Prairie Grove Utilities Customers:
 
As of this post, it is clear that there won’t be enough water supply to last through the night.
 
We will be shutting down the water system at 9:00 p.m. tonight.
 
We are doing this tonight so that when we turn water back on in the morning, there will be enough water supply to make it through until the thaw out that will occur after lunch tomorrow.
 
In essence, we are making this decision tonight so that we can better control the timing of outage. Our goal is that in doing this tonight, we can avoid an outage on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
 
We apologize for this inconvenience, but as always, thank you for your understanding!
December 23, 2022

Prairie Grove Utilities – Extreme Winter Weather Event Important Update

Prairie Grove Customers:
Temperatures plunged into the low double digits last night and the system is struggling.
Since yesterday evening, water demand has been exceeding the capacity of the system and water levels in the ground storage tank have dropped significantly.
We have had crews on-site multiple times overnight and again today.
The well is running and the interconnect with Diboll is open, but it’s not keeping up.
At current rates, we anticipate the system will run dry around 2 a.m. tonight.
Water system crews have found two customer-side leaks today already. Temperatures overnight tonight are forecasted to dive back into the middle teens. We anticipate temperatures rising above freezing around noon tomorrow.
Pipes that have frozen and burst will begin to leak dramatically after temperatures rise above freezing. We are asking all residents to inspect their property for water leaks under and around their homes. If you find a leak, turn off your water as quickly as possible.
If the demand doesn’t decrease between now and this evening, we may need to shut the system down overnight to prevent it running dry and give it a chance to partially catch up.
We will have crews on-site beginning tomorrow mid-morning. If you need assistance turning off your water, please post that request on the Prairie Grove Facebook page. We will be monitoring this group page and respond.
***In the meantime, we’re asking customers to minimize using dripping faucets to prevent lines from freezing.***
Take all reasonable preventive measures to insulate your pipes. Unfortunately, the system as it exists today doesn’t have the capacity to protect everyone’s pipes by leaving the water running.
Plans are in place for some stop-gap upgrades in the coming months to carry us to a complete set of upgrades over the next three years, but for this event, we’re going to have to pull together once more to get through.
December 22, 2022

Notice Regarding Extreme Weather Emergencies – Prairie Grove

Notice Regarding Extreme Weather Emergencies

This communication is to notify you that Prairie Grove Utilities, your retail water provider, is:

  • prohibited from imposing late fees or disconnecting retail water or sewer service for nonpayment of bills that are due during an extreme weather emergency until after the emergency is over;
  • required to offer a payment schedule to a customer who requests such a schedule for unpaid bills due during an extreme weather emergency; and
  • prohibited from disconnecting retail water or sewer service for nonpayment of bills due during an extreme weather emergency until after a payment schedule has been offered and the customer has either declined to accept the payment schedule in a timely fashion or violated the terms of the payment schedule.

For the purposes of this communication, an “extreme weather emergency” is defined as a period beginning when the previous day’s highest temperature in an 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 that area. An extreme weather emergency is over on the second business day the temperature exceeds 28 degrees Fahrenheit.

Aviso Sobre Emergencias Climáticas Extremas

Esta comunicación es para notificarle que su proveedor de agua Prairie Grove Utilities es:

  • prohibido imponer cargos por demora o desconectar el servicio de agua o alcantarillado por falta de pago de las facturas que vencen durante una emergencia climática extrema hasta después de que termine la emergencia;
  • requerido a ofrecer un plan de pago a un cliente que solicite dicho acuerdo para las facturas adeudadas durante una emergencia climática extrema; y
  • prohibido desconectar el servicio de agua o alcantarillado por falta de pago de facturas adeudadas durante una emergencia climática extrema hasta que se haya ofrecido un plan de pago y el cliente se haya negado a aceptar el plan de pago de manera oportuna o haya violado los términos del plan de pago.

El propósito de este comunicado, es a devido a una “emergencia climática extrema” se define como un período que comienza cuando la temperatura más alta del día anterior en un área no superó los 28 grados Fahrenheit y se pronostica que la temperatura permanecerá en ese nivel o por debajo de este durante las próximas 24 horas de acuerdo con los informes del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional más cercano para esa área. Una emergencia climática extrema termina el segundo día laboral en que la temperatura supera los 28 grados Fahrenheit.

 

December 22, 2022

Notice Regarding Extreme Weather Emergencies – Holmwood Utilities

Notice Regarding Extreme Weather Emergencies

This communication is to notify you that Holmwood Utilities, your retail water and sanitary sewer provider, is:

  • prohibited from imposing late fees or disconnecting retail water or sewer service for nonpayment of bills that are due during an extreme weather emergency until after the emergency is over;
  • required to offer a payment schedule to a customer who requests such a schedule for unpaid bills due during an extreme weather emergency; and
  • prohibited from disconnecting retail water or sewer service for nonpayment of bills due during an extreme weather emergency until after a payment schedule has been offered and the customer has either declined to accept the payment schedule in a timely fashion or violated the terms of the payment schedule.

For the purposes of this communication, an “extreme weather emergency” is defined as a period beginning when the previous day’s highest temperature in an 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 that area. An extreme weather emergency is over on the second business day the temperature exceeds 28 degrees Fahrenheit.

Aviso Sobre Emergencias Climáticas Extremas

Esta comunicación es para notificarle que su proveedor de agua y alcantarillado sanitario Holmwood Utilities es:

  • prohibido imponer cargos por demora o desconectar el servicio de agua o alcantarillado por falta de pago de las facturas que vencen durante una emergencia climática extrema hasta después de que termine la emergencia;
  • requerido a ofrecer un plan de pago a un cliente que solicite dicho acuerdo para las facturas adeudadas durante una emergencia climática extrema; y
  • prohibido desconectar el servicio de agua o alcantarillado por falta de pago de facturas adeudadas durante una emergencia climática extrema hasta que se haya ofrecido un plan de pago y el cliente se haya negado a aceptar el plan de pago de manera oportuna o haya violado los términos del plan de pago.

El propósito de este comunicado, es a devido a una “emergencia climática extrema” se define como un período que comienza cuando la temperatura más alta del día anterior en un área no superó los 28 grados Fahrenheit y se pronostica que la temperatura permanecerá en ese nivel o por debajo de este durante las próximas 24 horas de acuerdo con los informes del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional más cercano para esa área. Una emergencia climática extrema termina el segundo día laboral en que la temperatura supera los 28 grados Fahrenheit.