Wastewater System Maintenance
Ledge Stone Village is part of a Municipal Utility District (aka: a MUD). Hays County MUD #4 District is responsible for one of the most important jobs around, taking care of our wastewater. Every time you flush the toilet, MUD #4 goes into action!
We all depend on this infrastructure. When it’s working properly, we don’t give it a second thought. In order to keep things flowing properly, every homeowner, tenant and business owner in our MUD needs to follow basic rules. The main rule is ONLY FLUSH TOILET PAPER down the toilet. Small items, feminine products, grease, and even products labeled “flushable” will cause problems.
When items are flushed down the toilet that should be put in the trash, they can cause problems in our homes, the wastewater treatment pipe network, and the wastewater treatment plant. These items can cause blockages in the pipes and issues with our pumps. Ultimately, the costs to operate the wastewater system increase.
To help prevent a sewer system back up into your home, install a backwater valve. Homeowners are responsible for installing a backwater valve, and it should be done by a licensed plumber. This will help prevent sewage from being able to flow back into your home. There has been one incident of this happening in the Ledge Stone residential area in the past. Future incidents can be prevented with a backwater valve.
Astronomers don’t know the answer to the question, “Is there life on other planets?” However, when searching for the possibility, one of the criteria is whether there are signs of water. Water is essential to life and we are surrounded by it, as it makes up 70 percent of our planet. Yet less than 1 percent of that water – all the water from our lakes, streams, and rivers – is fresh. And without it, we would cease to exist.
Inside the Home
- Check faucets, spigots, and pipes for leaks and drips. A faucet that drips only once per second can waste up to 2,700 gallons of water per year!
- Check for toilet tank leaks due to worn out or corroded parts. Most replacement parts are inexpensive, readily available and easily installed.
- Don’t let water run while shaving or washing your face. Brush your teeth first while waiting for water to get hot, then wash or shave after filling the basin.
Outside the Home
- Adjust your lawn and landscape irrigation systems to water either in the early morning or late afternoon. If you water mid-day, much of the water is lost to evaporation.
- Water lawns and plants too much and too frequently results in shallow roots, weed growth and plant disease. Consider using native plants and landscape designs that require less irrigation water use to maintain.
- Mulch, Mulch, Mulch! A thick layer (3 inches or more) of coarse mulch acts as insulation for the soil in your flower beds and significantly reduces evaporation.
- Postpone washing your vehicle. If feasible, wash the vehicle on your lawn, not in the driveway where the runoff will be lost to the storm sewer