Westlake Municipal Utility District No. 1: Past, Present, and Future
Posted on August 06, 2021 | 4 min read
As you may or may not be aware, Westlake Municipal Utility District No. 1 (Westlake MUD 1, the District) is a mature district. Though it was initially installed nearly 50 years ago, much of our original water and wastewater infrastructure is still in place. It is the responsibility and privilege of the Westlake MUD 1 Board of Directors to ensure the proper management and maintenance of the District water and wastewater systems in the most efficient and effective ways possible.
Our Board of Directors has made great strides for improvement and growth, working to stand out from similar districts. In the last five years, Westlake MUD has consistently lowered the tax rate for the District.
Additionally, our Board works closely with the District’s consultants to take the necessary steps in keeping our infrastructure performing well and investing in future successes.
To fund important projects, while mitigating impact to resident’s water bills, the District held a Bond Authorization Election in 2019. With the support of the community and the passing of this proposition, Westlake MUD 1 will be able to fund necessary capital improvement projects.
In recent years, residents may have noticed the occasional reduction or loss of water pressure, and when they called Inframark, were told there was an emergency repair happening on the other side of the neighborhood. This was due to the aging water line valves. Our Board recognized this issue and, in September of 2020, authorized the operator and engineer to identify and replace valves in key locations to prevent widespread water outages during future emergency repairs. With these new valves in place, it was possible for the operator and engineer to conduct a system wide survey to identify exactly how many water valves were no longer functioning properly. Our engineer is now in the process of reviewing this data and developing a plan to resolve this issue in the coming years.
Simply ensuring the District will have reliable water and wastewater services in the future is just the beginning. Our Board also understands that safeguarding the daily function of our assets is a priority. Guaranteeing public and ecological health via our water and wastewater systems is of the utmost importance to Westlake MUD 1 and our team of consultants.
Recently, during Winter Storm Uri, Inframark’s team worked tirelessly to avoid the need to issue a Boil Water Notice, and to ensure our District residents did not lose water pressure. For several days, Board members and residents alike worked diligently to identify leaks and coordinate community efforts to find quick solutions to problems sustained by residents. It was a fantastic community-wide effort that showed the spirit of unity and neighborly interest.
At the end of this unprecedented event, Westlake MUD 1 was one of the few in the state who did not have to issue a Boil Water Notice. Additionally, our facilities were cared for to the point that our community assets did not incur any damage due to the freeze. It was through preventative and predictive maintenance practices, along with a community mindset, that our District came through that difficult event relatively unscathed.
In addition to properly functioning infrastructure, Westlake MUD 1 takes the safety and security of its residents seriously. For this reason, our Board of Directors has hired an additional officer to patrol the area and appointed a Security Coordinator to help field concerns from our residents. By taking these steps, our Board hopes to instill a sense of safety and vigilance within the community.
These are great efforts being made by your District in the interest of you, your family, and your neighbors. Our Board has taken a concentrated approach to transparency to make our community aware of these efforts. We appreciate the need to be informed of relevant information and, for this reason, and in partnership with Touchstone District Services, the Board has appointed a Communications Committee. This committee meets regularly to ensure our community remains well informed. Furthermore, Westlake MUD 1 has implemented an emergency alert service to ensure that our District’s residents are notified immediately of occurrences that will affect them.
Our Board of Directors for Westlake MUD 1 and consultant team strive daily to care for our community. This mindset and commitment keeps our water flowing, promotes community health and safety, and provides access to important information. We are pleased to be able to serve you, your family, and your neighbors.
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