Spring Newsletter- 2025
MUD 18 Newsletter
April – June 2025
This month we would like to provide some background concerning Bentwater’s MUD, also known as Montgomery County Municipal Utility District No. 18 (the “District”).
MUD 18 is a political subdivision of the State of Texas, organized as a conservation and reclamation district. It was created by Order of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (the “TCEQ”) on September 12, 1973.
The District consists of approximately 1,479 acres of land, all of which is located in the Bentwater subdivision. The District is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of five members who manage and supervise all affairs of the District. Additionally, there are eight consultants employed by the District to handle day to day operations: Coats Rose, P.C.; Hays Utility North Corporation; District Data Services, Inc.; Masterson Advisors, LLC; Bleyl Engineering; Equi-Tax, Inc.; Mark C. Eyring, CPA, PLLC; Infinity Services, LLC.
The District supplies water through four wells with a capacity to pump 6,600 gal./min. There are five ground-level storage tanks that hold 2,670,000 gallons, and two water plants to treat and pressurize the water. Since we pressurize the water there is no need for a water tower.
We also provide tertiary sewage treatment, which is the final stage of wastewater treatment, removing pollutants and pathogens from wastewater through the use of physical, chemical or biological processes. The goal is to make treated water safe to reuse, recycle or release into the environment. This is accomplished using two clarifiers and 28 lift stations with a capacity to treat 328,500,000 gal./year.
Over the past 49 years, MUD 18 has provided the residents of Bentwater an uninterrupted supply of quality water and sewage treatment. Neither storms, hurricanes, freezes, nor power outages has caused our systems to fail. All of our equipment is supplied with emergency backup generators to prevent power loss. We winterize our equipment to prevent freezing. We keep an inventory of spare pumps and parts to rapidly replace failed equipment. Our operator has workers on site to handle any emergency that arises during the day, and people on call during off hours to rapidly respond. In most cases homeowners are not aware of any issues as they are handled immediately without any noticeable interruption of service.
There are many news stories about municipalities that are having water quality or supply issues and sewage problems. Not Bentwater! Through our five-year plan, we continually update our systems as they reach the end of their useful life. The board is actively involved not only in day-to-day operations but planning for the future.
The District is able to provide these services at one of the lowest water and tax rates in the greater Houston metropolitan area.
The District also is responsible for maintaining the five dry creek beds and outfalls that move storm water through Bentwater and into Lake Conroe, as well as all the storm drains on the roadways in Bentwater. MUD 18 also provides garbage, recycle and bulk trash pickup, which is included in your monthly water bill.
Some interesting facts about the District: We pump on average 500 million gallons of water a year and treat 129 million gallons a year through our sewer treatment plant. That means 70 percent of what we pump is used for irrigation, pool filling, car washing, pressure washing or drinking which does not go through our sewer treatment plant.
We wanted to make you aware of the scope of the District’s responsibilities and the professional and efficient way in which they are handled. Nevertheless, should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact MUD 18.
Suggested Watering Guidelines for Your Property
With high heat and drought conditions expected over the coming months, it is important to conserve water. Since each property has different landscaping layouts and sizes, it is important to review the watering guidelines and make adjustments to suit your particular conditions.
Deep and infrequent watering is best for your lawn’s health and vigor. This means wetting the soil to a depth of 3-5 inches per irrigation. This equates to 1-1.25 inches of water per week, split over three days. Irrigation system run times should be adjusted based on how dry your soil is. Watering is most beneficial to your grass in the early morning (3 – 8 a.m.) rather than afternoon or evening. Avoid overnight watering. Early morning watering allows the leaf blades to dry and reduces the risk of disease. Do not water every day or two. Frequent, short watering encourages shallow roots, unhealthy grass plants, and turf susceptible to drought and disease.
Irrigation Spray Head Averages
Pop-up spray head: 10-12 minutes, 3 times per week = 1”
Rotary spray heads: 16-23 minutes, 3 times per week = 1”
Our Website : https://www.mcmud18.com
Your MUD Board:
Susan McFarland, President
David Parkhill, Vice President
John Crystal, Treasurer
Rex Cambern, Secretary
Terry Gent, Assistant Secretary