Reminder to Check Your Exterior Pipes for Tonight’s Freeze
The City has responded to a lot of reports of water leaks at homes due to lines freezing on the irrigation system.
Staff has responded to approximately 100 calls for water leaks with the overwhelming majority being a frozen backflow preventer (see picture). 
Please remember that the irrigation system is the responsibility of the property owner and the City cannot work on this system. You would need to contact your irrigation service company for any repairs.
A simple precaution to prevent costly repairs and wasting of water is to turn off your irrigation at the backflow preventer and to make sure the pipes and are insulated. Also make sure to turn off your sprinkler system at the control panel.
If your system hasn’t been turned off already, most systems can be turned off by rotating the irrigation valve handle (see picture - valve in open position) clockwise to the closed position. The handle will be perpendicular line to the pipe when closed.
Please remember the following:
- Turn off your irrigation system.
- The irrigation system is separate from the water pipe to your house and turning this off should not cause a water outage at your home.
- Wrap any exposed piping with pipe insulation. If you do not have pipe insulation available you can try wrapping exposed pipes with a towel or blanket in a plastic bag and securing it in place with exterior tape, string or zip ties.
If You Experience a Water Leak or Outage – What Should You Do?
Unfortunately, if you find yourself with a water leak outside your home or a water outage, you can do the following:
- Regularly Scheduled Business Hours: Monday – Friday 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- Contact the Public Works Dept. at 713-662-5839.
- After Hours: Monday – Friday and on Weekends
- Contact the non-emergency line at 713-662-0330. This is answered by the Police Dept. and they will contact on-call crews to respond.
If you experience a leak in your home or from the water in towards your house, those repairs would be the responsibility of the homeowner and you should contact a plumber immediately.
Stay safe and warm during this cold weather!