Seis Lagos Utility District Frequently Asked Questions
To serve you better, we’ve assembled a list of our customers’ most frequently asked questions. If you don’t find your answer here, feel free to contact us.
A SUD Board governs the district, sets policies, adopts rules, establishes rates, oversees finances, and manages administrative operations under Texas Water Code Chapter 65.
Board members are elected or appointed according to the rules in Chapter 65, which defines qualifications and election procedures for directors.
Serving on a Special Utility District (SUD) board carries responsibilities that are very different from those of a neighborhood HOA or volunteer committee. While residents may only see the surface of water service—turning on a tap or paying a bill—Board Members must manage the full weight of regulatory, operational, financial, and emergency‑response oversight for a public utility. Key challenges include:
Heavy Legal and Regulatory Requirements
SUDs are government entities, which means Board Members must comply with:
- Texas Open Meetings Act
- Public Information Act
- TCEQ regulations
- Bond covenants
- State financial reporting and audit requirements
These laws dictate how decisions are made, what can be discussed publicly, and how information must be handled—far more complex than anything a typical resident deals with.
Responsibility for Critical Infrastructure
Residents don’t always see the complexity behind:
- Water production and treatment
- System capacity planning
- Leak detection and main repairs
- Emergency preparedness
- Road and lighting
- Long‑term capital replacement
Board Members must make decisions that affect public health, water quality, fire protection, and system reliability—all of which carry real risk if handled incorrectly.
Balancing Limited Resources With High Expectations
Utility budgets must cover:
- Aging infrastructure
- Regulatory upgrades
- Emergency repairs
- Staffing and training
- Engineering, legal, and consulting costs
- Rising material and construction prices
Residents may want fast fixes or low rates, but Board Members must make financially responsible choices that keep the system sustainable for decades—not just today.
Managing Emergencies Without Being On‑Site
While operators respond to emergencies in the field, Board Members must:
- Approve emergency spending
- Authorize contractors
- Communicate with regulatory agencies, local and State agencies, emergency agencies, and vendors
- Coordinate with staff
- Make governance decisions under pressure
The Board is ultimately accountable even though they are not the ones physically digging in the ground.
Directors serve staggered terms as outlined in the district’s enabling documents or by-laws. For SLUD, the terms for Places 1 and 2 conclude in 2026, while the terms for Places 3, 4, and 5 conclude in 2028. Each board position carries a four‑year term.
The Board sets water and wastewater rates, customer fees, and service-related charges through formal adoption of rates and policies. Example SLUD publishes our Rates & Policies documents.
Policy changes—such as billing procedures, payment types, or service rules—must be approved through a board resolution, which is listed as a required component in district rulemaking and documentation processes.
The Board oversees compliance with TCEQ rules, including operational, financial, and administrative reporting requirements, which are outlined in TCEQ’s Water District rules and forms.
Usually no. Day‑to‑day operations are handled by:
- Superintendent
- Administrative staff
- Contractors (e.g., engineers, accountants, legal)
The Board’s primary responsibility is governance, oversight, and policy—not day‑to‑day operations. However, because the District has faced periods of inexperienced staff and ongoing staff shortages, the Seis Lagos Utility District Board of Directors has taken a more hands‑on role than typically expected. This increased involvement has been essential in resolving longstanding operational issues and maintaining continuity of service. Each Director brings specialized expertise that helps the Board manage the wide range of challenges that arise. In addition, the Board President serves as the General Manager and has devoted significant time during emergencies to sustain operations and oversee critical functions to ensure uninterrupted service to the community.
Yes—but SLUD follows specific procedures.
Board Members are not employees of the District, so they are not required to work from the District office. Their role is governance‑focused—setting policy, establishing budgets, and providing oversight. Operations staff, not Board Members, are responsible for responding to emergencies and performing daily field and office duties. The Board’s responsibility is to ensure that proper policies, staffing levels, training, and resources are in place so that operations and maintenance can be carried out effectively.
- District office phone number: 972-442-6875
- Email: District@slud.us
- Website contact form
A Special Utility District (SUD) is a local governmental entity, not a business, private nonprofit, social club or homeowners association.
A SUD is created under Texas law as a political subdivision of the State of Texas. It has taxing or rate‑setting authority, publicly elected directors, must follow state laws such as the Texas Open Meetings Act, Public Information Act, and is regulated by state agencies such as the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
In contrast, the Seis Lagos Community Association (SLCA) is a private nonprofit homeowners association that governs neighborhood deed restrictions and amenities—not public infrastructure or government services.
Yes. SLUD is a governmental entity and must follow the Texas Open Meetings Act, meaning all board meetings are open to the public except for properly posted executive sessions. The Board is working on providing remote options to listen to the meeting and participate.
SLUD provides a Public Comments portion on their agenda. Residents may attend, listen, and address the board according to the district’s posted meeting procedures.
Customer service rules are defined in a district’s Rates & Policies or Service Policy documents. Many SUDs use a policy structure, which contains sections on billing, disconnection, customer responsibility, and payment requirements.
Yes. Under the Open Meetings Act, residents can request items, but the Board President/ GM usually determines whether an item is placed on the agenda.
Operations staff—not board members—respond to emergencies. The Board ensures policies and budgets support proper operation and maintenance.
We may have received it after the due date or we may not have received it at all. Call our office and we will help you solve the problem.
Check your meter and the surrounding area for possible leaks. Next, call our office and report low pressure for your area.
A repair could have been completed recently allowing air to enter the line, causing the milky look.
Only chemicals that are approved by the National Safety Foundation for treatment of drinking water.
All public water systems are required to maintain a minimum chlorine level of 0.2 mg/L (tested at the end of each line) by state law. Systems that use chloramine as a disinfectant must maintain a level of 0.5 mg/L by state law. Our disinfectant levels are tested daily to ensure safety.
Most likely your water heater needs to be flushed. CAUTION: Most manufacturers recommend hiring a professional to flush your water heater. If you plan on doing this yourself, read the owner’s manual to keep from being hurt and or damaging the water heater.