HILLDALE WATER DISTRICT

4326 LEE ROAD

VICKSBURG, MS  39180

601-636-8475

hilldale4326@att.net

IMPORTANT NOTICE OF RATE INCREASE

March 15, 2023

To Hilldale Water District (HWD) Members:

After appreciable review and consideration, HWD Board of Directors has determined it is necessary to adjust water rates to keep pace with rising inflation rates and to meet the ever-increasing costs to produce quality drinking water.

HWD has held base rates constant since 2018.  However, HWD can no longer absorb loss in the process of providing quality dependable drinking water.  HWD is raising the monthly base rate from $38.50 to $45.00 for the first 3,000 gallons.  The overage use rate fee remains unchanged (since 2016) at $8.00 per 1,000 gallons.  Please be advised this rate increase will take effect with the April 2023 billing cycle. 

HWD is a not-for-profit membership-owned business.  We have consistently endeavored to keep rate increases to a minimum by operating as efficiently as possible.  This rate increase is essential to keep the system effectively operating for you, the owner-members, and sustain delivery of quality water.  This rate increase was determined by the HWD Board of Directors only after ample business reviews and dutiful membership considerations; and we understand how it affects our members.

Thank you for your kind understanding and continued support.

If you have any questions about the rate increase, your water bill, or other water-related questions, please contact the Hilldale Water District office at 601-636-8475 or by email at hilldale4326@att.net.

Bradley Barnes

General Manager

                              NOTICE FOR THE 2023 ANNUAL MEETING OF

                        MEMBERSHIP OF HILLDALE WATER DISTRICT, INC. (HWD)                                                                                                                                                        2/2/2023

MEETING NOTICE

HWD MEMBERSHIP IS HEREBY NOTIFIED OF ANNUAL MEETING

You are hereby notified that the Annual Meeting of Hilldale Water District, Inc. (HWD) membership will be held at the Hilldale Water District Office, located at 4326 Lee Road, at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.  Business to be transacted at this meeting, as required by the Bylaws of the corporation, includes reports of officers, agencies and committees and election of Directors.

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS: In 2022, HWD initiated and/or completed:  Clean, inspect and install new pump and motor at Well #6, purchase new air compressor for treatment plant, purchase of asset management program and continued installation of electronically read water meters.

FUTURE PROJECTS: Additional projects for consideration include, but are not limited to:

·         Replace targeted fire hydrants

·         Replace portion of 6” water main in Indiana Ave.

·         Replace portion of 8” water main from Old Hwy 27 to Lee Road

·         Installation of electric valve at China Grove tank site

·         Begin targeted system flushing

PAYMENT BY BANK DRAFT OR CREDIT CARD

The number of HWD customers who pay their water bill by bank draft has continued to increase each year.  We encourage everyone to consider this convenient payment option.  You will continue to receive a bill statement at the beginning of each month showing the amount to be drafted from your account on the 15th of the month.  Credit card payments are also now available at HWD either in person or over the phone.

WATER SYSTEM SECURITY

Water systems are required to take all reasonable measures to ensure the safety of the water supplied to its customers. HWD requests your assistance in fulfilling this responsibility by reporting to HWD or appropriate law enforcement officials any suspicious individuals or activity near HWD facilities. Should HWD ever determine that there is reason to suspect that HWD water may be unsafe, customers will be notified using the same local media used to inform customers of boil water notices. In addition, if the seriousness of the situation warranted, Jackson television stations would also be asked to issue warnings. 

BOIL WATER NOTIFICATIONS

Hilldale Water District (HWD) has joined an online call-out system to contact customers of important notices.  The system can contact members with messages from our office by home phone, mobile phone, email, or text message.  PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR PREFERRED CONTACT INFORMATION TO RECEIVE IMPORTANT ALERTS SUCH AS BOIL WATER NOTICES.

REMINDERS

If discolored water is found in your home, call Hilldale at 601-636-8475 before informing your Facebook friends.  When a boil water alert is issued, the Mississippi State Department of Health recommends boiling your cooking and drinking water for 1 to 2 minutes before consumption.  HWD must sample the affected area and receive 2 consecutive days of good samples before the boil water alert can be lifted.  This process may take from 3 to 5 days to complete. 

All water bills are due by the 15th.  Any remaining balance on the account will be assessed a 10% late fee on the 16th. To avoid late fees when the 15th falls on the weekend, please use the after-hours payment drop box. No cash in drop box please.  Disconnection for non-payment is on the 25th of each month.  A $50 fee will be charged for reconnection of services. Any locks damaged during the disconnect process will also be charged a $50 fee.  The water shut-off valve located in the water meter box is property of HWD and is for the exclusive use of HWD personnel.  HWD recommends to those who do not already have a home water line equipped with a water shut-off valve to have one installed for your convenience.  Any customer requested HWD services such as a meter re-read or having water turned off for leak repair are typically charged a $20 service fee ($40 after hours).

Please attend your 2023 Annual Meeting on February 28, 2023 to learn more about HWD’s 2022 operations, developments, projects and pending future plans.  Notices, alerts, and information bulletins are also posted on our web site http://www.hilldalewaterdistrict.com and on our Facebook page.

Customers of HWD can rest assured that HWD is working hard to provide a reliable supply of quality water to its customers.

John Moss, President, Board of Directors

August 26, 2022

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  Hilldale has experienced a major break in one of our main lines located on Stenson Road near old Highway 27 as of today August 26th.  If you are having low water pressure, or no water at all this is why.  Customers in the area of the break will be under a boil water notice until we contact you further.  You will probably experience colored water until we are able to flush the lines after the repairs are completed.

THIS PRECAUTIONARY ACTION WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE SYSTEM LOST PRESSURE DUE TO A BREAK IN THE WATER LINE.

WHEN A WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM LOSES PRESSURE, CONTAMINANTS CAN SIPHON BACK INTO THE SYSTEM. PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS CONSIDER ANY SYSTEM THAT HAS LOST PRESSURE CONTAMINATED UNTIL TESTS OF THE WATER PROVE OTHERWISE.

AS SOON AS PRESSURE IS RESTORED TO THOSE CUSTOMERS AFFECTED, WATER SYSTEM OFFICIALS WILL BEGIN COLLECTING SAMPLES FOR TESTING AND RECOMMEND THAT CONSUMERS VIGOROUSLY BOIL THEIR WATER FOR 2 MINUTES BEFORE IT IS CONSUMED OR USE AN ALTERNATE SOURCE FOR DRINKING AND COOKING.

Thank you for your patience as our Maintenance Crew are working around the clock to repair the break.

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR WATER MAIN FLUSH FOR HILLDALE WATER DISTRICT

Hilldale Water District will be conducting a Water Main Flush in the Oak Park area starting Tuesday March 1, 2022. This effort is to rid the system of iron sediment that has been causing some to experience discolored water. Flushing will last approximately 2 weeks.

As these deposits are being intentionally stirred up in order to flush them out PLEASE CHECK YOUR WATER FOR CLARITY BEFORE USE FOR WHITE LAUNDRY, COOKING OR CONSUMPTION. When checking use only your COLD water. If there is any discoloration in the water and you turn on the hot it will get in your water heater. Run your cold water for a few minutes until it is clear before each use.

Note that the water will not harm your pets. Also okay for flushing toilets, washing dishes and showering.

YOU WILL NOT BE UNDER A BOILWATER NOTICE DURING THIS FLUSH.

PLEASE UPDATE YOUR PHONE NUMBERS IF THEY HAVE CHANGED.

Please help us spread the word by making sure that your friends and neighbors are aware of this flushing event.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during our effort to supply our customers the best water possible.

                              Notice to Hilldale Water District Members

2/24/2022 

We have had many complaints about our members not receiving their bills in a timely manner.  Hilldale puts the bills in the mail on the last working day of each month.  Members have until the 15th of each month to pay their bill without penalty.  After the 15th of the month a late fee will be assessed.  Seems evident that the Postal Service (USPS) is having issues getting the bills delivered in a timely manner.  We are encouraging everyone to call our office (601-636-8475) if the bill has not been received within the first few days of the month, to inquire as to the amount owed so your bill can be paid without penalty.  Also, if you mail your payment, put it in the mail as early in the month as possible to ensure it gets delivered before the 15th of the month.  This also goes for those who pay their bills online through their bank as the bank uses the postal system to send those payments out.  Any unpaid balance as of the 15th of the month will have a late fee added.   Hilldale has contacted the local Post Office several times with these concerns.  We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused but once Hilldale puts the bills into the custody of the postal system, when those bills get delivered is out of our control.

March 23, 2020 

Hilldale Water District COVID-19 Safety Procedures 

Customers,

Hilldale Water District is following the Mississippi Department of Health guidelines for public health.  For the protection of our customers and employees so that Hilldale can continue to provide your much-needed water and services, we are following these safety procedures at home as well as on the job:

-       Wash hands often

-       Do not touch your face

-       Practice Social distancing, staying at least 6 feet away from others, even while at work

-       No person to person contact

-       Cover coughs and sneezes

-       If someone else coughs or sneezes, walk the other way

-       Clean and sanitize often touched surfaces

-       Travel only when necessary 

Hilldale offers bill pay by credit or debit card over the phone for the convenience and safety of our customers and staff.  We strongly encourage the use of this bill pay method.  For our cash customers, we also strongly encourage customers to drop cash payments in the after-hours deposit box for the foreseeable future.  Envelopes are available for your convenience.  Be sure to provide the name on the account, the account number and address, amount enclosed and a cell phone number.  . .  Any amount over the amount owed will be credited to your account.  Payments by check or money order may be mailed or also dropped in the deposit box by using the envelopes as described above. 

These are extraordinary times.  With all of us working together, we can all get through this. If anyone has questions or to set up payment by a bank draft, please call our office at 601-636-8475 rather than risk the health of our employees or yours by traveling. 

Sincerely, 

Bradley Barnes

General Manager

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Consumer Confidence Report

Click here to view the 2020 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report

Hilldale History

Hilldale Water District (HWD), located in Warren County, Mississippi was incorporated as a customer owned non-profit water utility in 1965 serving 176 customers with 209 taps. In the early years, Hilldale had a single simple treatment plant sourced by three wells. After aeration and chlorination treatment, a single 100,000 gallon elevated tank stored the District's potable water. Another 100,000 gallon elevated tank and a second treatment plant was added in 1981, because of residential-growth. This second treatment plant included the added feature of pressure filters for iron removal. In 1992, pressure filters were also added to the original treatment plant facility.