A Municipal Utility District, or MUD, is a political subdivision authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to provide water, sewage, drainage and other services within the MUD’s boundaries; the Lakeway Municipal Utility District focuses only on supplying water and treating wastewater.
Our state has more than 800 active MUDs.
The Texas Constitution was amended to allow establishment of water districts in the early part of the 20th century. Modern-day MUDs were permitted in 1971 through passage of Chapter 49 and Chapter 54 of the Texas Water Code.
MUDs enjoy more flexibility than city-run utilities because residents have a better sense of who is running a MUD—their friends, neighbors and colleagues—and have more input regarding the cost and expansion of services.
The nonprofit Lakeway MUD, established in 1972, provides water, wastewater and reuse services to the majority of homes and businesses that primarily are within the boundaries of the City of Lakeway and within a portion of the Village of the Hills.
Lakeway MUD’s geographic area covers nearly 1,900 acres—about one-third of the size of the City of Lakeway.
$6.3 million.
20.52 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for 2010.
For the first 15,000 gallons of usage, a customer pays $2.50 per thousand gallons. The cost per thousand gallons gradually rises based on usage. At the upper end, if a customer uses more than 100,000 gallons of water, the cost increases to $5 per thousand gallons.
Lakeway MUD’s rate for water and wastewater, plus property taxes, is one of the lowest rates in the area. Steiner Ranch, Senna Hills, Brushy Creek, Flintrock, Hurst Creek, Horseshoe Bay, Bee Cave, Briarcliff and River Place all have higher rates.
“Aa2” from Moody's and "AA-" from Standard & Poor's. We have the highest rating of the 730 MUDs in Texas.
Lakeway MUD serves more than 4,000 water customers and nearly 3,000 wastewater customers.
Nearly 1.6 million gallons.
The water comes from Lake Travis through a contract with the Lower Colorado River Authority.
A five-member, unpaid, elected Board of Directors sets policies, establishes service rates, approves major operating expenditures and authorizes all capital expenditures.
The volunteer directors are elected to four-year terms in May of each even-numbered year. Terms are staggered so that, at most, three director positions are filled in a given year.
A 21-member staff, led by General Manager Earl Foster since 2010.
Unless they are voting residents within a MUD, real estate developers have no authority or control over the Board of Directors of a MUD in Texas. If they are voting members of the district, developers have the same power to vote and attend board meetings as any other resident. Unlike some newer MUDs, Lakeway MUD has no developers on its Board of Directors.
9:30 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month.
Lakeway MUD’s offices at 1097 Lohmans Crossing in Lakeway.
Every regular meeting allots time for public comments; everyone is welcome to attend.
Yes. As with all other MUDs in Texas, Lakeway MUD is regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
TCEQ essentially is our state’s version of the federal Environmental Protection Agency. TCEQ strives to protect our state’s human and natural resources consistent with sustainable economic development. The state agency’s goal is clean air, clean water and safe management of waste. For more information, visit www.tceq.state.tx.us.
Yes. Lakeway MUD has earned a “superior” water system rating from TCEQ.
Call 512-261-6222 or visit www.lakewaymud.org. Lakeway MUD’s business hours are 8:30 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.