Pine Cove Water District: 4,000 Views!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

4,000 Views!

We're back! Hope you had a great Martin Luther King Day. The weather this weekend has been absolutely spectacular. If this past weekend doesn't give you spring fever, then nothing will. It certainly doesn't feel like January out there. Most of the snow has melted and the sun has been shining. Quite the contrast to the 6 straight days of rain we had back in December. The swings in the weather are just amazing.

When I left the office on Friday afternoon, we had over 3900 hits to the blog and I was hoping we would hit the 4000 mark by the time I got back this morning. I was right. We have now had 4,073 hits to the blog! Wow, that is outstanding. We are very hopeful that this blog provides much needed information and perhaps a little entertainment and enlightenment to those viewing it. Please check it often to see what is happening here at the water district and around Pine Cove.

As always, I appreciate input from those reading here. If there is a topic you would like to see discussed, let me know. You can always email me at pcwd2675@yahoo.com and let me know what is on your mind. We try to keep things on the light side here with what is relevant to Pine Cove, green living, conservation, both inside and outside, and gardening. Much of the water use here on the hill revolves around those topics and so we try to provide information that is relative to those issues.

And don't forget to send your pictures. We love pictures here at the water district and are interested in what is happening around Pine Cove. Our goal in this new year is to get more pictures up on the blog. Is there something you are intersted in seeing from the water district? Let me know and I will try to get a picture of it posted. I posted some very pretty shots that were taken from the Rocky Point tank site, included a picture of the weather station.

We also wanted to thank everyone with their help with the recent leaks. We sent out an email to those who have left email addresses with us, to notify everyone of the high water usage that was occuring and to alert them that there were leaks somewhere. While some people took the email the wrong way and sent back messages that really had nothing to do with the leak situation, most took it seriously and many of you contacted us to check on your mountain home. It is like the old saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

It is very important that we stay vigilant. Our water is precious and to see thousands of gallons of it wasted due to water not being turned off is such a shame. Lets try to prevent these types of situations in the future. And we hope that if we are ever in the position to send out an email alert again, that it will be taken seriously.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO TURN YOUR WATER OFF AT YOUR CUSTOMER VALVE WHEN YOU LEAVE YOUR MOUNTAIN HOME.

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FREE STUFF!

We have lots of things available for our customers, all free of charge. Stop by the district office to pick up yours today.

Saving Water Kit. These kits include a low flow shower head, a kitchen swivel aerator, 2 bathroom faucet aerators, toilet water saver, toilet leak detection tablets, flow meter bag and a water conservation wheel.

Blue bird houses made from recycled wood.

Wood chips to help retain moisture in your garden.

Here at the PCWD, we care about the environment and want to help our customers save water.

CURRENT REBATES

Effective 7/1/10, the District is offering a rebate program for the following items:

One half of the purchase price to a maximum on $100.00 per toilet, max of two toilets per household, for the purchase and installation of a 1.6 GPM or less, Low Flow Toilet.

$50.00 rebate for the purchase and installation of a High Efficiency/Front Loading washing machine.

$100.00 Rebate for the purchase and installation of an approved Hot Wter Recycling System, limit of 1 per household.

Smart Water Systems on outside watering an drip stystems, maximum of $150.00, decided on a case by case basis.

Rain Water Collection Systems, maximum of $150.00 decided on a case by case basis.

All rebates must be approved by the General manager and must include proof of purchase and installation and there will be no repeat rebates allowed for a minimum of 5 years. Within any fiscal year, the maximum total rebates is $250.00 per property.

Rebates for any commercial or multi-family units will be decided on a case by case basis and must be approved by the Board of Directors.

Please stop in the office to fill out the necessary paper work to receive your rebate.

Winterizing Tips

Every winter season, homeowners in mountain communities are at risk of the damage and expense caused by frozen pipes. However, just a few precatuions can greatly reduce your risk and may even help with your winter heating efficiency.

Disconnect and Drain-detaching hoses from outdoor faucets allows water to drain from the pipe.

Insulate-if you have pipelines in an unheated garage or cold crawl spaced under the house, wrap the water pipes before temperatures plummet. You can also puchase insulated covers for your outdoor faucets as well.

Turn off Water-turning your water off when you leave you mountain home is the most important thing you can do to prevent a leak or break.

Seal Off Vents, Cracks and Doors-winter winds whistling through overlooked openings can quickly freeze exposed water pipes.

By following these simple steps, you will be protecting yourself from a possible leak or broken pipe due to freezing.

Remember, all water that passes through the meter is the homeowner's responsibility, even if it is due to frozen or broken pipes.

Riverside County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

The Pine Cove Water District is participating in Riverside County's Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. They are currently in the process of updating it and we have been trying to do our part. We have been nominated as a possible site for an Emergency Operations Center should a diaster befall us. We will be making updates here on the blog and our website so that we can keep the public informed as to our progress and plans. It is our hope that our preparations are never put to the test, but we want to be prepared, just in case.

Pine Cove Water District Welcomes You!

It is our mission to provide ample amounts of potable water at a reasonable price to all constituents within the Pine Cove area.

As a water district in a small community, we here at the Pine Cove Water District feel a special connection with our customers. We want our customers to be informed and in addition to our website and our semi annual newsletters, we have created this blog to keep everyone up to date on the latest happenings here at the Pine Cove Water District.

We hope you will check in often and feel free to leave your comments and suggestions.

Rules for Watering your Landscape

1. Get to know your plants signal for water: All plants and trees have different water requirements. The time to water is when the plants need it. Adjust your watering schedule and automatic timers for cooler, wetter or windy weather.

2. Split your watering time and prevent runoff: If water runs off instead of soaking in, split the water time into two sessions to allow the soil to absorb the water. Amend your soil to improve the water holding capacity of your soil.Watering half the time, twice as often will help water stay in the root zone.

3. Train your plants to develop deep roots: Water thoroughly, but infrequently. Make sure that plants are deep watered in the spring so they will develop deep roots and need less water in the summer. Deeper roots allow plants to use moisture deep in the ground. Plants will be healthier and stronger.

4. Avoid watering on windy days: When you water on windy days (a breeze stronger than 5 to 7 miles per hour), much of the water evaporates or blows away.

5. Avoid watering in the middle of the day: Morning is the best time to water because it helps prevent the growth of fungus. Also by watering in the cool part of the day, more water soaks in instead of evaporating.

6. Turn off your irrigation system when it rains: Don't waste water by watering plants in the rain. Rain sensors are available if you aren't home to to turn them off.

7. Mulch around trees and shrubs: Mulching discourages weeds and slows evaporation when you water your plants.

8. Keep your soil in shape: Soil amendments such as compost can benefit your plants both by providing nutrients and by changing the composition of the soil so it holds water better. Improving your soil needs to be done regularly, including the areas around existing plants and shrubs.

9. Maintain your watering system: Broken sprinkler heads spew water that doesn't benefit your plants. Replace old or worn irrigation fixtures. Hoses, couplings, valves and fauceets that leak not only create large puddles, but waste water and your money.

10. Choose the right plants: Take a plants water and sun needs into consideration before adding it to you landscape. Look for drought tolerant plants with low water needs.