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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPipeline 01 - Winter 2018T H E O TAY WA TER DISTRICT • P R OUDLY SERVING E A ST C OUNT Y A ND TH E S OUTH B A Y SINC E 1956 A NE W SLET TE R FOR CUSTOMER S OF T HE OTAY WATER DISTRICT The Pipeline Newsletter is published quarterly by the Otay Water District and can also be found online at www.otaywater.gov. Copyright © 2017 Otay Water District. All rights reserved. WINTER 2018 FOLLOW OTAY WATER ON... / SIGA AL DISTRITO DE AGUA DE OTAY EN... OTAY WATER DISTRICT – Board of Directors The Board of Directors meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 3:30 p.m. in the Board meeting room. The public is encouraged to attend at 2554 Sweetwater Springs Boulevard, Spring Valley, CA. PresidentTim Smith, Division 1tsmith@otaywater.gov Vice PresidentMitch Thompson, Division 2mthompson@otaywater.gov TreasurerMark Robak, Division 5mrobak@otaywater.gov Board MemberGary Croucher, Division 3gcroucher@otaywater.gov Board MemberHector Gastelum, Division 4hector@otaywater.gov Bottled vs. Tap Water: Otay Water District Affirms Efforts to Support Use of Municipal Tap Water No matter your preference — bottled or tap — one reason to choose tap water over bottled water, is convenience. Tap water is readily available almost anywhere, from your home’s faucets to local restaurants to public drinking fountains. It can be less expensive and does not require plastic packaging that may end up in a landfill. Despite popular belief, tap water is as safe as bottled water. To ensure quality, tap water is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). The water that travels to your faucet must meet or exceed rigorous state and federal water quality standards and regulations. Even though bottled water must provide the same protection for public health as tap water, bottled water is regulated as a packaged food product by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. When it comes to the taste, however, that will depend on the source and how the water is treated. Water originates from either the surface such as lakes, rivers and streams, or from underground, which is surface water that sinks into the ground. This includes rainfall. The USEPA and the SWRCB require that agencies from which Otay purchases its treated water – the San Diego County Water Authority, Helix Water District, and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California — perform source water assessments on their raw water supplies. Tap water is not only safe, but it is affordable. Bottled water often costs more than the equivalent volume of gasoline — 1,000 to 10,000 times the cost of tap water. On average, a gallon of tap water in the region is about three-quarters of a cent per gallon. At its January 2018 District Board of Directors meeting, the Board adopted a resolution in support of the use of municipal tap water through reducing the purchase and use of bottled water, to the maximum extent possible. The District recognizes the importance of using bottled water in the event of an emergency. Otay encourages you to learn more about your tap water by reading the District’s annual water quality report. The District vigilantly safeguards its water supplies, and, according to its 2017 report, has never exceeded a health-related maximum contaminant level or any other water quality standard. Visit otaywater. gov and click on “water quality” to learn more. Agua embotellada vs. Agua del grifo: El Distrito de Agua de Otay afirma su apoyo al uso del agua del grifo municipal No importa cuál sea su preferencia –agua embotellada o del grifo– una de las razones principales para elegir el agua del grifo es la conveniencia. El agua del grifo está disponible casi en cualquier lugar, ya sea en los grifos de los hogares, restaurantes locales y fuentes de agua potable públicas. También puede ser muy económica y no requiere de empaques de plástico que terminarán en un vertedero. A pesar de la creencia popular, el agua del grifo es tan segura como el agua embotellada. La Agencia de Protección Ambiental de los Estados Unidos (USEPA, por sus siglas en inglés) y la Junta Estatal de Control de los Recursos Hídricos (SWRCB, por sus siglas en inglés) regulan la calidad del agua de beber. El agua del grifo debe cumplir o superar las normas y regulaciones más estrictas tanto estatales como federales de calidad de agua. Aun cuando el agua embotellada debe proporcionar la misma protección para la salud pública que el agua del grifo, el agua embotellada es regulada por la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos de los Estados Unidos como un producto alimenticio empacado. No obstante, cuando se trata del sabor, este dependerá de la fuente y el procedimiento que se utilice para tratar el agua. El agua proviene de la superficie como lagos, ríos y arroyos o del subsuelo que es agua superficial que penetra en el suelo. Esto incluye la lluvia. La USEPA y la SWRCB requieren que las agencias a las que Otay les compra el agua tratada (la Autoridad de Agua del Condado de San Diego, el Distrito de Agua de Hélix y el Distrito Metropolitano de Agua del Sur de California), lleven a cabo evaluaciones de las fuentes de agua de sus suministros de agua sin tratar. El agua del grifo no solamente es segura, sino muy económica. A menudo, el agua embotellada cuesta más que el volumen equivalente de gasolina, es decir, 1,000 a 10,000 veces el costo del agua del grifo. En promedio, un galón de agua del grifo en la región cuesta tres cuartos de centavo por galón. Durante su junta mensual del mes de enero del presente año, el Consejo Directivo del Distrito de Agua de Otay aprobó una resolución en la que afirma su apoyo al uso de agua del grifo, en la mayor medida posible, así como la reducción de la compra y utilización de agua embotellada. El distrito reconoce la importancia del uso de agua embotellada en casos de emergencia. Otay le invita a aprender más acerca de su agua del grifo a través del informe anual de calidad de agua del distrito. Otay salvaguarda atentamente sus suministros de agua. De acuerdo a su informe de 2017, nunca ha excedido el nivel máximo de contaminantes relacionados con la salud u otro estándar de calidad de agua. Para obtener más información visite otaywater.org y haga clic en ‘calidad de agua’. Take Caution Against Phone Scams The Otay Water District has received multiple reports of scam artists targeting customers using a tactic called caller-ID spoofing. This practice occurs when scammers mask (or pretend) to use their existing phone number with one you may be familiar with and trust. Scammers may call, trying to mislead customers in believing their water bill is overdue and services will be disconnected if not paid immediately. The fact is that the District will send you one or more disconnection notices via U.S. mail in a timely fashion before disconnecting or shutting off your water service. Also, the District offers multiple payment options to prevent stoppage of water service. The District advises customers to be cautious of anyone calling and masking their number with a District phone number claiming to be a District representative, soliciting information, demanding credit card payments or other methods of payment. If ever in doubt, please contact the District at (619) 670-2222 to verify any information. For further tips on avoiding these and other types of scams, visit the Federal Trade Commission at consumer.ftc.gov/taxonomy/term/874. For dditional information on a variety of utility scams, how to minimize and/or avoid them, and how to report them, visit www.utilitiesunited.org/Documents/ Guide_UUAS_Guide_Utility_Scams.pdf. ¡Cuidado! El Distrito alerta sobre fraudes telefónicos El Distrito de Agua de Otay ha recibido múltiples informes sobre estafadores que se están comunicando con los clientes utilizando una táctica llamada suplantación de identificador de llamadas. En estos casos los estafadores enmascaran su número telefónico existente con uno que usted conoce o está familiarizado. Los estafadores pueden llamar para hacer creer a clientes que su factura de agua está vencida y que los servicios van a ser desconectados si no se pagan de inmediato. El distrito le enviará uno o más avisos de desconexión a través del servicio postal de manera oportuna antes de desconectar su servicio de agua. Además, el distrito ofrece opciones de pago para evitar la suspensión del servicio. El distrito recomienda a sus clientes tener cautela si alguien le llama o enmascara su número telefónico con el del Distrito pretendiendo ser un representante del distrito, solicitando información o pagos con tarjeta de crédito u otros métodos de pago. Si tiene alguna duda o pregunta, por favor llame al teléfono del distrito: (619) 670-2222. Para obtener más consejos acerca de cómo evitar estos tipos de fraudes, visite la página de la Comisión Federal de Comercio: consumer.ftc.gov/taxonomy/ term/874. También puede encontrar información adicional sobre fraudes en servicios públicos y cómo evitarlos en www.utilitiesunited.org/Documents/ Guide_UUAS_Guide_Utility_Scams.pdf a Nan Sterman’sPlant Soup Inc. Nan Sterman is a garden expert, author, designer, and educator. Nan leads international garden tours and hosts the show A Growing Passion on KPBS TV. www.plantsoup.com For additional classes or events, visit thegarden.org Free Docent-Led ToursFirst Saturday of the month, 10 a.m. Be inspired to create a water-wise landscape of your own while enjoying an informative walk through the Garden with a docent tour guide. Visit thegarden.org for special themed tours. Professional Landscape Design Consultations The Garden offers 45-minute landscape consultations for residents looking to make changes to their landscape with water-wise plants. Call (619) 660-0614 ext. 10 to schedule. Cost: $60 for members; $75 for nonmembers. Ms. Smarty-Plants School Tours and Assembly Program Become a Ms. Smarty-Plants Earth Hero. Join Ms. Smarty-Plants as she takes you on a magical, fun, and interactive journey through plant adaptations, the water cycle, conservation, and more. To book an educational tour of the Garden or a school assembly program, call (619) 660-0614 ext. 16. Spring Garden & Butterfly Festival April 28, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The 25th annual event will feature water agency booths, landscape design consultations, kids’ activities, a docent-led tour of the Garden, and dozens of craft and food vendors. Free admission. Customer Appreciation DayMay 19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m The Garden is hosting a special day for ratepayers of the Otay Water District, Helix Water District, Sweetwater Authority, and the City of SanDiego. Enjoy kids’ activities, free shave ice, presentations, tours, and more. Free admission. ONGOING EVENTS SEASONAL EVENTS In other regions of the country, residents are aching for the long,drab winter to end. As if to hasten its end, they take this time to plan bright displays of annual flowers that mark the transition to spring. In the San Diego region, we have flowers and foliage year-round,so there’s no need for over-the-top springtime floral indulgence. Instead, we plan gardens to have flowers just about every month. And the best way to do that is with flowering, waterwise shrubs. These shrubs bloom primarily in the cooler months of spring and fall, with a smattering of winter flowers too. They are tough, drought resistant, and almost bullet proof. Best of all, whether in bloom or out, they are a constant background for spring, summer, fall, andwinter flowers. Here are a few of my favorites for our region: Sphaeralcea ambigua,desert mallow, is a small, open desert native that grows two-to-four feet tall and wide. Its small, silvery green leaves are ridged and covered in fuzz. In early spring, cuplike flowers cover the branches, typically apricot colored, but sometimes white, pink, or pale purple. There is a selection called ‘Louis Hamilton’ that has watermelon colored flowers. Some years, these plants bloom again after the summer. In early fall, thin out the dead branches.Then, cut the plant back to six inches tall. It will flush with new growth. Occasional new plants sprout to replace old ones that die out. Plant them in the full sun, in well-draining soils and water to establish. After establishment, the plants need little if any irrigation. This plant looks beautiful when combined with a blue-blade agave. Grevillea ‘Moonlight’ is a surprise from down under. This larger member of the Grevillea family has long, narrow, almost needle-likedeep green leaves and grows tall, at least eight-to-12 feet tall, and six-to-eight feet wide. In the cooler months, the branches form long, cone-shaped spidery flower clusters that are a pale butter yellow. Their color shows best when the plant is sited against a sage, terra cotta, or coco brown walls. These flowers are hummingbird magnets. They are also easy-to-grow and are waterwise. Do not fertilize. Abutilon palmeri, Indian mallow, is anotherdesert native. This one contains extensive, soft green, and very fuzzy leaves that grow broad, almost like a maple leaf. Site this plant near a walkway so you can feel the leaves as you walk by. Deep, gold yellow flowers form at the branches tips, mostly inspring and fall, with some present, year round. This shrub grows surprisingly large, at least four feet tall and five feet wide. After most flowers are past, cut the spent flower stalks off. You can also cut the plant back at least by a third. This plant is extremely drought tolerant. Water little if any, once it’s established. Hummingbirds andbutterflies are frequent visitors. Ceanothus, California lilac, are not lilacs but rather a large group of evergreen shrubs native to different regions and habitats up and down the state. Some are the size of small trees (Ceanothus ‘Ray Hartman’ grows to 20 feet tall), some are low groundcovers (Ceanothus griseus horizontalis ‘Yankee Point’ grows two-to-three feet tall and eight-to-10 feet wide), and some are all sizes in between. In early spring, these shrubs form rounded clusters of tiny flowers, in shades of white-to-deep indigo blue. If you’re close, you’ll notice the flowers’ fragrance, too. Ceanothus get a bad rap for being short lived in the garden, but that is usually from being planted where they get too much irrigation or are overwatered in general. Instead, water regularly through the first summer to establish, and then only during long dry periods from fall through spring. Waterlittle, if at all, in the summer – that’s Mother Nature’s pattern too! Excellent plant for attracting wildlife to the garden. Eremophila glabra ‘Kalgoorlie’ is a small, evergreen shrub fromAustralia, just three feet tall and four-to-six feet wide. It has narrow, ghostly silver green leaves and tubular flowers that are apricot and gold. The spring and summer flowers are subtle, but there are somany that collectively, they make a big impression. Plant in the fullsun, well-draining soil, and shear back by a third after the bloom has past. I like to grow this on a slope, under taller flowering shrubs like Grevillea ‘Moonlight’. Both have hummingbird-attracting flowers. A Few of my Favorite Flowering ShrubsPreparing Your Emergency Home Water Supply BEFORE an Emergency • Prepare to be self-sufficient for 72+ hours. • Learn how to operate shut-off valves and the water heater. Mark valves and covers with fluorescent paint or tape to locate in the dark. Keep tools handy. • Brace, strap, or anchor the water heater. • Store 3+ gallons of water per person and additional water for pets. Store away from household cleaners or contaminants. • Replace expired water bottles. • Keep these items inside your vehicle: extra water and/or water purification tablets. • Do not add coloring or disinfecting products to toilet tank, which could be a source of emergency water. The water heater is another emergency source. AFTER an Emergency • Check local news or with your water agency, whether your tap water is safe to drink. • Check pipes for leaks/breaks and shut off main line valve if necessary, to prevent contamination. • Check if sewage lines are intact. If necessary, plug bathroom drains to prevent backup. • Avoid food or water that may have been contaminated by untreated water. • Pool and spa water can be used for personal hygiene, flushing a toilet, and related uses. The chemicals in the water are too concentrated for safe drinking. • Emergency drinking water sources include stored water, water heaters (turn off electricity gas before draining), toilet tanks, and melted ice or juices in canned vegetables. To learn how to disinfect water for drinking and additional emergency information sources, visit otaywater.gov. Turn Your Landscape Into a Sustainable Showpiece Free Guidebook Available to Otay Customers FREE copies of the “San Diego Sustainable Landscape Guidelines” book are now available (while supplies last) to homeowners in Otay’s service area. The popular 71-page guidebook includes information to help homeowners upgrade their landscapes with climate-appropriate plants, high-efficiency irrigation equipment, rainwater capture and detention features, and soil amendments to improve water efficiency. PICK-UP LOCATIONS: •Otay Water District Office, 2554 Sweetwater Springs Blvd., Spring Valley •Water Conservation Garden, 12122 Cuyamaca College Drive W., El Cajon •Southwestern College Library, 900 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista •Otay Ranch Public Library, 2015 Birch Road, Suite #409, Chula Vista •Bonita-Sunnyside Branch Library, 4375 Bonita Road, Bonita •Salt Creek Recreation Center, 2710 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista •Heritage Recreation Center, 1381 E. Palomar St., Chula Vista Proud of Your Water-Efficient Landscape? Show it Off by Entering the WaterSmart Landscape Contest The District, along with other water agencies throughout San Diego County, is recognizing residents, once again, with landscapes that are beautiful and water efficient. The District invites its customers to enter the 2018 WaterSmart Landscape Contest for a chance to win several prizes, including a $250 nursery gift card. The annual competition, awards “Best in District” to one applicant from each participating water agency who best showcases their landscape’s water-wise features. This could be your chance to promote your landscape! Otay’s judging committee will select a winner based on appropriate design, plant selection, maintenance, irrigation methods, and water-use efficiency. The winner will receive a gift certificate, other promotional items, recognition on the District’s website, social media platforms, and in the newsletter. THE DEADLINE TO ENTER IS MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2018. For submission rules and tips to improve your chances of winning, visit landscapecontest.com. Last year’s “Best in District” winner from Bonita, CA. Nan Sterman’sPlant Soup Inc. Nan Sterman is a garden expert, author, designer, and educator. Nan leads international garden tours and hosts the show A Growing Passion on KPBS TV. www.plantsoup.com For additional classes or events, visit thegarden.org Free Docent-Led ToursFirst Saturday of the month, 10 a.m. Be inspired to create a water-wise landscape of your own while enjoying an informative walk through the Garden with a docent tour guide. Visit thegarden.org for special themed tours. Professional Landscape Design Consultations The Garden offers 45-minute landscape consultations for residents looking to make changes to their landscape with water-wise plants. Call (619) 660-0614 ext. 10 to schedule. Cost: $60 for members; $75 for nonmembers. Ms. Smarty-Plants School Tours and Assembly Program Become a Ms. Smarty-Plants Earth Hero. Join Ms. Smarty-Plants as she takes you on a magical, fun, and interactive journey through plant adaptations, the water cycle, conservation, and more. To book an educational tour of the Garden or a school assembly program, call (619) 660-0614 ext. 16. Spring Garden & Butterfly Festival April 28, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The 25th annual event will feature water agency booths, landscape design consultations, kids’ activities, a docent-led tour of the Garden, and dozens of craft and food vendors. Free admission. Customer Appreciation DayMay 19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m The Garden is hosting a special day for ratepayers of the Otay Water District, Helix Water District, Sweetwater Authority, and the City of San Diego. Enjoy kids’ activities, free shave ice, presentations, tours, and more. Free admission. ONGOING EVENTS SEASONAL EVENTS In other regions of the country, residents are aching for the long, drab winter to end. As if to hasten its end, they take this time to plan bright displays of annual flowers that mark the transition to spring. In the San Diego region, we have flowers and foliage year-round, so there’s no need for over-the-top springtime floral indulgence. Instead, we plan gardens to have flowers just about every month. And the best way to do that is with flowering, waterwise shrubs. These shrubs bloom primarily in the cooler months of spring and fall, with a smattering of winter flowers too. They are tough, drought resistant, and almost bullet proof. Best of all, whether in bloom or out, they are a constant background for spring, summer, fall, and winter flowers. Here are a few of my favorites for our region: Sphaeralcea ambigua, desert mallow, is a small, open desert native that grows two-to-four feet tall and wide. Its small, silvery green leaves are ridged and covered in fuzz. In early spring, cuplike flowers cover the branches, typically apricot colored, but sometimes white, pink, or pale purple. There is a selection called ‘Louis Hamilton’ that has watermelon colored flowers. Some years, these plants bloom again after the summer. In early fall, thin out the dead branches. Then, cut the plant back to six inches tall. It will flush with new growth. Occasional new plants sprout to replace old ones that die out. Plant them in the full sun, in well-draining soils and water to establish. After establishment, the plants need little if any irrigation. This plant looks beautiful when combined with a blue-blade agave. Grevillea ‘Moonlight’ is a surprise from down under. This larger member of the Grevillea family has long, narrow, almost needle-like deep green leaves and grows tall, at least eight-to-12 feet tall, and six-to-eight feet wide. In the cooler months, the branches form long, cone-shaped spidery flower clusters that are a pale butter yellow. Their color shows best when the plant is sited against a sage, terra cotta, or coco brown walls. These flowers are hummingbird magnets. They are also easy-to-grow and are waterwise. Do not fertilize. Abutilon palmeri, Indian mallow, is another desert native. This one contains extensive, soft green, and very fuzzy leaves that grow broad, almost like a maple leaf. Site this plant near a walkway so you can feel the leaves as you walk by. Deep, gold yellow flowers form at the branches tips, mostly in spring and fall, with some present, year round. This shrub grows surprisingly large, at least four feet tall and five feet wide. After most flowers are past, cut the spent flower stalks off. You can also cut the plant back at least by a third. This plant is extremely drought tolerant. Water little if any, once it’s established. Hummingbirds and butterflies are frequent visitors. Ceanothus, California lilac, are not lilacs but rather a large group of evergreen shrubs native to different regions and habitats up and down the state. Some are the size of small trees (Ceanothus ‘Ray Hartman’ grows to 20 feet tall), some are low groundcovers (Ceanothus griseus horizontalis ‘Yankee Point’ grows two-to-three feet tall and eight-to-10 feet wide), and some are all sizes in between. In early spring, these shrubs form rounded clusters of tiny flowers, in shades of white-to-deep indigo blue. If you’re close, you’ll notice the flowers’ fragrance, too. Ceanothus get a bad rap for being short lived in the garden, but that is usually from being planted where they get too much irrigation or are overwatered in general. Instead, water regularly through the first summer to establish, and then only during long dry periods from fall through spring. Water little, if at all, in the summer – that’s Mother Nature’s pattern too! Excellent plant for attracting wildlife to the garden. Eremophila glabra ‘Kalgoorlie’ is a small, evergreen shrub from Australia, just three feet tall and four-to-six feet wide. It has narrow, ghostly silver green leaves and tubular flowers that are apricot and gold. The spring and summer flowers are subtle, but there are so many that collectively, they make a big impression. Plant in the full sun, well-draining soil, and shear back by a third after the bloom has past. I like to grow this on a slope, under taller flowering shrubs like Grevillea ‘Moonlight’. Both have hummingbird-attracting flowers. A Few of my Favorite Flowering ShrubsPreparing Your Emergency Home Water Supply BEFORE an Emergency • Prepare to be self-sufficient for 72+ hours. • Learn how to operate shut-off valves and the water heater. Mark valves and covers with fluorescent paint or tape to locate in the dark. Keep tools handy. • Brace, strap, or anchor the water heater. • Store 3+ gallons of water per person and additional water for pets. Store away from household cleaners or contaminants. • Replace expired water bottles. • Keep these items inside your vehicle: extra water and/or water purification tablets. • Do not add coloring or disinfecting products to toilet tank, which could be a source of emergency water. The water heater is another emergency source. AFTER an Emergency • Check local news or with your water agency, whether your tap water is safe to drink. • Check pipes for leaks/breaks and shut off main line valve if necessary, to prevent contamination. • Check if sewage lines are intact. If necessary, plug bathroom drains to prevent backup. • Avoid food or water that may have been contaminated by untreated water. • Pool and spa water can be used for personal hygiene, flushing a toilet, and related uses. The chemicals in the water are too concentrated for safe drinking. • Emergency drinking water sources include stored water, water heaters (turn off electricity gas before draining), toilet tanks, and melted ice or juices in canned vegetables. To learn how to disinfect water for drinking and additional emergency information sources, visit otaywater.gov. Turn Your Landscape Into a Sustainable Showpiece Free Guidebook Available to Otay Customers FREE copies of the “San Diego Sustainable Landscape Guidelines” book are now available (while supplies last) to homeowners in Otay’s service area. The popular 71-page guidebook includes information to help homeowners upgrade their landscapes with climate-appropriate plants, high-efficiency irrigation equipment, rainwater capture and detention features, and soil amendments to improve water efficiency. PICK-UP LOCATIONS: • Otay Water District Office, 2554 Sweetwater Springs Blvd., Spring Valley • Water Conservation Garden, 12122 Cuyamaca College Drive W., El Cajon • Southwestern College Library, 900 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista • Otay Ranch Public Library, 2015 Birch Road, Suite #409, Chula Vista • Bonita-Sunnyside Branch Library, 4375 Bonita Road, Bonita • Salt Creek Recreation Center, 2710 Otay Lakes Road, Chula Vista • Heritage Recreation Center, 1381 E. Palomar St., Chula Vista Proud of Your Water-Efficient Landscape? Show it Off by Entering the WaterSmart Landscape Contest The District, along with other water agencies throughout San Diego County, is recognizing residents, once again, with landscapes that are beautiful and water efficient. The District invites its customers to enter the 2018 WaterSmart Landscape Contest for a chance to win several prizes, including a $250 nursery gift card. The annual competition, awards “Best in District” to one applicant from each participating water agency who best showcases their landscape’s water-wise features. This could be your chance to promote your landscape! Otay’s judging committee will select a winner based on appropriate design, plant selection, maintenance, irrigation methods, and water-use efficiency. The winner will receive a gift certificate, other promotional items, recognition on the District’s website, social media platforms, and in the newsletter. THE DEADLINE TO ENTER IS MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2018. For submission rules and tips to improve your chances of winning, visit landscapecontest.com. Last year’s “Best in District” winner from Bonita, CA. T H E O T AY W A TER DISTRICT • P R OUDL Y SERVING E A ST C OUNT Y A ND TH E S OUTH B AY SINC E 1956 A NE W SLE T T E R FOR CUS T O M E R S OF T HE O TAY WATER DISTRICT The Pipeline Newsletter is published quarterly by the Otay Water District and can also be found online at www.otaywater.gov. Copyright © 2017 Otay Water District. All rights reserved. WINTER 2018 FOLLOW OTAY WATER ON... / SIGA AL DISTRITO DE AGUA DE OTAY EN... OTAY WATER DISTRICT – Board of Directors The Board of Directors meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 3:30 p.m. in the Board meeting room. The public is encouraged to attend at 2554 Sweetwater Springs Boulevard, Spring Valley, CA. PresidentTim Smith, Division 1tsmith@otaywater.gov Vice PresidentMitch Thompson, Division 2mthompson@otaywater.gov TreasurerMark Robak, Division 5mrobak@otaywater.gov Board MemberGary Croucher, Division 3gcroucher@otaywater.gov Board MemberHector Gastelum, Division 4hector@otaywater.gov Bottled vs. Tap Water: Otay Water District Affirms Efforts to Support Use of Municipal Tap Water No matter your preference — bottled or tap — one reason to choose tap water over bottled water, is convenience. Tap water is readily available almost anywhere, from your home’s faucets to local restaurants to public drinking fountains. It can be less expensive and does not require plastic packaging that may end up in a landfill. Despite popular belief, tap water is as safe as bottled water. To ensure quality, tap water is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). The water that travels to your faucet must meet or exceed rigorous state and federal water quality standards and regulations. Even though bottled water must provide the same protection for public health as tap water, bottled water is regulated as a packaged food product by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. When it comes to the taste, however, that will depend on the source and how the water is treated. Water originates from either the surface such as lakes, rivers and streams, or from underground, which is surface water that sinks into the ground. This includes rainfall. The USEPA and the SWRCB require that agencies from which Otay purchases its treated water – the San Diego County Water Authority, Helix Water District, and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California — perform source water assessments on their raw water supplies. Tap water is not only safe, but it is affordable. Bottled water often costs more than the equivalent volume of gasoline — 1,000 to 10,000 times the cost of tap water. On average, a gallon of tap water in the region is about three-quarters of a cent per gallon. At its January 2018 District Board of Directors meeting, the Board adopted a resolution in support of the use of municipal tap water through reducing the purchase and use of bottled water, to the maximum extent possible. The District recognizes the importance of using bottled water in the event of an emergency. Otay encourages you to learn more about your tap water by reading the District’s annual water quality report. The District vigilantly safeguards its water supplies, and, according to its 2017 report, has never exceeded a health-related maximum contaminant level or any other water quality standard. Visit otaywater. gov and click on “water quality” to learn more. Agua embotellada vs. Agua del grifo: El Distrito de Agua de Otay afirma su apoyo al uso del agua del grifo municipal No importa cuál sea su preferencia –agua embotellada o del grifo– una de las razones principales para elegir el agua del grifo es la conveniencia. El agua del grifo está disponible casi en cualquier lugar, ya sea en los grifos de los hogares, restaurantes locales y fuentes de agua potable públicas. También puede ser muy económica y no requiere de empaques de plástico que terminarán en un vertedero. A pesar de la creencia popular, el agua del grifo es tan segura como el agua embotellada. La Agencia de Protección Ambiental de los Estados Unidos (USEPA, por sus siglas en inglés) y la Junta Estatal de Control de los Recursos Hídricos (SWRCB, por sus siglas en inglés) regulan la calidad del agua de beber. El agua del grifo debe cumplir o superar las normas y regulaciones más estrictas tanto estatales como federales de calidad de agua. Aun cuando el agua embotellada debe proporcionar la misma protección para la salud pública que el agua del grifo, el agua embotellada es regulada por la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos de los Estados Unidos como un producto alimenticio empacado. No obstante, cuando se trata del sabor, este dependerá de la fuente y el procedimiento que se utilice para tratar el agua. El agua proviene de la superficie como lagos, ríos y arroyos o del subsuelo que es agua superficial que penetra en el suelo. Esto incluye la lluvia. La USEPA y la SWRCB requieren que las agencias a las que Otay les compra el agua tratada (la Autoridad de Agua del Condado de San Diego, el Distrito de Agua de Hélix y el Distrito Metropolitano de Agua del Sur de California), lleven a cabo evaluaciones de las fuentes de agua de sus suministros de agua sin tratar. El agua del grifo no solamente es segura, sino muy económica. A menudo, el agua embotellada cuesta más que el volumen equivalente de gasolina, es decir, 1,000 a 10,000 veces el costo del agua del grifo. En promedio, un galón de agua del grifo en la región cuesta tres cuartos de centavo por galón. Durante su junta mensual del mes de enero del presente año, el Consejo Directivo del Distrito de Agua de Otay aprobó una resolución en la que afirma su apoyo al uso de agua del grifo, en la mayor medida posible, así como la reducción de la compra y utilización de agua embotellada. El distrito reconoce la importancia del uso de agua embotellada en casos de emergencia. Otay le invita a aprender más acerca de su agua del grifo a través del informe anual de calidad de agua del distrito. Otay salvaguarda atentamente sus suministros de agua. De acuerdo a su informe de 2017, nunca ha excedido el nivel máximo de contaminantes relacionados con la salud u otro estándar de calidad de agua. Para obtener más información visite otaywater.org y haga clic en ‘calidad de agua’. Take Caution Against Phone Scams The Otay Water District has received multiple reports of scam artists targeting customers using a tactic called caller-ID spoofing. This practice occurs when scammers mask (or pretend) to use their existing phone number with one you may be familiar with and trust. Scammers may call, trying to mislead customers in believing their water bill is overdue and services will be disconnected if not paid immediately. The fact is that the District will send you one or more disconnection notices via U.S. mail in a timely fashion before disconnecting or shutting off your water service. Also, the District offers multiple payment options to prevent stoppage of water service. The District advises customers to be cautious of anyone calling and masking their number with a District phone number claiming to be a District representative, soliciting information, demanding credit card payments or other methods of payment. If ever in doubt, please contact the District at (619) 670-2222 to verify any information. For further tips on avoiding these and other types of scams, visit the Federal Trade Commission at consumer.ftc.gov/taxonomy/term/874. For dditional information on a variety of utility scams, how to minimize and/or avoid them, and how to report them, visit www.utilitiesunited.org/Documents/ Guide_UUAS_Guide_Utility_Scams.pdf. ¡Cuidado! El Distrito alerta sobre fraudes telefónicos El Distrito de Agua de Otay ha recibido múltiples informes sobre estafadores que se están comunicando con los clientes utilizando una táctica llamada suplantación de identificador de llamadas. En estos casos los estafadores enmascaran su número telefónico existente con uno que usted conoce o está familiarizado. Los estafadores pueden llamar para hacer creer a clientes que su factura de agua está vencida y que los servicios van a ser desconectados si no se pagan de inmediato. El distrito le enviará uno o más avisos de desconexión a través del servicio postal de manera oportuna antes de desconectar su servicio de agua. Además, el distrito ofrece opciones de pago para evitar la suspensión del servicio. El distrito recomienda a sus clientes tener cautela si alguien le llama o enmascara su número telefónico con el del Distrito pretendiendo ser un representante del distrito, solicitando información o pagos con tarjeta de crédito u otros métodos de pago. Si tiene alguna duda o pregunta, por favor llame al teléfono del distrito: (619) 670-2222. Para obtener más consejos acerca de cómo evitar estos tipos de fraudes, visite la página de la Comisión Federal de Comercio: consumer.ftc.gov/taxonomy/ term/874. También puede encontrar información adicional sobre fraudes en servicios públicos y cómo evitarlos en www.utilitiesunited.org/Documents/ Guide_UUAS_Guide_Utility_Scams.pdf