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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPipeline 01 - Winter 2017T H E O TAY WATER 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 2017 FOLLOW OTAY WATER ON... / SIGA AL DISTRITO DE AGUA DE OTAY EN... Working to KeepYour Rates Low One way to estimate how well Otay Water District is doing at managing your water supply is by its rates for service. As a not-for-profit public agency, Otay must pass-through to customers the higher costs for water, energy, and supplies it pays its wholesalers in the form of higher rates. As wholesaler suppliers like the San Diego County Water Authority and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California develop new projects to supply water to the San Diego region, the price they charge Otay and other retail agencies may increase. However, Otay makes every effort to streamline its operations to provide the best value of water, while minimizing higher costs for customers. In an effort to address future rate hikes, Otay continually reviews day-to-day operational needs. Otay invests in system maintenance and repairs, and upgrades the hundreds of miles of pipes and related structures that carry water to its service area. Drawing down on reserves, reprioritizing capital improvement costs, and reducing staff has been used to cut costs. As of November 2015, Otay imposed a hiring freeze for all, but critical positions, and developed cross-training opportunities for employees. Otay has reduced its headcount by 23 percent since 2007, from 174.5 employees to 135. As a result, Otay achieved a net cumulative savings of $30,052,900. Although Otay has reduced its headcount, it has seen an increase in population of its service area, resulting in an increase in customers served per each full-time employee from 301 to 406, since 2007. Additionally, Otay invests in and implements new technology to help increase productivity and reduce costs. Otay has reduced the number of vehicles it maintains and has incorporated more fuel-efficient and cleaner operating vehicles, also reducing fuel consumption by 39 percent since 2006. Residential automated meter readers installed in Otay’s service area also help minimize the time and staff it takes to inspect each water meter throughout Otay’s service area. In addition to cost-effective technology at Otay, the leak detection and repair program uses state-of-the-art equipment to pinpoint the location of even the smallest leak. The program is part of Otay’s preventative maintenance program to safeguard water supply, reduce water loss, and help keep rates low. It also has reduced historic water loss by 45 percent since 2011. Otay serves to provide water and sewer service in the highest form. This is why a customer’s bill includes monthly service fees and the cost for water that is used at the property. To learn more about Otay’s water and sewer rates, visit OtayWater.gov and click on “For Customers.” El Distrito de Agua de Otay trabaja para mantener sus tarifas bajas Una buena forma de evaluar la gestión del Distrito de Agua de Otay sobre su suministro de agua es mediante las tarifas. Siendo Otay una agencia pública sin fines de lucro debe transferir al cliente los costos de agua, energía, y suministros que paga a los mayoristas mediante tarifas altas. Las agencias mayoristas como la Autoridad de Agua del Condado de San Diego y el Distrito Metropolitano de Agua del Sur de California desarrollan nuevos proyectos para abastecer de agua a la región de San Diego lo cual puede generar un aumento en las tarifas a Otay y a otras agencias minoristas de agua. No obstante, Otay se esfuerza cada día para hacer más eficiente sus operaciones y proporcionar el mejor valor del agua reduciendo los altos costos para sus clientes. Otay revisa diariamente las necesidades operacionales para enfrentar futuros aumentos de tarifas. El distrito invierte constantemente en el sistema de mantenimiento y en reparaciones actualizando cientos de millas de tuberías y estructuras relacionadas que llevan el agua a su área de servicio. También ha modificado los costos de mejoras de capital, reducido las reservas y el personal del distrito para disminuir costos. Desde noviembre de 2015, Otay decidió congelar la contratación de nuevo personal —salvo los puestos más importantes— y creó oportunidades de capacitación cruzada para sus empleados. El distrito ha reducido su personal en un 23 por ciento desde 2007, es decir, de 174.5 empleados a 135. Por consiguiente, Otay logró un ahorro acumulado neto de $30,052,900 lo cual resultó en un aumento del número de clientes atendidos por cada empleado de tiempo completo, es decir, de 301 a 406 desde 2007. Asimismo, Otay implementa e invierte en nuevas tecnologías para ayudar a aumentar la productividad y reducir los costos. Otay ha disminuido el número de vehículos que mantiene y ha incorporado más vehículos limpios y de uso eficiente de combustible logrando una reducción del consumo de combustible en un 39 por ciento desde 2006. La instalación de los medidores automatizados que se instalaron en las áreas de servicio de Otay también ayuda a minimizar el tiempo y el personal necesario para inspeccionar cada medidor de agua. Además de la tecnología rentable de Otay, el programa de detección y reparación de fugas utiliza equipos de última generación para determinar la ubicación de las fugas más pequeñas. El servicio es parte del programa de mantenimiento preventivo de Otay para salvaguardar el suministro de agua, reducir el desperdicio de agua y ayudar a mantener las tarifas bajas. También ha reducido el desperdicio de agua en un 45 por ciento desde 2011. Otay proporciona servicio de agua y alcantarillado al más alto nivel. Por esta razón, la factura del cliente incluye los cargos mensuales de servicio y el costo de agua de la propiedad. Para obtener más información sobre las tarifas de agua y alcantarillado de Otay, visite OtayWater.gov y haga clic en “EN ESPAÑOL” en “For Customers”. 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. PresidentMark Robak, Division 5mrobak@otaywater.gov Vice PresidentTim Smith, Division 1tsmith@otaywater.gov TreasurerMitch Thompson, Division 2mthompson@otaywater.gov Board MemberGary Croucher, Division 3gcroucher@otaywater.gov Board MemberHector Gastelum, Division 4hector@otaywater.gov 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 class information, visit thegarden.org Planting Slopes and Hillsides: Gardening at an Angle Many San Diego subdivisions are cut into hillsides and out of hillsides, thanks to our wacky topography and policy of building on every inch of useable space. That leaves homeowners to deal with pretty challenging slopes and the baffling issue of how to plant a hillside. Most people think “groundcover” when it comes to a hillside. But have you ever seen a mountain covered in groundcover? Nature doesn’t do that and neither should we. Slopes and hillsides are simply gardens at an angle. You have to choose the right plantsand avoid over irrigating, but it’s not that difficult. One of the biggest issues is how to keep hillsides from eroding and from washing away. The best plants for the job are ones that make deep roots to stabilize the soil, yet require very little irrigation. Native trees and shrubs are ideal: California lilac, toyon, oak trees, and sugar bush are good examples. Include Romneya coulteri, the giant Matilija poppy. This six foot tall perennial is known as the “fried egg plant” for itsround, white crepe papery flower with a yolk-yellow center. Underground, it formsa vast network of creeping roots. California natives also create habitat for birds and other wildlife. Shrubs and trees from other Mediterranean climates work well too. On garden tours I lead in these regions, I marvel at how similar the native habitats appear to ours, yet are entirely different plants. In Italy, for example, the macchia (also called maquis) is theequivalent of our chaparral. Plants like rockrose (Cistus), cork oaks (Quercus suber), rosemary, carob (Ceratonia siliqua), and bay (Laurus nobilis) grow wild there. All are excellent choices for hillside gardens, too. Plant succulents and other shallow rooted plants around and under these plants, but as accents rather than for structure and stability. Sprinkle in some California poppyseeds and you’ll have a lovely springtime display. Avoid Eucalyptus and other trees and shrubs with shallow roots and brittle branches.As we see whenever storms hit, these plants are among the first casualties. Don’t plant ice plant, especially Hottentot fig (Carpobrotus edulis). This spreadingsucculent is many people’s choice for covering vast slopes. However, the plants grownew succulent blades over top the old dead, brown, blades, and stems. Eventually, themass grows so heavy that it slides, taking the slope down with it. In addition, Hottentot fig is an invasive plant. A single, uniform planting of one plant across an entire slope is never successful. It is simply impossible to maintain an even, uniform look. Over time, a plant dies here and there, gophers burrow up from below, and weeds blow in. Our eyes focus on the flaws.It simply looks crummy. How to plant a slope:• Choose deep-rooted woody shrubs and trees with low-water needs, suited to yourgarden’s microclimate. Use trees for structure, shrubs for substance, succulents andspreaders to fill the spaces between. • Group plants in sweeps of threes, fives, or sevens to create a beautiful, undulatingmosaic. Don’t alternate plants in a hopscotch pattern. • Irrigate slopes with in-line drip irrigation. Overhead spray can worsen runoff and erosion. The County of San Diego Landscape Design Manual mandates that anyslope greater than 25 percent (one foot elevation change for every four level feet) beirrigated at a precipitation rate of no more than .75 inches per hour. Drip is the mostdirect way to achieve that slow rate. • Top the soil and cover the irrigation with a thick layer of woody mulch. Just like any other garden! Sundays, Feb. 19-March 26 (excluding March 12) 10 a.m. – noon Master Composter Course Solana Center’s Master Composting Course is an in-depth, five-week course that covers the essentials of composting featuring hands-on activities, in-classroom learning, field trips, and expert guest speakers. Preferential registration is given to unincorporated San Diego County residents. Nonrefundable Fee: $25 Saturday, Feb. 25, 10 a.m. – noon Healthy Herbs Join Dr. Shannyn Fowl, Local Natural Medicine Ex-pert, for an introductory class on how to recognize and prepare local herbs, while enjoying sample teas. Members: No cost; NonMembers: $10. Saturday, March 11, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. TOMATOMANIA Don’t miss California’s largest tomato seedling sale featuring hundreds of heirloom and hybrid tomato varieties, expert advice, and the acces-sories to grow tomatoes in your own backyard. Free admission. Saturday, March 25, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Home Garden Tour Visit The Garden for a self-guided tour that will highlight five beautiful gardens, located in East County utilizing an array of color, variety, and low-water usage. Attendance is limited. Early registration encouraged. Fee: $20; At door: $25 Free Docent Led Tours Saturdays, 10 a.m. Enjoy an informative walk through The Garden with a docent tour guide to be inspired to cre-ate a water-wise landscape of your own. Visit TheGarden.org for special themed tours. Ask the Designer: Professional Landscape Design Consultations The Garden offers 45-minute landscape consul-tations for residents looking to make changes to their landscape to incorporate water-wise plants. Call 619-660-0614 ext. 10 to schedule. Members: $60; Non-Members: $75 Ms. Smarty-Plants School Tours and Assembly Program Calling all kid groups! Join Ms. Smarty-Plants™ as she takes you on a magical, fun, and interac-tive journey through plant adaptations, the water cycle, conservation, and more. Become a Ms. Smarty-Plants™ Earth Hero! To book an educational tour of The Garden or a school assembly program, contact 619-660-0614 x16. ONGOING EVENTS Fifth Annual Garden Native Tour to be Held in Otay’s Service Area The California Native Plant Society San Diego Chapter is hosting its fifth annual Garden Native Tour, “Garden of Growth and Legacy,” and this time it will take place in parts of Chula Vista and Bonita. The tour dates have been set for April 1 and 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tour participants can self-tour more than 20 different water-wise native gardens throughout the South Bay. Five private residential and public gardens within Otay’s service area will be part of the tour. These include homes in Eastlake and Rancho Del Rey, and the South Bay Botanical Garden at Southwestern College. Participants will have an opportunity to view some of the gardens that won in Otay’s California- Friendly Landscape contests from previous years. Each garden will demonstrate the practices that improve water quality, water use, and the ecology of built environments. Enjoy an educational weekend featuring demonstrations of habitats, edible plants, and live planting. Ticket price is currently $20 per person and will increase to $25 after March 19. Children under 18 get in free. For details, visit www.GardenNative.org or contact tour@gardennative.org. Proud of Your DROUGHT-TOLERANT Landscape? Now Accepting Submissions for 2017 WaterSmart Landscape Contest The committee for the WaterSmart Landscape Contest, formally known as the California-Friendly Landscape Contest, is accepting submissions for the 2017 contest. Judging criteria is based on overall attractiveness, appropriate plant selection, design, appropriate maintenance, and efficient irrigation methods. Judges will choose one winner from Otay’s service area for demonstrating beauty and water-wise planting. One lucky winner will receive a $250 gift certificate and recognition on Otay’s website, social media platforms, in the newsletter, and other promotional materials. For eligibility requirements, applications procedures, and submission deadlines, visit www.LandscapeContest.com. Calling Social Media Aficionados! CONNECT WITH OTAY TO STAY INFORMED Are you a social media junkie? If so, add the Otay Water District to your list of social media platforms you follow or subscribe to. We want to stay in touch with you! Liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or subscribing to us on YouTube will provide you instant access to the latest water-related news, conservation tips, customer-service information, videos, and more. Engage with Otay directly by liking, sharing, retweeting, and commenting on our posts or videos. Otay’s YouTube channel offers educational videos and tutorials designed to help you pay your bill online, make the most of your sustainable home and garden, and much more. Residents in Otay’s service area can also find updates using Nextdoor, a private social network for you, your neighbors, and your community. If you have not joined Nextdoor yet, please create an account at Nextdoor.com. Once you have signed up and have been validated in your neighborhood, you can view Otay’s updates by clicking on the “Local Agencies” link on the left side of your page. Nextdoor is the easiest way for you and your neighbors to talk online. And it’s free! Learn more about Nextdoor here: www.nextdoor.com/about_us. If you have questions regarding billing or water leaks, customers are encouraged to contact us via telephone at (619) 670-2222 or email customerservice@otaywater.gov. Get connected with Otay. @OtayWaterDistrict @OtayWater OtayWaterDistrict Otay Water District Saturday, March 25 9 a.m. — 1 p.m. THE HOME DEPOT 725 Plaza Ct., Chula Vista www.watersmartsd.org/programs/ garden-friendly-plant-fairs GARDEN-FRIENDLYPLANT FAIRS Otay Water District customers interested in making their yards and gardens more water efficient and appealing have the opportunity to get savings on varieties of low water-use plants and gain valuable information from gardening experts at the San Diego County Garden-Friendly Plant Fair. Industry experts will host “how-to” workshops and local retail water-agency staff will provide information on water conservation and services. 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. PresidentMark Robak, Division 5mrobak@otaywater.gov Vice PresidentTim Smith, Division 1tsmith@otaywater.gov TreasurerMitch Thompson, Division 2mthompson@otaywater.gov Board MemberGary Croucher, Division 3gcroucher@otaywater.gov Board MemberHector Gastelum, Division 4hector@otaywater.gov 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 class information, visit thegarden.org Planting Slopes and Hillsides: Gardening at an Angle Many San Diego subdivisions are cut into hillsides and out of hillsides, thanks to our wacky topography and policy of building on every inch of useable space. That leaves homeowners to deal with pretty challenging slopes and the baffling issue of how to plant a hillside. Most people think “groundcover” when it comes to a hillside. But have you ever seen a mountain covered in groundcover? Nature doesn’t do that and neither should we. Slopes and hillsides are simply gardens at an angle. You have to choose the right plants and avoid over irrigating, but it’s not that difficult. One of the biggest issues is how to keep hillsides from eroding and from washing away. The best plants for the job are ones that make deep roots to stabilize the soil, yet require very little irrigation. Native trees and shrubs are ideal: California lilac, toyon, oak trees, and sugar bush are good examples. Include Romneya coulteri, the giant Matilija poppy. This six foot tall perennial is known as the “fried egg plant” for its round, white crepe papery flower with a yolk-yellow center. Underground, it forms a vast network of creeping roots. California natives also create habitat for birds and other wildlife. Shrubs and trees from other Mediterranean climates work well too. On garden tours I lead in these regions, I marvel at how similar the native habitats appear to ours, yet are entirely different plants. In Italy, for example, the macchia (also called maquis) is the equivalent of our chaparral. Plants like rockrose (Cistus), cork oaks (Quercus suber), rosemary, carob (Ceratonia siliqua), and bay (Laurus nobilis) grow wild there. All are excellent choices for hillside gardens, too. Plant succulents and other shallow rooted plants around and under these plants, but as accents rather than for structure and stability. Sprinkle in some California poppy seeds and you’ll have a lovely springtime display. Avoid Eucalyptus and other trees and shrubs with shallow roots and brittle branches. As we see whenever storms hit, these plants are among the first casualties. Don’t plant ice plant, especially Hottentot fig (Carpobrotus edulis). This spreading succulent is many people’s choice for covering vast slopes. However, the plants grow new succulent blades over top the old dead, brown, blades, and stems. Eventually, the mass grows so heavy that it slides, taking the slope down with it. In addition, Hottentot fig is an invasive plant. A single, uniform planting of one plant across an entire slope is never successful. It is simply impossible to maintain an even, uniform look. Over time, a plant dies here and there, gophers burrow up from below, and weeds blow in. Our eyes focus on the flaws. It simply looks crummy. How to plant a slope:• Choose deep-rooted woody shrubs and trees with low-water needs, suited to your garden’s microclimate. Use trees for structure, shrubs for substance, succulents and spreaders to fill the spaces between. • Group plants in sweeps of threes, fives, or sevens to create a beautiful, undulating mosaic. Don’t alternate plants in a hopscotch pattern. • Irrigate slopes with in-line drip irrigation. Overhead spray can worsen runoff and erosion. The County of San Diego Landscape Design Manual mandates that any slope greater than 25 percent (one foot elevation change for every four level feet) be irrigated at a precipitation rate of no more than .75 inches per hour. Drip is the most direct way to achieve that slow rate. • Top the soil and cover the irrigation with a thick layer of woody mulch. Just like any other garden! Sundays, Feb. 19-March 26 (excluding March 12) 10 a.m. – noon Master Composter Course Solana Center’s Master Composting Course is an in-depth, five-week course that covers the essentials of composting featuring hands-on activities, in-classroom learning, field trips, and expert guest speakers. Preferential registration is given to unincorporated San Diego County residents. Nonrefundable Fee: $25 Saturday, Feb. 25, 10 a.m. – noon Healthy Herbs Join Dr. Shannyn Fowl, Local Natural Medicine Ex-pert, for an introductory class on how to recognize and prepare local herbs, while enjoying sample teas. Members: No cost; NonMembers: $10. Saturday & Sunday, March 11-12, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. TOMATOMANIA Don’t miss California’s largest tomato seedling sale featuring hundreds of heirloom and hybrid tomato varieties, expert advice, and the acces-sories to grow tomatoes in your own backyard. Free admission. Saturday, March 25, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Home Garden Tour Visit The Garden for a self-guided tour that will highlight five beautiful gardens, located in East County utilizing an array of color, variety, and low-water usage. Attendance is limited. Early registration encouraged. Fee: $20; At door: $25 Free Docent Led ToursSaturdays, 10 a.m. Enjoy an informative walk through The Garden with a docent tour guide to be inspired to cre-ate a water-wise landscape of your own. Visit TheGarden.org for special themed tours. Ask the Designer: Professional Landscape Design Consultations The Garden offers 45-minute landscape consul-tations for residents looking to make changes to their landscape to incorporate water-wise plants. Call 619-660-0614 ext. 10 to schedule. Members: $60; Non-Members: $75 Ms. Smarty-Plants School Tours and Assembly Program Calling all kid groups! Join Ms. Smarty-Plants™ as she takes you on a magical, fun, and interac-tive journey through plant adaptations, the water cycle, conservation, and more. Become a Ms. Smarty-Plants™ Earth Hero! To book an educational tour of The Garden or a school assembly program, contact 619-660-0614 x16. ONGOING EVENTS Fifth Annual Garden Native Tour to be Held in Otay’s Service Area The California Native Plant Society San Diego Chapter is hosting its fifth annual Garden Native Tour, “Garden of Growth and Legacy,” and this time it will take place in parts of Chula Vista and Bonita. The tour dates have been set for April 1 and 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tour participants can self-tour more than 20 different water-wise native gardens throughout the South Bay. Five private residential and public gardens within Otay’s service area will be part of the tour. These include homes in Eastlake and Rancho Del Rey, and the South Bay Botanical Garden at Southwestern College. Participants will have an opportunity to view some of the gardens that won in Otay’s California- Friendly Landscape contests from previous years. Each garden will demonstrate the practices that improve water quality, water use, and the ecology of built environments. Enjoy an educational weekend featuring demonstrations of habitats, edible plants, and live planting. Ticket price is currently $20 per person and will increase to $25 after March 19. Children under 18 get in free. For details, visit www.GardenNative.org or contact tour@gardennative.org. Proud of Your DROUGHT-TOLERANT Landscape? Now Accepting Submissions for 2017 WaterSmart Landscape Contest The committee for the WaterSmart Landscape Contest, formally known as the California-Friendly Landscape Contest, is accepting submissions for the 2017 contest. Judging criteria is based on overall attractiveness, appropriate plant selection, design, appropriate maintenance, and efficient irrigation methods. Judges will choose one winner from Otay’s service area for demonstrating beauty and water-wise planting. Once lucky winner will receive a $250 gift certificate and recognition on Otay’s website, social media platforms, in the newsletter, and other promotional materials. For eligibility requirements, applications procedures, and submission deadlines, visit www.LandscapeContest.com. Calling Social Media Aficionados! CONNECT WITH OTAY TO STAY INFORMED Are you a social media junkie? If so, add the Otay Water District to your list of social media platforms you follow or subscribe to. We want to stay in touch with you! Liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or subscribing to us on YouTube will provide you instant access to the latest water-related news, conservation tips, customer-service information, videos, and more. Engage with Otay directly by liking, sharing, retweeting, and commenting on our posts or videos. Otay’s YouTube channel offers educational videos and tutorials designed to help you pay your bill online, make the most of your sustainable home and garden, and much more. Residents in Otay’s service area can also find updates using Nextdoor, a private social network for you, your neighbors, and your community. If you have not joined Nextdoor yet, please create an account at Nextdoor.com. Once you have signed up and have been validated in your neighborhood, you can view Otay’s updates by clicking on the “Local Agencies” link on the left side of your page. Nextdoor is the easiest way for you and your neighbors to talk online. And it’s free! Learn more about Nextdoor here: www.nextdoor.com/about_us. If you have questions regarding billing or water leaks, customers are encouraged to contact us via telephone at (619) 670-2222 or email customerservice@otaywater.gov. Get connected with Otay. @OtayWaterDistrict @OtayWater OtayWaterDistrict Otay Water District Saturday, March 25 9 a.m. — 1 p.m. THE HOME DEPOT 725 Plaza Ct., Chula Vista www.watersmartsd.org/programs/ garden-friendly-plant-fairs GARDEN-FRIENDLYPLANT FAIRS Otay Water District customers interested in making their yards and gardens more water efficient and appealing have the opportunity to get savings on varieties of low water-use plants and gain valuable information from gardening experts at the San Diego County Garden-Friendly Plant Fair. Industry experts will host “how-to” workshops and local retail water-agency staff will provide information on water conservation and services. T H E O TAY WA TER DISTRICT • P R OUDLY SERVING E A ST C OUNT Y A ND TH E S OUTH B AY 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 2017 FOLLOW OTAY WATER ON... / SIGA AL DISTRITO DE AGUA DE OTAY EN... Working to KeepYour Rates Low One way to estimate how well Otay Water District is doing at managing your water supply is by its rates for service. As a not-for-profit public agency, Otay must pass-through to customers the higher costs for water, energy, and supplies it pays its wholesalers in the form of higher rates. As wholesaler suppliers like the San Diego County Water Authority and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California develop new projects to supply water to the San Diego region, the price they charge Otay and other retail agencies may increase. However, Otay makes every effort to streamline its operations to provide the best value of water, while minimizing higher costs for customers. In an effort to address future rate hikes, Otay continually reviews day-to-day operational needs. Otay invests in system maintenance and repairs, and upgrades the hundreds of miles of pipes and related structures that carry water to its service area. Drawing down on reserves, reprioritizing capital improvement costs, and reducing staff has been used to cut costs. As of November 2015, Otay imposed a hiring freeze for all, but critical positions, and developed cross-training opportunities for employees. Otay has reduced its headcount by 23 percent since 2007, from 174.5 employees to 135. As a result, Otay achieved a net cumulative savings of $30,052,900. Although Otay has reduced its headcount, it has seen an increase in population of its service area, resulting in an increase in customers served per each full-time employee from 301 to 406, since 2007. Additionally, Otay invests in and implements new technology to help increase productivity and reduce costs. Otay has reduced the number of vehicles it maintains and has incorporated more fuel-efficient and cleaner operating vehicles, also reducing fuel consumption by 39 percent since 2006. Residential automated meter readers installed in Otay’s service area also help minimize the time and staff it takes to inspect each water meter throughout Otay’s service area. In addition to cost-effective technology at Otay, the leak detection and repair program uses state-of-the-art equipment to pinpoint the location of even the smallest leak. The program is part of Otay’s preventative maintenance program to safeguard water supply, reduce water loss, and help keep rates low. It also has reduced historic water loss by 45 percent since 2011. Otay serves to provide water and sewer service in the highest form. This is why a customer’s bill includes monthly service fees and the cost for water that is used at the property. To learn more about Otay’s water and sewer rates, visit OtayWater.gov and click on “For Customers.” El Distrito de Agua de Otay trabaja para mantener sus tarifas bajas Una buena forma de evaluar la gestión del Distrito de Agua de Otay sobre su suministro de agua es mediante las tarifas. Siendo Otay una agencia pública sin fines de lucro debe transferir al cliente los costos de agua, energía, y suministros que paga a los mayoristas mediante tarifas altas. Las agencias mayoristas como la Autoridad de Agua del Condado de San Diego y el Distrito Metropolitano de Agua del Sur de California desarrollan nuevos proyectos para abastecer de agua a la región de San Diego lo cual puede generar un aumento en las tarifas a Otay y a otras agencias minoristas de agua. No obstante, Otay se esfuerza cada día para hacer más eficiente sus operaciones y proporcionar el mejor valor del agua reduciendo los altos costos para sus clientes. Otay revisa diariamente las necesidades operacionales para enfrentar futuros aumentos de tarifas. El distrito invierte constantemente en el sistema de mantenimiento y en reparaciones actualizando cientos de millas de tuberías y estructuras relacionadas que llevan el agua a su área de servicio. También ha modificado los costos de mejoras de capital, reducido las reservas y el personal del distrito para disminuir costos. Desde noviembre de 2015, Otay decidió congelar la contratación de nuevo personal —salvo los puestos más importantes— y creó oportunidades de capacitación cruzada para sus empleados. El distrito ha reducido su personal en un 23 por ciento desde 2007, es decir, de 174.5 empleados a 135. Por consiguiente, Otay logró un ahorro acumulado neto de $30,052,900 lo cual resultó en un aumento del número de clientes atendidos por cada empleado de tiempo completo, es decir, de 301 a 406 desde 2007. Asimismo, Otay implementa e invierte en nuevas tecnologías para ayudar a aumentar la productividad y reducir los costos. Otay ha disminuido el número de vehículos que mantiene y ha incorporado más vehículos limpios y de uso eficiente de combustible logrando una reducción del consumo de combustible en un 39 por ciento desde 2006. La instalación de los medidores automatizados que se instalaron en las áreas de servicio de Otay también ayuda a minimizar el tiempo y el personal necesario para inspeccionar cada medidor de agua. Además de la tecnología rentable de Otay, el programa de detección y reparación de fugas utiliza equipos de última generación para determinar la ubicación de las fugas más pequeñas. El servicio es parte del programa de mantenimiento preventivo de Otay para salvaguardar el suministro de agua, reducir el desperdicio de agua y ayudar a mantener las tarifas bajas. También ha reducido el desperdicio de agua en un 45 por ciento desde 2011. Otay proporciona servicio de agua y alcantarillado al más alto nivel. Por esta razón, la factura del cliente incluye los cargos mensuales de servicio y el costo de agua de la propiedad. Para obtener más información sobre las tarifas de agua y alcantarillado de Otay, visite OtayWater.gov y haga clic en “EN ESPAÑOL” en “For Customers”.