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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPipeline 01 - Winter 2022T H E O T AY W A 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 NEW SLETTER FOR CUS T OMERS OF THE OTAY WATER DISTRICT WINTER 2022 Dedicated to Community Service FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE OTAY WATER DISTRICT CALL (619) 670-2222 OR GO TO OTAYWATER.GOV The Pipeline Newsletter is published quartely by the Otay Water District and can also be found online at otaywater.gov. Copywright ©2021 Otay Water District. All rights reserved. Newly Adopted Drought Emergency Regulation Requires Otay Customers to Conserve Californians, including Otay Water District customers, have made great progress in recent years embracing water use efficiency as a daily routine. Nevertheless, our state’s water future remains uncertain due to precipitation variability and a changing climate. It is more important than ever that Californians work together to use water efficiently and make the world a better place for our children, grandchildren, and future generations. The 2021 water year was the driest in California in more than a century. However, San Diego County continues to have reliable water supplies due to long-term planning and smart investments in water sources and infrastructure, combined with a long-lasting conservation ethic. Even with these efforts and despite winter storms, Governor Newsom in 2021 declared a drought state of emergency across California. On October 19, 2021, he signed a proclamation urging Californians to increase their water conservation efforts. Customers are encouraged to take action by conserving more water to preserve the state’s water supply. Due to severe drought conditions, on January 4, 2022, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted an emergency regulation, which became effective on Jan. 18. It will remain in effect for one year unless the State Water Board acts to end, modify, or readopt it. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ADOPTED EMERGENCY REGULATION: • Turn off decorative water fountains • Turn off/pause irrigation systems when it’s raining and for two days after rain • Use an automatic shutoff nozzle on water hoses • Do not use potable water to clean sidewalks, driveways, buildings, structures patios, parking lots, or other hard-surfaced areas, except in cases where health and safety are at risk • Give trees just what they need: avoid overwatering Yes, the drought is here, but as data has shown, Otay customers have what it takes to save water. Our customers have navigated through major droughts over the past three decades. However, we do not know how long this drought will last. Every drop that we save today is one we can use tomorrow. If all of us work together to conserve and innovate new ways to adapt to drought and climate change by planning and investing in local supplies and our water infrastructure, we can get through this drought too! Conservation is already a way of life for Californians. Now we must find ways to save even more. For details on the drought, visit otaywater.gov/drought. For more information on water conservation-related resources and rebates, including those for unincorporated areas, visit otaywater.gov/conservation. WaterSmart Landscape Contest is Now Open Showcase Water-Use Efficiency During the Drought Otay Water District’s annual WaterSmart Landscape Contest is back to award one resident from our service area with a $250 gift card to a nursery of the winner’s choice, among other prizes. Because more than half of residential water use occurs outdoors on landscape irrigation, the contest demonstrates ways homeowners can upgrade their yards to improve water use efficiency. To enter and for contest rules, visit otaywater.gov/landscape-contest. Leak Detection Program Runs through End of April As part of its preventative maintenance program to reduce water loss, the District has begun conducting annual leak inspections of its pipeline system. It estimates to complete inspections by the end of April. It will inspect approximately 173 miles of potable water mains in Rancho San Diego, El Cajon, and Jamul, along with potable and recycled water mains in areas of Chula Vista. To learn more, visit otaywater.gov/leak-detection- program. Water Shutoffs for Delinquent Accounts Will Resume Disconnection of water service for Otay Water District delinquent customer accounts will begin as early as Feb. 14, 2022. The water shutoff moratorium ended on Dec. 31, 2021. The District would like to avoid discontinuing water service for these customers. If a customer cannot pay their outstanding balance, our customer service representatives are here to help. Please contact us at (619) 670- 2222 or paymentsupport@otaywater. gov for payment options and to avoid disconnection. Nan Sterman is a garden expert, author, designer, and educator. Nan leads international garden tours, is the author of several books, and hosts the show A Growing Passion on KPBS TV, waterwisegardener.com Nan StermanWaterwise Gardener Start with Seeds A lot is happening at the Water Conservation Garden! Register for online classes or events at thegarden.org or call (619) 660-0614 x10 Warmer weather is coming in the spring! I’m already thinking about planting tomatoes, eggplants, basil, and all the other yummy warm-season herbs, vegetables, and summer flowers that my family loves. So often, people ask me how early they can start summer seeds, when to plant seedlings, which are best to start in containers, and which are better planted directly into the ground or raised beds. All are excellent questions. TIPS FOR GROWING VEGETABLES IN THE WARM VERSUS COOL MONTHS: • Vegetables whose “fruits” we eat (the part of the plant that contains seeds), we grow in the warmer months (late March through mid-October). This category includes tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, squash, melons, pumpkin, and their relatives. While you may think of the edible parts as vegetables, botanically, any part of a plant that makes seeds is a fruit. • Plants whose leaves, stems, and/or buds we eat, grow in the cooler months (late October through early March). This group includes lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, onions, etc. • Root vegetables vary. We grow carrots and beets year-round. Radishes and turnips prefer to grow in the cool season. Potatoes grow when the soil is warm. HOW TO START WARM SEASON VEGETABLE, FLOWER, AND HERB SEEDS: Plant carrot and beet seeds directly into the ground or into raised beds any month of the year. “Seed potatoes” appear in the nurseries as early as January. Between March and June, start warm-season vegetable, flower, and herb seeds in containers, indoors, or in the greenhouse. It takes just six to eight weeks for seedlings to grow large enough to survive the transplant. By mid-April, the soil is warm enough for transplants to take off. When you plant seedlings earlier, the soil is too cold for them to grow. While they sit and wait for the soil to warm, those seedlings can succumb to molds or fungi, or be eaten by hungry critters. If you are new to San Diego or looking for gardening information online, don’t be confused by this approach. Our climate and our soils are unique, so the way we garden is entirely different from anywhere outside of Southern California. PLAN NOW: Buy seeds. Assemble your seed-starting supplies: seed-starting mix (NOT POTTING SOIL), containers, a seedling heat mat calibrated to 70 degrees (NOT a heating pad, nor a waterbed heater), seedling fertilizer, containers, etc. Find a sunny window where your seedlings can sit from the time you plant until they are big enough to transplant outside. If your garden is frost-free, put seedlings outside during the day, too. That’s a good way to prepare them for life outdoors. Prepare your garden beds. If you planted a winter cover crop, turn it over (literally) six weeks before you intend to plant your summer seedlings. Add compost and worm castings to existing raised beds – the ideal way to grow vegetables in our climate. If you don’t yet have raised beds, make or buy some now. I really like the prefab Vegepod (https://bit.ly/2NJpBN0) and Vego Garden beds (https://bit.ly/33XWmlh). If you garden in containers, refresh the soil there too. Make sure the containers are large enough to accommodate individual plants. A single tomato plant can grow 4 feet across and more than 6 feet tall. Its roots will be nearly as large as the branches and leaves, so plant it into a big enough container. Some people like to grow vegetables in fabric pots or “grow bags.” In our arid climate, fabric pots dry out quickly, so add a drip-irrigation system or place them near a hose bib and set them in a kiddie pool to make watering easier. If this all sounds overwhelming, you can sign up for my annual Easy Seed Starting Workshop online or in-person + online. Learn about starting these plants from seeds, growing them up, and transplanting them to your garden. Add your name to my mailing list at waterwisegardener.com. Free Day Fridays On the second Friday of the month, the Garden offers free admission to all. To receive free admission any day, become a Garden member. Membership includes free admission to more than 300 botanical gardens worldwide and other benefits. Visit thegarden.org/membership-2. Consultations Receive a one-on-one phone or video consulta- tion on water harvesting, or how to set up, ret- rofit, and maintain your irrigation or landscape. Fee: $70 members; $85 non-members. Visit thegarden.org/consultations. Tour the Garden Docents guide groups through the Garden while presenting valuable information to foster an appreciation of the natural environment and inspire water-use efficiency. See a list of tour options at thegarden.org/garden-tours. Butterfly Experience Visit the Garden’s outdoor Butterfly Pavilion and native Habitat Garden to release a butterfly to nectar on nearby flowers. Family Butterfly Bundle option is available. Fee: $10-$115. Visit thegarden.org/butterfly-experience. Virtual Field Trip from the Garden Ms. Smarty-Plants offers teachers real-time virtual field trips for students in grades K-6. Students will discover the magic of plants, the changing environment, and water capture. The program includes a prerecorded video, class- room instruction, and free seed packets. Visit mssmartyplants.org/fun-field-trips. FOLLOW OTAY WATER ON... / SIGA AL DISTRITO DE AGUA DE OTAY EN... OTAY WATER DISTRICT – Board of Directors The Board of Directors meets the first Wednesday of the month at 3:30 p.m. Board meetings are currently held virtually to help ensure public safety during the pandemic. The public is encouraged to listen to or watch the live stream of the meeting by visiting otaywater.gov. PresidentTim Smith, Division 1tsmith@otaywater.gov Vice PresidentMark Robak, Division 5mrobak@otaywater.gov TreasurerJose Lopez, Division 4jlopez@otaywater.gov Board MemberRyan Keyes, Division 2rkeyes@otaywater.gov Board MemberGary Croucher, Division 3 gcroucher@otaywater.gov FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE OTAY WATER DISTRICT CALL (619) 670-2222 OR GO TO OTAYWATER.GOV The Pipeline Newsletter is published quartely by the Otay Water District and can also be found online at otaywater.gov. Copywright ©2021 Otay Water District. All rights reserved. Norma de Emergencia por Sequía requiere que todos los clientes de Otay ahorren agua Los californianos, incluidos los clientes del Distrito de Agua de Otay, han progresado mucho en los últimos años ya que el uso eficiente del agua es parte de la rutina diaria. Sin embargo, el futuro del agua en nuestro estado sigue siendo incierto debido a la variabilidad de las precipitaciones y el cambio climático. Ahora es más importante que nunca que los californianos trabajen juntos para usar el agua de manera eficiente y para hacer del mundo un lugar mejor para nuestros hijos, nietos y futuras generaciones. El año hidrológico 2021 fue el más seco en California en más de un siglo. Sin embargo, el condado de San Diego continúa teniendo suministros de agua confiables debido a la planificación a largo plazo y las inversiones inteligentes en suministros de agua e infraestructura, combinadas con una ética de conservación a largo plazo. A pesar de los esfuerzos y las tormentas de invierno, el gobernador Newsom declaró estado de emergencia por sequía en todo California en 2021. El 19 de octubre de 2021, firmó una proclamación instando a los californianos a incrementar sus esfuerzos de conservación del agua. Se invita a los clientes a tomar medidas y conservar más agua para preservar el suministro de agua del estado. Debido a las condiciones severas de sequía, el 4 de enero de 2022, la Junta Estatal de Control de Recursos Hídricos aprobó las normas de emergencia que entraron en vigor el 18 de enero. Estas normas estarán en vigor durante un año, a menos que la Junta Estatal de Agua decida terminarlas, realizar modificaciones, o aprobarlas nuevamente. REQUERIMIENTOS QUE SE APROBARON DENTRO DE LA REGLA DE EMERGENCIA: • Apague las fuentes de agua decorativas. • Apague o ponga en pausa los sistemas de riego cuando esté lloviendo y dos días después de la lluvia. • Use una boquilla de cierre automático en las mangueras de agua. • No use agua potable para limpiar aceras, entradas de vehículos, edificios, estructuras, patios, estacionamientos u otras áreas de superficie dura, excepto en los casos en que la salud y la seguridad estén en riesgo. • Dé a los árboles la medida de agua justa que necesitan: evite el riego excesivo. Sí, la sequía está aquí, pero como lo demuestran los datos, los clientes de Otay tienen lo necesario para ahorrar agua. Nuestros clientes han atravesado grandes sequías en las últimas tres décadas. Sin embargo, no sabemos cuánto durará esta sequía. Cada gota que ahorramos hoy es una gota que podremos usar mañana. Si todos trabajamos juntos para conservar e innovar nuevas formas de adaptarnos a la sequía y al cambio climático planificando e invirtiendo en suministros locales y en nuestra infraestructura de agua, ¡también podremos superar esta sequía! La conservación ya es una forma de vida para los californianos. Ahora debemos encontrar maneras de ahorrar más. Para obtener detalles sobre la sequía, por favor visite otaywater.gov/sequia. Para obtener más información sobre reembolsos y recursos relacionados con la conservación del agua, incluyendo las áreas no incorporadas, por favor visite otaywater.gov/conservacion.