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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPipeline 02 - Spring 2021T H E O T A Y 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 NEWSLET T E R FOR CUSTO MER S OF T HE OTAY WATER DISTRICT SPRING 2021 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. and is currently meeting 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 3gcroucher@otaywater.gov 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. More than a Year into the Pandemic and Your Drinking Water Remains Safe In the last year, life as we knew it changed drastically. COVID-19 has passed its one- year mark and even with all the changes in our everyday lives, one thing is certain – the Otay Water District’s drinking water remains clean, safe, and reliable. As part of its ongoing operations and maintenance process to ensure water is safe and delivered at the highest quality, the District closely monitors and tests customers’ drinking water at multiple points in the distribution system. Throughout the pandemic, District staff has also monitored state and federal advisories related to COVID-19 to ensure the water services it provides are not affected by the virus. There has been no evidence to support the survival of COVID-19 in drinking water. The flu, which is a respiratory illness, is not spread through tap water. The coronavirus, also a respiratory illness, is no different. Also, the District uses filtration, chlorine disinfection, and other treatment processes that eliminate pathogenic organisms in the water supply. Every year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Division of Drinking Water set regulations that limit the number of contaminants that may be present in potable water and the District continues to meet or surpass all regulations. Nevertheless, the District recognizes the financial stress that some customers have experienced. Per the Governor’s April 2, 2020 Executive Order, the District suspended shutting off water and charging late fees temporarily. However, outstanding balances continue to accumulate. Water is an essential service, and funds to provide this service come from the customers. As a public agency, the District must continue to operate and maintain its services, which have been needed and are needed now more than ever. Although the District asks customers to continue paying their water bills by the due date, financial assistance is available to eligible customers. If you have questions regarding your water bill or need to discuss payment options, please call (619) 670-2222, email paymentsupport@otaywater.gov, or visit otaywater.gov/payment-options. A más de un año de la pandemia el agua potable sigue siendo segura La vida, tal y como la conocíamos cambió drásticamente. Ha pasado un año desde que comenzó el COVID-19. Hemos tenido muchos cambios en nuestra vida cotidiana, sin embargo, una cosa es segura: el agua potable del Distrito de Agua de Otay permanece limpia, segura y confiable. Como parte del proceso continuo de operaciones y mantenimiento para garantizar que el agua sea segura y de la más alta calidad, el Distrito monitorea y analiza cuidadosamente el agua potable de los clientes en varios puntos del sistema de distribución. Durante la pandemia, el personal del Distrito ha monitoreado las advertencias estatales y federales relacionadas con el COVID-19 para garantizar que los servicios de agua que brinda no se vean afectados por el virus. No hay evidencia que respalde la supervivencia del COVID-19 en el agua potable. La gripe, que es una enfermedad respiratoria, no se transmite a través del agua de la llave. El coronavirus, también es una enfermedad respiratoria, por lo tanto, no es diferente. El Distrito también usa sistemas de filtración, desinfección con cloro y otros procesos de tratamiento que eliminan los organismos patógenos del suministro de agua. Cada año, la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de los Estados Unidos y la División de Agua Potable de California establecen normas que limitan la cantidad de contaminantes que pueden estar presentes en el agua potable, y el Distrito continúa cumpliendo o superando todas las normas. No obstante, el Distrito reconoce el estrés financiero que han experimentado algunos clientes. Según la Orden Ejecutiva del gobernador del 2 de abril de 2020, el Distrito suspendió temporalmente los cortes de agua y el cobro de recargos. Sin embargo, los saldos pendientes continúan acumulándose. El agua es un servicio esencial y los fondos para brindar este servicio provienen de los clientes. Como agencia pública, el Distrito debe continuar operando y manteniendo sus servicios que siempre han sido necesarios y ahora mas que nunca. Aunque el Distrito le pide a los clientes que sigan pagando sus facturas de agua antes de la fecha de vencimiento, hay asistencia financiera disponible para los clientes elegibles. Si usted tiene preguntas acerca de su factura de agua o necesita información sobre las opciones de pago, por favor llame al (619) 670-2222. También puede enviar un correo electrónico a paymentsupport@otaywater.gov, o visitar otaywater.gov/es/covid-19. Financial Assistance Available to Help Customers Impacted by COVID-19 Pay Utility Bills Have you been financially impacted by the pandemic and need help to pay your past- due water bills? Eligible Otay customers behind on rent and utilities can now apply for financial relief through the COVID-19 Emergency Rental and Utilities Assistance Program. Three separate programs are available through the County of San Diego, the City of Chula Vista, and the City of San Diego. If you are unsure which jurisdiction you reside in and need help determining which program to apply for, visit sandiegocounty.gov/erap. The programs give priority to residents with past-due rent, but if a qualifying household has both unpaid rent and utilities, the funding may be available for both. Applications will be accepted until funds are exhausted. To be eligible, households must have experienced or are currently at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, must have experienced a financial hardship directly or indirectly related to COVID-19, and household income must be at or below 80% Area Median Income. The programs are administered by respective cities and the County, and not by the Otay Water District. For details, visit otaywater.gov/sdcountyassistance. For specific questions regarding your Otay bill, payment options, and extensions/ arrangements, contact customer service at (619) 670-2222, email paymentsupport@ otaywater.gov, or visit otaywater.gov/ covid-19. Asistencia financiera para pago de facturas de servicios públicos para clientes afectados por el COVID-19 ¿La pandemia del COVID-19 le ha afectado financieramente y necesita ayuda para pagar sus facturas de agua vencidas? Ya existe ayuda financiera para los clientes elegibles del Distrito de Agua de Otay que están atrasados en sus pagos de alquiler y servicios públicos a través del Programa de Asistencia de Emergencia para Alquiler y Servicios Públicos. Existen tres programas diferentes que están disponibles a través del condado de San Diego, la ciudad de Chula Vista y la ciudad de San Diego. Si usted no está seguro en qué jurisdicción reside y necesita ayuda para determinar qué programa solicitar, por favor visite sandiegocounty.gov/erap. A través de estos programas se les da prioridad a los residentes que están atrasados en el pago de su renta, sin embargo, si un hogar que califica está atrasado en su renta y servicios públicos, los fondos pueden estar disponibles en ambas situaciones. Se aceptarán solicitudes hasta que se agoten los fondos. Para ser elegible, las familias deben haber experimentado o estar en riesgo de perder su vivienda o sufrir inestabilidad en la vivienda; deben haber experimentado dificultades financieras relacionadas directa o indirectamente con el COVID-19; y los ingresos familiares deben ser iguales o inferiores al 80% del ingreso medio del área. Estos programas son administrados por las respectivas ciudades y el condado, no por el Distrito de Agua de Otay. Para obtener más información, por favor visite otaywater. gov/programa-asistencia. Si tiene preguntas específicas sobre su factura de agua del Distrito, opciones de pago, y extensiones o arreglos de pago, por favor comuníquese con servicio al cliente al (619) 670-2222, o mediante correo electrónico a paymentsupport@otaywater.gov, o visite otaywater.gov/es/covid-19. 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 also includes free admission to more than 300 botanical gardens worldwide and other benefits. Visit thegarden.org/member-ship-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. Visit thegarden.org/consultations. Tour the Garden Garden docents guide groups through the Garden while presenting valuable information to foster an appreciation of the natural envi-ronment and to 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 for a safe, distant-friend-ly, and magical butterfly release. Members $10; nonmembers $20 (includes admission). Visit thegarden.org/butterfliesmsp. Water-Saver Lesson (K-6) Observe, record, and identify water-use effi-ciency opportunities within your home. Join Ms. Smarty-Plants for a virtual lesson, field trip, and more to become Earth Heroes. Visit mssmarty-plants.org/watersaverlesson. Kindness Bingo (all ages) Bring a lot of joy and fun into your home by play-ing Ms. Smarty-Plants Kindness Bingo with your family, neighbors, and friends. Visit mssmarty-plants.org/kindness-bingo. Ms. Smarty-Plants Virtual Field Trip Live from the Garden Ms. Smarty-Plants offers teachers a real-time virtual field trip 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 and online classroom instruction. Free seed packets will be available for pickup at the Garden. Visit mssmartyplants.org/fun-field-trips. 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, www.waterwisegardener.com Are your citrus tree leaves covered in black stuff? Do the stems and leaves have white fluffy spots? Are there hard oval bumps on the stems and branches? Or tiny black or white specks on the leaves? Or a white cloud that emerges from the leaves when you touch them? What are they?All of these are common with citrus. The black stuff is black sooty mold. White fluffy spots are mealybugs. Hard bumps are scale insects, while tiny black or white specks are aphids. The white cloud is whitefly. Where do they come from? Aphids, scale, and mealybugs are “farmed” by ants. These bugs suck sugary sap from the plants and exude sugary droplets – called “honeydew” – from their rear ends. Ants collect the honeydew to feed their young. Ants move the bugs from plant to plant to ensure an ongoing supply of honeydew. Black sooty mold forms in the honeydew that inevitably drips onto leaves. Whiteflies are ubiquitous and from time to time, when conditions are just right, their populations explode. What to do about them?None of these pests will kill your citrus but they can weaken the trees and leave them vulnerable to other pests. Controlling ants is key to controlling aphids, scale, mealybugs, and black sooty mold. Before you get out the big guns, however, start with the least toxic and mildest approach. Look for a trail of ants heading up and down the trunk. Once you find them, apply sticky stuff like Tanglefoot® around the trunk of the tree. When ants get caught in the Tanglefoot®, it interrupts their “highway.” Don’t just slather it onto the trunk. Instead, make a band of duct tape or a similar material around the trunk, then smear Tanglefoot® onto the duct tape. Wear disposable gloves as this is messy! Replace the band every month or two so it doesn’t lose its effectiveness. Also, if left on too long, duct tape can constrict the growth of the tree. At the same time, set out boric acid-based ant traps like the Terro® brand or the KM Ant Pro® bait station. Ants are attracted to these boric acid-based baits, which they take back to the nest. Boric acid destroys the nest. This one-two punch should go a long way towards controlling ants. Once the ants are gone, natural mealybug and scale predators usually keep their populations under control. If they are still present after a month or so, spray the leaves and branches with insecticidal soap (NEVER DISHSOAP) or light horticultural oil (NOT NEEM). Always follow label instructions. Next, use a sharp blast of water to clean the leaves of black sooty mold, and to kill aphids and whiteflies. Normally, whiteflies are kept under control by natural predators, but from time to time, their populations explode. When that happens, spray leaves – especially the undersides - once a week for a month or two. I use a small hose attachment called a Bug Blaster ™, which creates a high-pressure blast in 360 degrees. The pressure of the water and the fall to the ground kill the soft-bodied aphids and the whiteflies, especially their eggs which are attached to the undersides of leaves. Enjoy your citrus and their bloom, which should smell like heaven about now! Nan StermanWaterwise Gardener Common Citrus Problems To register for Water Conservation Garden classes or events, visit thegarden.org or call (619) 660-0614 x10 Otay & Customers Dedicated to Water Awareness! Annually, California celebrates Water Awareness Month in May, which highlights the value of having a safe and reliable water supply for the region and locally for the District’s customers. During unprecedented public health crises like the spread of COVID-19, having access to a clean flow of tap water is vital in protecting public health. Water services are essential for proper handwashing and sanitation and support industries that rely on them the most. That is why the District remains committed to delivering clean drinking water to its nearly 226,000 customers every day. Not just in May, but every month, the District also reminds its customers to continue using water-wise practices inside and outside the home. To learn more about water quality, visit otaywater.gov/water-quality. Calling All K-12 Student Artists! Enter the ‘Water Is Life’ Poster Contest Students from schools in the District’s service area are invited to enter the annual “Water is Life” Student Poster Contest. Participants in grades kindergarten through 12 are encouraged to create posters showcasing their artistic skills and appreciation for water. The winners from each category (elementary, middle, and high school) will receive a $50-$75 gift card and other prizes. The deadline to enter is Friday, June 18, 2021. Hard-copy or electronic entries are eligible, but participants must follow the contest guidelines at otaywater.gov/poster-contest. Receive a Free Water WaterSmart Checkup to Help You Save Take advantage of a free opportunity to receive site-specific water-saving recommendations from a certified irrigation professional. If eligible, the District will cover the cost of your WaterSmart Checkup! Through your audit, you can learn ways to maximize your water-use efficiency at home or at your business. The program offers various services, and your property will be matched with the best available option. Checkups for single-family homes also include indoor recommendations. To apply, visit otaywater.gov/freecheckup. Spruce Up Your Sprinklers for the Hotter Months INSPECT your irrigation system for clogged, broken, or missing sprinkler heads. CONNECT the sprinkler heads tightly to avoid leaks. DIRECT the sprinklers to your landscape and away from the concrete. SELECT the appropriate seasonal watering schedule to fit your landscape’s needs. Consider using EPA WaterSense products, which use at least 20% less than regular models. For rebates on water-efficient irrigation devices, visit otaywater.gov/rebates. It’s Not Too Late to Donate to the Virtual Food Drive It’s never too late to make a difference – and even better, you can do so from home! Through the District’s virtual food drive, you can select and purchase food items securely online to donate to the San Diego Food Bank. Your generosity will provide food aid to families and individuals affected by the pandemic. To learn more and donate, visit otaywater. gov/food-drive-covid19. 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 also includes free admission to more than 300 botanical gardens worldwide and other benefits. Visit thegarden.org/member-ship-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. Visit thegarden.org/consultations. Tour the Garden Garden docents guide groups through the Garden while presenting valuable information to foster an appreciation of the natural envi-ronment and to 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 for a safe, distant-friend-ly, and magical butterfly release. Members $10; nonmembers $20 (includes admission). Visit thegarden.org/butterfliesmsp. Water-Saver Lesson (K-6) Observe, record, and identify water-use effi-ciency opportunities within your home. Join Ms. Smarty-Plants for a virtual lesson, field trip, and more to become Earth Heroes. Visit mssmarty-plants.org/watersaverlesson. Kindness Bingo (all ages) Bring a lot of joy and fun into your home by play-ing Ms. Smarty-Plants Kindness Bingo with your family, neighbors, and friends. Visit mssmarty-plants.org/kindness-bingo. Ms. Smarty-Plants Virtual Field Trip Live from the Garden Ms. Smarty-Plants offers teachers a real-time virtual field trip 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 and online classroom instruction. Free seed packets will be available for pickup at the Garden. Visit mssmartyplants.org/fun-field-trips. 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, www.waterwisegardener.com Are your citrus tree leaves covered in black stuff? Do the stems and leaves have white fluffy spots? Are there hard oval bumps on the stems and branches? Or tiny black or white specks on the leaves? Or a white cloud that emerges from the leaves when you touch them? What are they?All of these are common with citrus. The black stuff is black sooty mold. White fluffy spots are mealybugs. Hard bumps are scale insects, while tiny black or white specks are aphids. The white cloud is whitefly. Where do they come from? Aphids, scale, and mealybugs are “farmed” by ants. These bugs suck sugary sap from the plants and exude sugary droplets – called “honeydew” – from their rear ends. Ants collect the honeydew to feed their young. Ants move the bugs from plant to plant to ensure an ongoing supply of honeydew. Black sooty mold forms in the honeydew that inevitably drips onto leaves. Whiteflies are ubiquitous and from time to time, when conditions are just right, their populations explode. What to do about them?None of these pests will kill your citrus but they can weaken the trees and leave them vulnerable to other pests. Controlling ants is key to controlling aphids, scale, mealybugs, and black sooty mold. Before you get out the big guns, however, start with the least toxic and mildest approach. Look for a trail of ants heading up and down the trunk. Once you find them, apply sticky stuff like Tanglefoot® around the trunk of the tree. When ants get caught in the Tanglefoot®, it interrupts their “highway.” Don’t just slather it onto the trunk. Instead, make a band of duct tape or a similar material around the trunk, then smear Tanglefoot® onto the duct tape. Wear disposable gloves as this is messy! Replace the band every month or two so it doesn’t lose its effectiveness. Also, if left on too long, duct tape can constrict the growth of the tree. At the same time, set out boric acid-based ant traps like the Terro® brand or the KM Ant Pro® bait station. Ants are attracted to these boric acid-based baits, which they take back to the nest. Boric acid destroys the nest. This one-two punch should go a long way towards controlling ants. Once the ants are gone, natural mealybug and scale predators usually keep their populations under control. If they are still present after a month or so, spray the leaves and branches with insecticidal soap (NEVER DISHSOAP) or light horticultural oil (NOT NEEM). Always follow label instructions. Next, use a sharp blast of water to clean the leaves of black sooty mold, and to kill aphids and whiteflies. Normally, whiteflies are kept under control by natural predators, but from time to time, their populations explode. When that happens, spray leaves – especially the undersides - once a week for a month or two. I use a small hose attachment called a Bug Blaster ™, which creates a high-pressure blast in 360 degrees. The pressure of the water and the fall to the ground kill the soft-bodied aphids and the whiteflies, especially their eggs which are attached to the undersides of leaves. Enjoy your citrus and their bloom, which should smell like heaven about now! Nan StermanWaterwise Gardener Common Citrus Problems To register for Water Conservation Garden classes or events, visit thegarden.org or call (619) 660-0614 x10 Otay & Customers Dedicated to Water Awareness! Annually, California celebrates Water Awareness Month in May, which highlights the value of having a safe and reliable water supply for the region and locally for the District’s customers. During unprecedented public health crises like the spread of COVID-19, having access to a clean flow of tap water is vital in protecting public health. Water services are essential for proper handwashing and sanitation and support industries that rely on them the most. That is why the District remains committed to delivering clean drinking water to its nearly 226,000 customers every day. Not just in May, but every month, the District also reminds its customers to continue using water-wise practices inside and outside the home. To learn more about water quality, visit otaywater.gov/water-quality. Calling All K-12 Student Artists! Enter the ‘Water Is Life’ Poster Contest Students from schools in the District’s service area are invited to enter the annual “Water is Life” Student Poster Contest. Participants in grades kindergarten through 12 are encouraged to create posters showcasing their artistic skills and appreciation for water. The winners from each category (elementary, middle, and high school) will receive a $50-$75 gift card and other prizes. The deadline to enter is Friday, June 18, 2021. Hard-copy or electronic entries are eligible, but participants must follow the contest guidelines at otaywater.gov/poster-contest. Receive a Free Water WaterSmart Checkup to Help You Save Take advantage of a free opportunity to receive site-specific water-saving recommendations from a certified irrigation professional. If eligible, the District will cover the cost of your WaterSmart Checkup! Through your audit, you can learn ways to maximize your water-use efficiency at home or at your business. The program offers various services, and your property will be matched with the best available option. Checkups for single-family homes also include indoor recommendations. To apply, visit otaywater.gov/freecheckup. Spruce Up Your Sprinklers for the Hotter Months INSPECT your irrigation system for clogged, broken, or missing sprinkler heads. CONNECT the sprinkler heads tightly to avoid leaks. DIRECT the sprinklers to your landscape and away from the concrete. SELECT the appropriate seasonal watering schedule to fit your landscape’s needs. Consider using EPA WaterSense products, which use at least 20% less than regular models. For rebates on water-efficient irrigation devices, visit otaywater.gov/rebates. It’s Not Too Late to Donate to the Virtual Food Drive It’s never too late to make a difference – and even better, you can do so from home! Through the District’s virtual food drive, you can select and purchase food items securely online to donate to the San Diego Food Bank. Your generosity will provide food aid to families and individuals affected by the pandemic. To learn more and donate, visit otaywater. gov/food-drive-covid19. T H E O T A Y W ATER DISTRICT • P R OUDLY SERVING E A ST C OUNT Y A ND TH E S OUTH B A Y SINC E 1956 A NEWSLET T E R FOR CUSTO MER S OF T HE OTAY WATER DISTRICT SPRING 2021 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. and is currently meeting 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 3gcroucher@otaywater.gov 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. More than a Year into the Pandemic and Your Drinking Water Remains Safe In the last year, life as we knew it changed drastically. COVID-19 has passed its one- year mark and even with all the changes in our everyday lives, one thing is certain – the Otay Water District’s drinking water remains clean, safe, and reliable. As part of its ongoing operations and maintenance process to ensure water is safe and delivered at the highest quality, the District closely monitors and tests customers’ drinking water at multiple points in the distribution system. Throughout the pandemic, District staff has also monitored state and federal advisories related to COVID-19 to ensure the water services it provides are not affected by the virus. There has been no evidence to support the survival of COVID-19 in drinking water. The flu, which is a respiratory illness, is not spread through tap water. The coronavirus, also a respiratory illness, is no different. Also, the District uses filtration, chlorine disinfection, and other treatment processes that eliminate pathogenic organisms in the water supply. Every year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and California Division of Drinking Water set regulations that limit the number of contaminants that may be present in potable water and the District continues to meet or surpass all regulations. Nevertheless, the District recognizes the financial stress that some customers have experienced. Per the Governor’s April 2, 2020 Executive Order, the District suspended shutting off water and charging late fees temporarily. However, outstanding balances continue to accumulate. Water is an essential service, and funds to provide this service come from the customers. As a public agency, the District must continue to operate and maintain its services, which have been needed and are needed now more than ever. Although the District asks customers to continue paying their water bills by the due date, financial assistance is available to eligible customers. If you have questions regarding your water bill or need to discuss payment options, please call (619) 670-2222, email paymentsupport@otaywater.gov, or visit otaywater.gov/payment-options. A más de un año de la pandemia el agua potable sigue siendo segura La vida, tal y como la conocíamos cambió drásticamente. Ha pasado un año desde que comenzó el COVID-19. Hemos tenido muchos cambios en nuestra vida cotidiana, sin embargo, una cosa es segura: el agua potable del Distrito de Agua de Otay permanece limpia, segura y confiable. Como parte del proceso continuo de operaciones y mantenimiento para garantizar que el agua sea segura y de la más alta calidad, el Distrito monitorea y analiza cuidadosamente el agua potable de los clientes en varios puntos del sistema de distribución. Durante la pandemia, el personal del Distrito ha monitoreado las advertencias estatales y federales relacionadas con el COVID-19 para garantizar que los servicios de agua que brinda no se vean afectados por el virus. No hay evidencia que respalde la supervivencia del COVID-19 en el agua potable. La gripe, que es una enfermedad respiratoria, no se transmite a través del agua de la llave. El coronavirus, también es una enfermedad respiratoria, por lo tanto, no es diferente. El Distrito también usa sistemas de filtración, desinfección con cloro y otros procesos de tratamiento que eliminan los organismos patógenos del suministro de agua. Cada año, la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de los Estados Unidos y la División de Agua Potable de California establecen normas que limitan la cantidad de contaminantes que pueden estar presentes en el agua potable, y el Distrito continúa cumpliendo o superando todas las normas. No obstante, el Distrito reconoce el estrés financiero que han experimentado algunos clientes. Según la Orden Ejecutiva del gobernador del 2 de abril de 2020, el Distrito suspendió temporalmente los cortes de agua y el cobro de recargos. Sin embargo, los saldos pendientes continúan acumulándose. El agua es un servicio esencial y los fondos para brindar este servicio provienen de los clientes. Como agencia pública, el Distrito debe continuar operando y manteniendo sus servicios que siempre han sido necesarios y ahora mas que nunca. Aunque el Distrito le pide a los clientes que sigan pagando sus facturas de agua antes de la fecha de vencimiento, hay asistencia financiera disponible para los clientes elegibles. Si usted tiene preguntas acerca de su factura de agua o necesita información sobre las opciones de pago, por favor llame al (619) 670-2222. También puede enviar un correo electrónico a paymentsupport@otaywater.gov, o visitar otaywater.gov/es/covid-19. Financial Assistance Available to Help Customers Impacted by COVID-19 Pay Utility Bills Have you been financially impacted by the pandemic and need help to pay your past- due water bills? Eligible Otay customers behind on rent and utilities can now apply for financial relief through the COVID-19 Emergency Rental and Utilities Assistance Program. Three separate programs are available through the County of San Diego, the City of Chula Vista, and the City of San Diego. If you are unsure which jurisdiction you reside in and need help determining which program to apply for, visit sandiegocounty.gov/erap. The programs give priority to residents with past-due rent, but if a qualifying household has both unpaid rent and utilities, the funding may be available for both. Applications will be accepted until funds are exhausted. To be eligible, households must have experienced or are currently at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability, must have experienced a financial hardship directly or indirectly related to COVID-19, and household income must be at or below 80% Area Median Income. The programs are administered by respective cities and the County, and not by the Otay Water District. For details, visit otaywater.gov/sdcountyassistance. For specific questions regarding your Otay bill, payment options, and extensions/ arrangements, contact customer service at (619) 670-2222, email paymentsupport@ otaywater.gov, or visit otaywater.gov/ covid-19. Asistencia financiera para pago de facturas de servicios públicos para clientes afectados por el COVID-19 ¿La pandemia del COVID-19 le ha afectado financieramente y necesita ayuda para pagar sus facturas de agua vencidas? Ya existe ayuda financiera para los clientes elegibles del Distrito de Agua de Otay que están atrasados en sus pagos de alquiler y servicios públicos a través del Programa de Asistencia de Emergencia para Alquiler y Servicios Públicos. Existen tres programas diferentes que están disponibles a través del condado de San Diego, la ciudad de Chula Vista y la ciudad de San Diego. Si usted no está seguro en qué jurisdicción reside y necesita ayuda para determinar qué programa solicitar, por favor visite sandiegocounty.gov/erap. A través de estos programas se les da prioridad a los residentes que están atrasados en el pago de su renta, sin embargo, si un hogar que califica está atrasado en su renta y servicios públicos, los fondos pueden estar disponibles en ambas situaciones. Se aceptarán solicitudes hasta que se agoten los fondos. Para ser elegible, las familias deben haber experimentado o estar en riesgo de perder su vivienda o sufrir inestabilidad en la vivienda; deben haber experimentado dificultades financieras relacionadas directa o indirectamente con el COVID-19; y los ingresos familiares deben ser iguales o inferiores al 80% del ingreso medio del área. Estos programas son administrados por las respectivas ciudades y el condado, no por el Distrito de Agua de Otay. Para obtener más información, por favor visite otaywater. gov/programa-asistencia. Si tiene preguntas específicas sobre su factura de agua del Distrito, opciones de pago, y extensiones o arreglos de pago, por favor comuníquese con servicio al cliente al (619) 670-2222, o mediante correo electrónico a paymentsupport@otaywater.gov, o visite otaywater.gov/es/covid-19.