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Pipeline 02 - Spring 2011
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 FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE OTAY WATER DISTRICT CALL 619.670.2222 OR GO TO WWW.OTAYWATER.GOV The Pipeline Newsletter is published quarterly by the Otay Water District and can also be found online at www.otaywater.gov. Copyright © 2011 Otay Water District. All rights reserved. Spring 2011 Are you still receiving paper bill statements in the mail? Sign up to receive electronic bill statements from Otay Water District. Help reduce paper waste and save yourself time by conveniently managing your finances with just the click of a button. To enroll go to www.otaywater.gov and click on the Customer Service tab or call (619) 670-2222. Aun sigue recibiendo su estado de cuenta por correo? Inscríbase para recibir sus estados de cuenta del Distrito de Agua de Otay electrónicamente. Ayude a reducir el desperdicio de papel y ahorre tiempo tomando el control de sus finanzas con sólo un clic. Para inscribirse, visite www.otaywater.gov y haga clic en Servicio al Cliente o llame al (619) 670-2222. Understanding the complexities of government agencies and special districts can be a challenge. However, special districts are actually easy to understand and are one of the best examples of democratic government at the community level. Specials districts are created by voters in a specific geographic area to provide a distinct service to that community. While cities and counties provide multiple programs, some of which are mandated by the federal or state government, special districts only deliver the programs and services their communities want. For example, in 1956, a group of East County and South Bay farmers petitioned their neighbors to create a special agency that could reliably and affordably deliver water to the sparsely developed areas of Otay Mesa, eastern Chula Vista, Jamul, Rancho San Diego and Spring Valley. Today that agency delivers water to more than 206,000 people and is known as the Otay Water District. Since the District was developed to serve the people, it was created to be “revenue neutral” meaning that each user would only pay his or her fair share of the cost of acquiring, treating and delivering water. Five area residents were elected by their neighbors to serve on the Board of Directors. Board members would serve four year terms of office and set ordinances, policies, taxes and rates for water service that apply equally to their neighbors and to themselves. Across the state, Californians have created local entities to deliver specific services to their communities as well. Most are single purpose agencies, but all provide a service to a defined geographic area or community. Those services include fire protection, parks and recreation services, healthcare, water delivery, wastewater collection, vector and mosquito control and even public cemeteries. Special districts vary in size and often cross political boundary lines, such as city and county borders, to serve a common community of interest. Since most provide only one or two functions, they focus on delivering those services as efficiently and effectively as possible. Today, special districts are an integral part of local government. Although they operate efficiently, they are often out of the public spotlight. This anonymity has caused them to become the target for public criticism. Special districts are often misunderstood, even by the experts. Some celebrate special districts as excellent examples of local democracy while others consider them unaccountable, fragmented forms of government. Regardless of these varying perceptions, special districts contribute significantly to the economic vitality and quality of life in the communities they serve. Comprender la complejidad de los organismos gubernamentales y los distritos especiales puede ser un desafío. Sin embargo, los distritos especiales son realmente fáciles de entender y es uno de los mejores ejemplos de un gobierno democrático a nivel comunitario. Distritos especiales son creados por los votantes en un área geográfica específica para proporcionar un servicio distinto a esa comunidad. Mientras que ciudades y condados ofrecen varios programas, algunos de los cuales están obligados por el gobierno federal o estatal, los distritos especiales sólo entregan los programas y servicios que sus comunidades quieren. Por ejemplo, en 1956, un grupo de agricultores del este del Condado y del Sur de la Bahía solicitaron a sus vecinos para crear un organismo especial que podría suministrar agua de manera confiable y de precio accesible a las zonas poco desarrolladas de Otay Mesa, el este de Chula Vista, Jamul, Rancho San Diego y Spring Valley. Hoy ese organismo entrega agua a más de 206,000 personas y se conoce como el Distrito de Agua de Otay. Como el Distrito fue desarrollado para servir a la gente, fue creado para ser “de ingreso neutral”, que significa que cada usuario sólo pagaría su cuota justa de los costos de adquisición, tratamiento y distribución de agua. Cinco residentes de la zona fueron elegidos por sus vecinos para formar parte del Consejo Administrativo. Miembros del Consejo cumplirían términos de cuatro años y establecerían reglamentos, políticas, impuestos, y tasas para el servicio de agua que se aplican por igual a sus vecinos y ellos mismos. A través del estado, los californianos han creado entidades locales para prestar servicios específicos a sus comunidades. La mayoría son organismos de una sola finalidad, pero todas ofrecen un servicio a un área geográfica o comunidad. Estos servicios incluyen la protección contra incendios, parques y recreación, salud, suministro de agua, recolección de aguas residuales, el vector y el control de mosquitos e incluso cementerios públicos. Los distritos especiales varían en tamaño y a menudo cruzan las fronteras políticas para servir un interés común de la comunidad. Dado que la mayoría ofrecen sólo una o dos funciones, se centran en la prestación de los servicios de la manera más eficiente y efectiva posible. Hoy en día, los distritos especiales son una parte integral del gobierno local. Aunque funcionan de forma eficaz, a menudo están fuera de la atención pública. Este anonimato ha causado que se convirtieran en el blanco de las críticas públicas. Los distritos especiales son mal entendidos a menudo, incluso por los expertos. Algunos celebran a los distritos especiales como excelentes ejemplos de la democracia local, mientras que otros los consideran que las formas fragmentadas del gobierno que no rinde cuentas a nadie. A pesar de estas percepciones diferentes, los distritos especiales contribuyen significativamente a la vitalidad económica y a la calidad de vida de las comunidades que sirven. Special DistrictStatistics • Nearly 85% of special districts serve a single function • Special districts provide fire protection for more than 11 million people • Special districts manage and operate water systems for more than 30 million people • Special districts operate 46 public hospitals and provide health care services to over 2 million people • Common types of special districts include fire protection districts, cemetery districts, county water districts, sanitation districts, and park and recreation districts Estadísticas de Distritos Especiales • Casi el 85% de los distritos especiales tienen una función única • Distritos especiales proveen protección contra incendios a mas de 11 millones depersonas • Los distritos especiales administran y operan los sistemas de agua de más de 30 millones de personas • Los distritos especiales operan 46 hospitales públicos y prestan servicios de salud a mas de 2 millones de personas • Distritos especiales comunes incluyen distritos de protección contra incendios, distritos de cementerios, distritos de agua del condado, distritos sanitarios del condado, y distritos de parques y recreación Distritos Especiales: Llevando servicios que las comunidades quieren Special Districts: Delivering Services that Communities Want Copyright © Nan Sterman 2011. All rights reserved. Nan Sterman’sPlant Soup Inc. Otay Water District – Board of Directors The Board of Directors meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 3:30 pm in the Board meeting room. The public is encouraged to attend at 2554 Sweetwater Spring Bvd., Spring Valley, CA. PresidentJaime Bonilla, Division 2jbonilla@otaywater.gov Vice-PresidentGary Croucher, Division 3gcroucher@otaywater.gov TreasurerDavid Gonzalez, Division 1dgonzalez@otaywater.gov BoardmemberJose Lopez, Division 4jlopez@otaywater.gov BoardmemberMark Robak, Division 5OtayWater@cox.net At theGarden For more class information and prices visit www.thegarden.org Start Your Garden from Seed Every spring of my childhood I planted radish seeds in the narrow, no-man’s land of our suburban sideyard. I’d rough up the hardened soil, sprinkle the seeds and splash with water. Every day after school I’d check for green sprouts, then for tiny, spicy red orbs. With my childhood level of care, I picked maybe a radish or two from each packet. I was thrilled. My seed starting process and my success have improved significantly since then. Every spring, I start my summer garden from seed. Here are some of my secrets: Containers: Save seedling six packs, yogurt containers, or even take-out containers. Poke drainage holes into the bottom if there aren’t any (poke from the inside to outside) and then soak the containers for 30 minutes in a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water. Save plastic plant labels and disinfect them with the containers. Or, use clean popsicle sticks. Before you plant, write the plant type, variety and planting date on each label in pencil. Pencil doesn’t fade or wash off. Use fresh seed starting mix, NOT potting mix or dirt. Wet the seed mix to mud pie consistency. Fill each container within a half inch of the top. Only high quality seeds grow high quality seedlings, so buy wisely. Read the package labels to find the best size and variety. In each container or cell, plant three seeds in damp soil and as far from each other as possible. For smaller seeds like tomatoes, set seeds onto the damp soil. Press larger seeds, like cucumbers and squash, down just below the surface. Add a fine layer of damp seed mix atop the seeds. Press down firmly. Top the seed mix with a quarter-inch layer of perlite or construction sand (not playground sand) to stave off a common fungus that kills seedlings just after they sprout. Place the containers in a shallow pan filled with several inches of water. Once the water wicks up and saturates the containers, remove them from the pan and let the excess water drain. Set the containers in a spot out of direct sunlight and where nighttime temperatures do not go below the mid-50s. This is the temperature range at which tomatoes, basil, zinnias, etc. germinate. Loosely tent the containers with lightweight plastic produce bags or big plastic dry cleaning bags so the seed mix stays damp but not wet. A chopstick in the corner of each container keeps the plastic off the soil. Once all the seeds sprout, remove the plastic. Now, the hard part. When seedlings have two sets of leaves, it is time to thin to one healthy plant per cell, or one or two plants per larger container. Cut the weaker seedlings off at the base using a round-tipped baby’s fingernail scissor. As the seedlings grow, keep the seed mix damp. When it dries a bit, set the containers into a dishpan of water with a few drops of fish emulsion or other liquid organic fertilizer. Don’t water from the top. After six to eight weeks, the seedlings are usually large enough to transplant into the garden. Within a few months, you’ll be enjoying the fruits of your labor – literally! Check Your Water Pressure Have you experienced a leaky faucet or a constantly running toilet? A faulty pressure regulator may be the cause. Even in newer homes, pressure regulators can wear out and fail. The quality of your pressure regulator dictates the years of service to expect. Regulators may last for as little as one year or as long as twenty years or more. To ensure proper water pressure in your home, it is your responsibility to maintain a working pressure regulator. When plumbing work is being done around your house, ask your licensed plumber to check your water pressure. Pressure regulators can wear out and should be checked whenever any plumbing work is being done around the house. Jamacha Road Pipeline Project Receives Prestigious Awards The Otay Water District’s Jamacha Road Pipeline Project has received the 2011 Project of the Year award from the American Public Works Association – San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapter. The more than five-mile long project was not only the largest capital improvement project in the District’s 54-year history, but also one of the most challenging. The project involved the installation of a large diameter pipeline along heavily traveled streets and through sensitive and densely populated East County neighborhoods. Despite the challenges the project was successfully finished on time and nearly $1 million under budget. In addition to the award from the American Public Works Association, The American Society of Civil Engineers – San Diego County Section also presented the Jamacha Road Pipeline Project with its 2010 Award of Excellence. Now in operation, the pipeline is able to deliver an additional 12 million gallons of water per day during peak periods and 16 million gallons during off-peak periods, which is especially critical during times of emergency in this fire-prone area. ConSERvAtion BEginS outDooRS tips to tune-up Your garden With sixty percent of all residential water use occurring outside the home, it’s important to regularly update your outdoor irrigation practices. Here are a few tips to provide you with the greatest return on your landscape investment: • Replace missing and broken sprinkler heads and redirect your sprinklers so they water your plants, not the street or sidewalk. • Cut back overgrown turf or plant material to allow precious water to reach your lawn and plants. • Use shorter irrigation cycles to avoid runoff, especially on slopes. • Adjust your irrigation timer to water during the cooler times of day, such as in the evening or the early morning hours. • Replace mulch or bark. A 2 to 4 inch bed of mulch or bark helps your soil retain moisture and will help minimize annoying weeds. • Apply the right amount of water to your garden by creating a customized watering schedule. Visit our website at www.otaywater.gov and click on “Conservation Home” then “Watering Calculator” to learn how. The Water Conservation Garden offers educational programs for children, adults and landscape professionals, plus tours and events throughout the year. Pre-registration is required for all classes. Payments received before the date of your class guarantees your reservation. A minimum of 10 students is required to hold a class. Please register early! July 3rd - 9:30 am - 10:30 am ASK THE HORTICULTURIST TOUR enjoy an informative walk through the Garden with a professional from the horticulture staff. Bring your questions and prepare for an interesting tour from the perspective of someone who works in the Garden daily. Meet at the front entrance of the Garden. Free. July 13th - 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm EVENING IN THE GARDEN: H2O Art Talks Sip champagne, stroll the Garden and enjoy the beauty of a summer evening with artists from the Garden’s new outdoor sculpture exhibition, “h2O: the Art of Conservation.” the evening will feature intimate discussions with the artists, as well as light refreshments. Member price: $8.00. non-Member price: $12.00. July 30th - 9:30 am - 10:30 am HOME OWNER ASSOCIATION TOUR tour the Garden while learning how to save water and money by designing a drought tolerant landscape for your hOA. $5 per person. reservations required. please call 619-660-6841. Copyright © Nan Sterman 2011. All rights reserved. Nan Sterman’sPlant Soup Inc. Otay Water District – Board of Directors The Board of Directors meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 3:30 pm in the Board meeting room. The public is encouraged to attend at 2554 Sweetwater Spring Bvd., Spring Valley, CA. PresidentJaime Bonilla, Division 2jbonilla@otaywater.gov Vice-PresidentGary Croucher, Division 3gcroucher@otaywater.gov TreasurerDavid Gonzalez, Division 1dgonzalez@otaywater.gov BoardmemberJose Lopez, Division 4jlopez@otaywater.gov BoardmemberMark Robak, Division 5OtayWater@cox.net At theGarden For more class information and prices visit www.thegarden.org Start Your Garden from Seed Every spring of my childhood I planted radish seeds in the narrow, no-man’s land of our suburban sideyard. I’d rough up the hardened soil, sprinkle the seeds and splash with water. Every day after school I’d check for green sprouts, then for tiny, spicy red orbs. With my childhood level of care, I picked maybe a radish or two from each packet. I was thrilled. My seed starting process and my success have improved significantly since then. Every spring, I start my summer garden from seed. Here are some of my secrets: Containers: Save seedling six packs, yogurt containers, or even take-out containers. Poke drainage holes into the bottom if there aren’t any (poke from the inside to outside) and then soak the containers for 30 minutes in a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water. Save plastic plant labels and disinfect them with the containers. Or, use clean popsicle sticks. Before you plant, write the plant type, variety and planting date on each label in pencil. Pencil doesn’t fade or wash off. Use fresh seed starting mix, NOT potting mix or dirt. Wet the seed mix to mud pie consistency. Fill each container within a half inch of the top. Only high quality seeds grow high quality seedlings, so buy wisely. Read the package labels to find the best size and variety. In each container or cell, plant three seeds in damp soil and as far from each other as possible. For smaller seeds like tomatoes, set seeds onto the damp soil. Press larger seeds, like cucumbers and squash, down just below the surface. Add a fine layer of damp seed mix atop the seeds. Press down firmly. Top the seed mix with a quarter-inch layer of perlite or construction sand (not playground sand) to stave off a common fungus that kills seedlings just after they sprout. Place the containers in a shallow pan filled with several inches of water. Once the water wicks up and saturates the containers, remove them from the pan and let the excess water drain. Set the containers in a spot out of direct sunlight and where nighttime temperatures do not go below the mid-50s. This is the temperature range at which tomatoes, basil, zinnias, etc. germinate. Loosely tent the containers with lightweight plastic produce bags or big plastic dry cleaning bags so the seed mix stays damp but not wet. A chopstick in the corner of each container keeps the plastic off the soil. Once all the seeds sprout, remove the plastic. Now, the hard part. When seedlings have two sets of leaves, it is time to thin to one healthy plant per cell, or one or two plants per larger container. Cut the weaker seedlings off at the base using a round-tipped baby’s fingernail scissor. As the seedlings grow, keep the seed mix damp. When it dries a bit, set the containers into a dishpan of water with a few drops of fish emulsion or other liquid organic fertilizer. Don’t water from the top. After six to eight weeks, the seedlings are usually large enough to transplant into the garden. Within a few months, you’ll be enjoying the fruits of your labor – literally! Check Your Water Pressure Have you experienced a leaky faucet or a constantly running toilet? A faulty pressure regulator may be the cause. Even in newer homes, pressure regulators can wear out and fail. The quality of your pressure regulator dictates the years of service to expect. Regulators may last for as little as one year or as long as twenty years or more. To ensure proper water pressure in your home, it is your responsibility to maintain a working pressure regulator. When plumbing work is being done around your house, ask your licensed plumber to check your water pressure. Pressure regulators can wear out and should be checked whenever any plumbing work is being done around the house. Jamacha Road Pipeline Project Receives Prestigious Awards The Otay Water District’s Jamacha Road Pipeline Project has received the 2011 Project of the Year award from the American Public Works Association – San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapter. The more than five-mile long project was not only the largest capital improvement project in the District’s 54-year history, but also one of the most challenging. The project involved the installation of a large diameter pipeline along heavily traveled streets and through sensitive and densely populated East County neighborhoods. Despite the challenges the project was successfully finished on time and nearly $1 million under budget. In addition to the award from the American Public Works Association, The American Society of Civil Engineers – San Diego County Section also presented the Jamacha Road Pipeline Project with its 2010 Award of Excellence. Now in operation, the pipeline is able to deliver an additional 12 million gallons of water per day during peak periods and 16 million gallons during off-peak periods, which is especially critical during times of emergency in this fire-prone area. ConSERvAtion BEginS outDooRS tips to tune-up Your garden With sixty percent of all residential water use occurring outside the home, it’s important to regularly update your outdoor irrigation practices. Here are a few tips to provide you with the greatest return on your landscape investment: • Replace missing and broken sprinkler heads and redirect your sprinklers so they water your plants, not the street or sidewalk. • Cut back overgrown turf or plant material to allow precious water to reach your lawn and plants. • Use shorter irrigation cycles to avoid runoff, especially on slopes. • Adjust your irrigation timer to water during the cooler times of day, such as in the evening or the early morning hours. • Replace mulch or bark. A 2 to 4 inch bed of mulch or bark helps your soil retain moisture and will help minimize annoying weeds. • Apply the right amount of water to your garden by creating a customized watering schedule. Visit our website at www.otaywater.gov and click on “Conservation Home” then “Watering Calculator” to learn how. The Water Conservation Garden offers educational programs for children, adults and landscape professionals, plus tours and events throughout the year. Pre-registration is required for all classes. Payments received before the date of your class guarantees your reservation. A minimum of 10 students is required to hold a class. Please register early! July 3rd - 9:30 am - 10:30 am ASK THE HORTICULTURIST TOUR enjoy an informative walk through the Garden with a professional from the horticulture staff. Bring your questions and prepare for an interesting tour from the perspective of someone who works in the Garden daily. Meet at the front entrance of the Garden. Free. July 13th - 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm EVENING IN THE GARDEN: H2O Art Talks Sip champagne, stroll the Garden and enjoy the beauty of a summer evening with artists from the Garden’s new outdoor sculpture exhibition, “h2O: the Art of Conservation.” the evening will feature intimate discussions with the artists, as well as light refreshments. Member price: $8.00. non-Member price: $12.00. July 30th - 9:30 am - 10:30 am HOME OWNER ASSOCIATION TOUR tour the Garden while learning how to save water and money by designing a drought tolerant landscape for your hOA. $5 per person. reservations required. please call 619-660-6841. 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 FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE OTAY WATER DISTRICT CALL 619.670.2222 OR GO TO WWW.OTAYWATER.GOV The Pipeline Newsletter is published quarterly by the Otay Water District and can also be found online at www.otaywater.gov. Copyright © 2011 Otay Water District. All rights reserved. Spring 2011 Are you still receiving paper bill statements in the mail? Sign up to receive electronic bill statements from Otay Water District. Help reduce paper waste and save yourself time by conveniently managing your finances with just the click of a button. To enroll go to www.otaywater.gov and click on the Customer Service tab or call (619) 670-2222. Aun sigue recibiendo su estado de cuenta por correo? Inscríbase para recibir sus estados de cuenta del Distrito de Agua de Otay electrónicamente. Ayude a reducir el desperdicio de papel y ahorre tiempo tomando el control de sus finanzas con sólo un clic. Para inscribirse, visite www.otaywater.gov y haga clic en Servicio al Cliente o llame al (619) 670-2222. Understanding the complexities of government agencies and special districts can be a challenge. However, special districts are actually easy to understand and are one of the best examples of democratic government at the community level. Specials districts are created by voters in a specific geographic area to provide a distinct service to that community. While cities and counties provide multiple programs, some of which are mandated by the federal or state government, special districts only deliver the programs and services their communities want. For example, in 1956, a group of East County and South Bay farmers petitioned their neighbors to create a special agency that could reliably and affordably deliver water to the sparsely developed areas of Otay Mesa, eastern Chula Vista, Jamul, Rancho San Diego and Spring Valley. Today that agency delivers water to more than 206,000 people and is known as the Otay Water District. Since the District was developed to serve the people, it was created to be “revenue neutral” meaning that each user would only pay his or her fair share of the cost of acquiring, treating and delivering water. Five area residents were elected by their neighbors to serve on the Board of Directors. Board members would serve four year terms of office and set ordinances, policies, taxes and rates for water service that apply equally to their neighbors and to themselves. Across the state, Californians have created local entities to deliver specific services to their communities as well. Most are single purpose agencies, but all provide a service to a defined geographic area or community. Those services include fire protection, parks and recreation services, healthcare, water delivery, wastewater collection, vector and mosquito control and even public cemeteries. Special districts vary in size and often cross political boundary lines, such as city and county borders, to serve a common community of interest. Since most provide only one or two functions, they focus on delivering those services as efficiently and effectively as possible. Today, special districts are an integral part of local government. Although they operate efficiently, they are often out of the public spotlight. This anonymity has caused them to become the target for public criticism. Special districts are often misunderstood, even by the experts. Some celebrate special districts as excellent examples of local democracy while others consider them unaccountable, fragmented forms of government. Regardless of these varying perceptions, special districts contribute significantly to the economic vitality and quality of life in the communities they serve. Comprender la complejidad de los organismos gubernamentales y los distritos especiales puede ser un desafío. Sin embargo, los distritos especiales son realmente fáciles de entender y es uno de los mejores ejemplos de un gobierno democrático a nivel comunitario. Distritos especiales son creados por los votantes en un área geográfica específica para proporcionar un servicio distinto a esa comunidad. Mientras que ciudades y condados ofrecen varios programas, algunos de los cuales están obligados por el gobierno federal o estatal, los distritos especiales sólo entregan los programas y servicios que sus comunidades quieren. Por ejemplo, en 1956, un grupo de agricultores del este del Condado y del Sur de la Bahía solicitaron a sus vecinos para crear un organismo especial que podría suministrar agua de manera confiable y de precio accesible a las zonas poco desarrolladas de Otay Mesa, el este de Chula Vista, Jamul, Rancho San Diego y Spring Valley. Hoy ese organismo entrega agua a más de 206,000 personas y se conoce como el Distrito de Agua de Otay. Como el Distrito fue desarrollado para servir a la gente, fue creado para ser “de ingreso neutral”, que significa que cada usuario sólo pagaría su cuota justa de los costos de adquisición, tratamiento y distribución de agua. Cinco residentes de la zona fueron elegidos por sus vecinos para formar parte del Consejo Administrativo. Miembros del Consejo cumplirían términos de cuatro años y establecerían reglamentos, políticas, impuestos, y tasas para el servicio de agua que se aplican por igual a sus vecinos y ellos mismos. A través del estado, los californianos han creado entidades locales para prestar servicios específicos a sus comunidades. La mayoría son organismos de una sola finalidad, pero todas ofrecen un servicio a un área geográfica o comunidad. Estos servicios incluyen la protección contra incendios, parques y recreación, salud, suministro de agua, recolección de aguas residuales, el vector y el control de mosquitos e incluso cementerios públicos. Los distritos especiales varían en tamaño y a menudo cruzan las fronteras políticas para servir un interés común de la comunidad. Dado que la mayoría ofrecen sólo una o dos funciones, se centran en la prestación de los servicios de la manera más eficiente y efectiva posible. Hoy en día, los distritos especiales son una parte integral del gobierno local. Aunque funcionan de forma eficaz, a menudo están fuera de la atención pública. Este anonimato ha causado que se convirtieran en el blanco de las críticas públicas. Los distritos especiales son mal entendidos a menudo, incluso por los expertos. Algunos celebran a los distritos especiales como excelentes ejemplos de la democracia local, mientras que otros los consideran que las formas fragmentadas del gobierno que no rinde cuentas a nadie. A pesar de estas percepciones diferentes, los distritos especiales contribuyen significativamente a la vitalidad económica y a la calidad de vida de las comunidades que sirven. Special DistrictStatistics • Nearly 85% of special districts serve a single function • Special districts provide fire protection for more than 11 million people • Special districts manage and operate water systems for more than 30 million people • Special districts operate 46 public hospitals and provide health care services to over 2 million people • Common types of special districts include fire protection districts, cemetery districts, county water districts, sanitation districts, and park and recreation districts Estadísticas de Distritos Especiales • Casi el 85% de los distritos especiales tienen una función única • Distritos especiales proveen protección contra incendios a mas de 11 millones depersonas • Los distritos especiales administran y operan los sistemas de agua de más de 30 millones de personas • Los distritos especiales operan 46 hospitales públicos y prestan servicios de salud a mas de 2 millones de personas • Distritos especiales comunes incluyen distritos de protección contra incendios, distritos de cementerios, distritos de agua del condado, distritos sanitarios del condado, y distritos de parques y recreación Distritos Especiales: Llevando servicios que las comunidades quieren Special Districts: Delivering Services that Communities Want