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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPipeline 01 - Winter 2009T H E O T A Y W A T E R D I S T R I C T • P R O U D LY S E R V I N G E A S T C O U N T Y A N D T H E S O U T H B AY S I N C E 1 9 5 6 W I N T E R 2 0 0 9 A N E W SL E T T E R FOR CU S T O M E R S OF T HE O TA Y WATE R DISTRIC T RateCompaRisons For a conserving customer (those using 10 units of water per month or 10 HCF, each unit = 748 gallons), Otay is the 3rd lowest cost provider of 24 water agencies in San Diego County. For a customer using 15 HCF, Otay is the 6th lowest cost provider. Otay Water District Continues Level I Drought Watch A Level 1 Drought Watch has been declared for the Otay Water District’s service area. Customers are strongly urged to reduce their water use by 10%. LEVEL IV - DROUGHTEMERGENCY LEVEL II - DROUGHTALERT LEVEL I - DROUGHTWATCH LEVEL III - DROUGHTCRITICAL Voluntary measures to stop waste. Repair leaks promptly. Wash cars with a bucket and shut-off nozzle. Conservation goal: up to 10%. Mandatory water use restrictions. Irrigate no more than 3 days per week, 15 minutes per station. Conservation goal: up to 20%. No new construction, annexations or development. Strict limits on water used for irrigation and non-public health purposes. Conservation goal: up to 40%. Stop all landscape irrigation. No new construction, annexations or development. Conservation goal: more than 40%. RE: Important Message about Water Shortages and Water Prices Dear Otay Water District Customer: This coming year has the potential to be one of the most volatile years for water supply in San Diego County’s history. Because of the likelihood of a near-term water shortage, conservation may become mandatory and prices could increase dramatically for some customers. Despite the recent winter rains, water supply in California and the West remain disrupted by drought along the Colorado River and pumping restrictions severely limiting imported water from Northern California. The Colorado River will take years to recover from an eight-year drought and imported water from the State Water Project is predicted to be just 15% of a normal year’s allocation due to court-ordered pumping restrictions related to environmental impacts. During the past year, water agencies have been working to spread the news about this impending crisis using television, radio, print ads and bill messages, and aggressively calling on all customers to conserve. This note is a more personal effort to alert you to this increasingly dire situation and notify you the Otay Water District has adopted new rates and a new Drought Rate structure further designed to promote conservation. You will note the higher cost of imported water reflected in your monthly bill. This is the result of water wholesalers struggling to find new supplies of water to meet customer demand. As our traditional supplies become increasingly scarce, the cost of alternative supplies including short-term transfers, are much increased. Under the new rate structure, these costs are being passed-on to all consumers equally. In addition, new Drought Rates have been established and will be implemented as water wholesalers pass on the higher price they pay for water purchased on the spot market. Since June of 2008, the Otay Water District has been in a Level 1 - Drought Watch. A Level II - Drought Alert could be announced by our suppliers anytime. If this occurs, your water rates could increase again. Customers using fewer than 16 units of water per month will see only a modest 2% increase. Large water users, those using 27 units or more, will see larger increases in the range of 30% or more. These rates are based on our supplier’s efforts to enforce con-servation through tiered penalties and market-based pricing. Now is the time to prepare. We encourage customers to use the coming months to make changes to your landscapes, irrigation schedules, and take advantage of conservation rebates and incentives to minimize the impact of rate increases. To see how the new rates will impact your household or business, use the Rate Calculator on our website at www. otaywater.gov and visit www.20gallonchallenge.org for more ways to help you save money. Sincerely,Mark Watton Mark Watton, General Manager District Receives Bond Rating Upgrade Upgrade reflects commitment to economic and management fundamentals — Otay Receives Award — “BEST OF CALIFORNIA 2008” The credit rating agency Standard and Poor’s has upgraded the bond rating of the Otay Water District from AA- to AA. This higher rating reflects increased credit worthiness, and means the district will pay less interest on bonds issued for future capital improvement projects. This is the second credit rating upgrade the district has received in the last nine- teen months. The savings from both bond rating upgrades will total approximately $2 million over the life of the future bond sales. For customers, this means the district’s water rates will continue to be among the lowest in San Diego County. The Otay Water District’s Information Tech- nology and Strategic Planning Department has been awarded the Center for Digital Government’s Best of California, Leader- ship and Excellence, Award for 2008. The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. The Center established the award program to salute IT professionals in California state and local government for their contribu- tions to the field. Otay Approves Rate Increase and Drought Rates The Otay Water District has adopted an average 12.4% rate increase effective January 1, 2009. The rate increase is the result of increased costs from water wholesalers. Eighty percent of the increase is due to higher water costs. The remaining 20% reflects higher energy and infrastructure costs. For a customer using 15 units of water each month, their water rate would increase by an average of $5.04 per month. Conserving water customers, those using 10 units of water per month or less, would receive the smallest increases. The district has also adopted Drought Rates, which will be triggered in the event that a Level II or higher drought stage is declared. When a higher drought stage is declared, water conservation goals becomes mandatory. Drought rates are revenue neutral for the district and will have the least effect on conserving customers. Visit our Rate Calculator at www.otaywater.gov to see how these new water rates will affect your family and your budget. The Otay Water District offers a number of water con- servation programs, tips and water saving information, and encourages customers to take advantage of these ways to save water and save money. Water Conservation Incentives Smart Controller Rebate - $350— Smart irrigation controllers adjust your watering schedule automatically based on local site conditions and can lower your water use by approximately 14,000 gallons per year. Rotating Sprinkler Nozzle Rebate - $4.00 per nozzle—Rotating nozzles can elimi- nate runoff and use 20% less water than conventional spray heads by applying water more slowly and evenly. High-Efficiency Washing Machine Rebate - $185—High-efficiency clothes washers typically use an average of 40% less water and 55% less energy. Clothes also require 50% less drying time. High-Efficiency Toilet Rebate - $100— High-efficiency toilets use an average of 1.28 gallons per flush, or 20% less than a toilet manufactured after 1994. Synthetic Turf Rebate - $1.00 per square- foot—Synthetic turf requires no watering, no fertilizers or pesticides, looks great and reduces maintenance costs. Call 1- 800-376-3314 for more information or to obtain a rebate. 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. PresidentGary Croucher, Division 3gcroucher@otaywater.gov Vice-PresidentJose Lopez, Division 4jlopez@otaywater.gov TreasurerJaime Bonilla, Division 2jbonilla@otaywater.gov BoardmemberLarry Breitfelder, Division 1lbreitfelder@otaywater.gov BoardmemberMark Robak, Division 5OtayWater@cox.net Perfect Plant Partners Our low-water plant palette offers lots of new possibilities for plant combinations that create different looks, different color blends, and different seasonal highlights, all of which take little maintenance. For a burgundy and soft green year-round color scheme in full sun, try these. • Caribbean copper plant (Euphorbia cotinifolia), a tall (15’ x 8’), tree-like shrub with a dove-gray trunk, and branches covered in 2-3” round, bright burgundy leaves. If temperatures go down to 30°F or so, leaves drop but resprout in the spring. Avoid getting irritating sap on your skin or in your eyes. • Giant dracaena (Cordyline australis) ‘Red Sensation,’ ‘Dark Star’ and other bronze-leaved varieties of this tall, strappy-leaved plant echo the leaf color of the Caribbean copper plant. Evergreen and hardy to at least 15°F. Plants grow slowly to 20’ tall. • Honeybush (Melianthus major) is a soft-stemmed shrub with large, palm-like fronds of icy green leaves with serrated edges. Multiple stems grow upright from the plant’s center to form a broad (5’ tall x12’ wide) plant. Prune off all but three branches to promote a tall, narrow (8’ tall x 5’ wide) profile. From late winter through spring, each stem sports an 18” tall spire of burgundy flowers that match the giant dracaena and the Caribbean copper plant. Flowers are filled with nectar much beloved by hummingbirds. • Dune sage (Salvia africana lutea) forms a 5’ tall and 6’ wide shrub. It has tiny, soft-green leaves and small, snapdragon like flowers that open a soft apricot and turn to copper. Their shade compliments the burgundy tones. • ‘Glacier Blue’ spurge (Euphorbia characias ‘Glacier Blue’) is a low (1-2’ mound) semi-succulent with blue-green leaves edged in ivory. Early winter flowers are also ivory and last a long time. Stems fade in late summer but are quickly replaced by new ones. Avoid getting irritating sap on your skin or in your eyes. Rather grow natives? Try this combo of yellow/gold and blue/green in full sun or light shade. • Variegated century plant (Agave americana ‘Variegata’ also sold as Agave americana var picta) is a tall agave whose succulent green blades are edged in pale yellow. There are other agaves in this color scheme, some in the reverse pattern. Be sure to read the label so you know whether the one that catches your eye grows to 3’ tall and wide, or 8’ tall and wide. Plant it where there is enough room for its ultimate size. • Indian mallow (Abutilon palmeri) is a mounding shrub (3-6’ tall and wide) with broad, green leaves covered in soft, silvery fuzz. Plant it in full sun or light shade, and where you can touch the leaves as you walk by. Deep gold flowers hang from branch tips from spring to fall. Hummingbirds and butterflies are frequent visitors. • California fescue (Festuca californica) is a clumping native grass that forms fountainy, two-foot mounds. Plants are evergreen with greenish blue blades. Good in full sun or part shade. Copyright © Nan Sterman 2009. All rights reserved.At theGarden Thursday, February 19, 6:30- 8:30 pm H2O - 911! - Living with the water crisis—Join Vickie Driver for a fast and furious introduction to dealing with the current and future water crisis. Learn simple steps for saving water. Saturday, February 28, 9:00 am - Noon Toss Your Turf: Less Water, Less Grass, More Fun!—tips for a beautiful low-water-use landscape in lieu of lawn! Saturday, March 14th, 10:00 – 2:00 pm Free Composting Workshop Pre-Register at www.solanacenter.org or (760) 436-7986 ext. 222 Saturday, March 21, 9:00 am - Noon A New California Garden—Land- scape Designer Linda Whitney shares her process for creating her own award- winning, Water Smart landscape from the ground up. For more class information and prices visit www.thegarden.org High School Senior may Receive up to $2,000 in Scholarships! Graduating high school seniors living within the Otay Water District’s ser- vice area are encouraged to apply for a $1,000 scholarship. The district’s scholarship recipient also becomes eligible to receive another $1,000 scholarship from the California Spe- cial Districts Association - San Diego Chapter or another affiliate organiza- tion. Information and applications are available by calling 619-670-2291 or by visiting www.otaywater.gov and clicking on Education then Scholar- ships. Applications must be mailed or received by March 13, 2009. Nan Sterman’sPlant Soup Inc. 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. If you have questions about the newsletter, please contact us at 2554 Sweetwater Springs Blvd. Spring Valley, CA 91978-2096. Copyright © 2009 Otay Water District. All rights reserved. El Distrito de Agua de Otay Continua su Estado de Vigilancia – Nivel I de Sequía Un estado de vigilancia de sequía ha sido declarado en todo el área de servicio del Distrito de Agua de Otay.Se les recomienda a todos nuestros clientes que reduzcan con un 10 porciento su consumo de agua. SEQUIA – NIVEL IV ESTADO DE EMERGENCIA SEQUIA – NIVEL II ESTADO DE ALERTA SEQUIA – NIVEL I ESTADO DE VIGILANCIA SEQUIA – NIVEL III ESTADO CRITICO Medidas voluntarias para detener los residuos. Reparar las fugas rapidamente. Lavar su auto con una cubeta y una manguera con boquilla de cierre automático. Meta de Conservacion: Hasta el 10%. Restricciones obligatorios del uso del agua. No riegue mas de 3 dias por semanas, y 15 minutos por estacion.Meta de Conservacion: Hasta el 20%. Ninguna construccion de anexos o desarrollos nuevos. Limites estrictos de la cantidad de agua utilizada para el riego y otros usos que no incluyen proyectos de salud pública. Meta de Conservacion: Hasta el 40%. Alto al riego de jardines Ninguna construccion de anexos o desarrollos nuevos.Meta de Conservacion: Mas de 40%. Fo r s p e c i f i c r e s t r i c t i o n s v i s i t w w w . o t a y w a t e r . g o v Distrito de agua de OtayEstado de Vigilancia por Sequia CompaRaCiónde taRifas Para un cliente que conserva agua (aquellos que usan 10 unidades de agua por mes o 10 HCF), Otay es el tercer proveedor de costos más bajos de las 24 agencias de agua en el Condado de San Diego. Para un cliente que usa 15 HCF, Otay es el sexto proveedor de costos más bajos. RE: Mensaje Importante acerca de la escasez y las nuevas tarifas de Agua Estimado Cliente del Distrito de Agua de Otay: Este año tiene el potencial de ser uno de los años más volátiles para el abastecimiento de agua en la historia del Condado de San Diego. A causa de la probabilidad de una escasez de agua que se aproxima, la conservación del agua podría ser obligatoria y los precios podrían aumentar dramáticamente para algunos clientes. A pesar de las lluvias recientes este invierno, el abastecimiento de agua en California y el Oeste permanece interrumpido por la sequía a lo largo del Río Colorado y por las restric- ciones de bombeo que limitan severamente el agua importada desde el Norte de California. El Río Colorado tomará años para reponerse de una sequía de ocho años y se predice que el agua importada del Proyecto De Agua Estatal solamente será el 15 % de la asignación de un año normal, debido a restricciones de bombeo ordenadas por un tribunal debido a su relación con impactos ambientales. Durante el año pasado, agencias de agua han estado trabajando para extender las noticias sobre esta crisis inminente usando la televisión, la radio, anuncios, y haciendo un llamado a todos los clientes para conservar agua. Esta nota es un esfuerzo personal para avisarle de esta situación que cada vez está peor y para notificarle que el Distrito de Agua de Otay ha adoptado nuevas tarifas y una nueva estructura de Tarifas de tiempo de Sequía diseñada para promover la conservación de agua. Usted notará el alto costo de agua importada reflejada en su cuenta mensual. Esto es el resultado de mayoristas de agua que luchan por encontrar nuevas provisiones de agua para satisfacer la demanda del cliente. Como nuestras provisiones tradicionales se hacen cada vez más escasas, el costo de provisiones alternativas incluyendo transferencias a corto plazo aumentara. Bajo la nueva estructura de tarifas, estos gastos están siendo trapasado a todos los consumidores de igual manera. Además, nuevas Tarifas de tiempo de Sequía han sido establecidas y serán puestas en práctica cuando mayoristas de agua pasen el precio alto que ellos pagan al contado por el agua comprada sobre el mercado. Desde junio del 2008, el Distrito de Agua de Otay ha estado en un Estado de Vigilancia o Nivel 1 de Sequía. Un Estado de Alerta o Nivel II de Sequía podría ser anunciado por nuestros proveedores en cualquier momento. Si esto ocurre, sus tarifas podrían aumentar de nuevo. Un cliente que conserve agua utilizando 16 unidades de agua por mes o me- nos, tendrá un aumento en su tarifa de alrededor del 2 por ciento. Sin embargo, aquellos clientes que utilicen una gran cantidad de agua, 27 unidades al mes, verán aumentos en sus tarifas de casi el 30 por ciento. Estas tarifas están basadas en los esfuerzos de nuestro proveedor para hacer obligatoria la conservación de agua a través de sanciones o multas y la acción de poner el precio a base del mercado. Ahora es el tiempo para prepararse. Les sugerimos a nuestros clientes que usen los próximos meses para hacer cambios a sus paisajes residenciales, horarios de riego, y que aprovechen las rebajas e incentivos de conservación para reducir el impacto de aumentos de tarifas. Para determinar cómo las Tarifas de tiempo de Sequía le afectarán a su hogar o negocio, utilice la Calculadora de tarifas en nuestro sitio web: www.otaywater.gov y visite www.20gallonchallenge.com, para enterarse de otras maneras de ahorrar dinero. Sinceramente,Mark Watton Mark Watton, Gerente General