A month ago, I reported that the Eastern Municipal Water District will begin enforcing its "Stop Water Runoff" policy, where it will send out the water police to look for homes with water running off the lawn and into the gutter...

http://www.menifee247.com/2008/07/emwd-plans-to-implement-tiered-water.htm

Today, the Press Enterprise reports on the same, but goes even further to say that the EMWD now has an e-mail address that residents can use to rat on their fellow neighbors...

At Eastern Municipal, which serves about 660,000 people, the water district has set up an e-mail account for residents to report overwatering.

To report runoff: Send an e-mail with exact street address and photo if possible to: conservation@emwd.org

Link...
http://www.pe.com/..../PE_News_Local_S_watercop28.47b28b7.html

Of course, if you're going to report your neighbors to the water district, you better make sure you're running a tight ship, because you don't want the district noticing that you've got some water running off of your property as well.

Labels: Eastern-Municipal-Water-District, Water

The Eastern Municipal Water District, our local water district, today announced that they received a $4.9 million grant from the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA).

The grant money is actually EMWD's share of a $25 million grant awarded to SAWPA by the State Water Resources Control Board. The money is to be used for projects that fall within the Santa Ana River Watershed. The $25 million actually comes from the Proposition 50 water bond to help water district reduce their reliance on imported water.

The EMWD said it would use the money to help offset the cost of its already existing project to expand its San Jacinto Regional Water Reclamation Facility. This facility is one of five such facilities that the district operates to capture runoff water, treat it, and then deliver it to parks, golf courses, and other customers who buy reclaimed water. Reclaimed water can be used for anything but consumption.

The San Jacinto facility currently processes about 8 million gallons of reclaimed water per day, with a total capacity of 11 million. The expansion project will boost that capacity to 27 million.

The water district has plans in place to boost the capacity for all five of its reclamation facilities, including the one in Menifee (La Ladera Rd and Honey Run Rd).

Labels: Eastern-Municipal-Water-District

The Eastern Municipal Water District will implement a tiered rate structure next year, likely to begin March 2009. The more water you use, the higher the rate you'll pay. Right now, everyone is charged a uniform rate of $1.91 for every 748 gallons used.

The district will take a look at each residence, count how many people are living there, how big the property is, and figure out how much you're supposed to use.

The EMWD will also adjust that amount based on the weather and season.

So if you go above your budgeted limit they'll charge you a higher rate. But if you use less than the limit, they'll still charge you the base rate.

The district will implement this in a two-phase process. Beginning March 2009 with the first phase, the district will identify "customer groups" and come up with average family sizes and lot sizes, and a base rate for each group. In the months following, they'll come up individual rates for each specific residence, and implement those rates by January 2010.

I contacted Peter Odencrans, the media contact for the EMWD to get some more specifics. I asked if the district will be taking into account residences with swimming pools. He said the district did some studies on this and found that the typical family swimming pool uses up about as much as water as a similarly sized patch of lawn. Sounds like they won't factor in your swimming pool.

I also asked how they planned to figure out how many people live in each residence. They don't have a plan to figure that out just yet. They also don't plan to hire any extra employees, therefore they won't be spending a lot of money to figure this out. I asked if they might be including a questionnaire in our water bills, but he again stated that the district doesn't have a plan on this yet.

Another question I asked was how the district will define "customer groups" for the first phase implementation. Odencrans didn't quite have an answer on that either. I wondered if these group were defined by geographic region, current usage, or what.

Presently, the average residence across the district uses about 13,464 gallons of water each month, which is equal to 18 billing units. 1 unit equals 748 gallons. If you look at your water bill, you'll see that the EMWD charges you by the number of "billing units".

So, if you're currently using more than 18 units per month, should you be concerned about getting hit with higher rates? Don't know. Larger properties, and larger families will warrant more billing units. You could be living by yourself in a single-wide trailer and find that 18 units per month is too much. But if you're a family of four, living in a 2,000 sq ft home, on a 6,000 sq ft lot, and you're using 40 billing units per month, then you might have cause for concern.

You can read more about this here...
http://www.emwd.org/news/news-archives/news_08/07-11-08_Tiered%20Rates.pdf

Stop Water Runoff Policy

The EMWD also sent out a friendly reminder yesterday that beginning September 1, they'll be enforcing their new water runoff policy.

The policy is that if they see watering running off of your residence, and into the gutter, they're going to stiff you with some penalties.

Here's the warnings and fines...

• 1st violation: Written warning


• 2nd violation: Final written warning


• 3rd violation: $100 surcharge on customer's water bill


• 4th violation: $200 surcharge on customer's water bill


• 5th or more violations: $300 surcharge on customer's water bill

I asked Peter Odencrans how they plan to enforce this new policy. He said, "That's the $64,000 question". All they plan to have for the time being is one guy who will spend eight hours a month, driving through neighborhoods looking for water runoff. Considering the district covers an area that reaches Moreno Valley, Hemet, and Temecula, it doesn't sound like they'll be citing many violators.

Odencrans went on to say that they'll be looking for obvious signs, such as moss growing in the gutter.

He also said people are welcome to report their neighbors.

Labels: Eastern-Municipal-Water-District, Water

I know I've been wanting additional police presence here in Menifee, but this is not quite what I had in mind. The Easter Municipal Water District just added two new policies to its "water use efficiency ordiance". Yep, we got us some Water Police comin to town!

The first policy requires "water efficient landscaping" by builders in all the new home developments. The second policy basically allows EMWD to give you a ticket for letting water "runoff" your property. (Awww… and I had just dusted off my Slip N Slide!)

You'll get written warnings on the first and second times, but three strikes and your out… out a hundred bucks that is, on your next water bill. A $200 added fee onto your bill for the fourth violation, and a $300 fee for each violation thereafter.

What I want to know is, can we get some kind of runoff credit for having to live next door to the house with the dead grass that uses NO water? (See my article "No More Dead Grassroots Movement" http://homes.menifee247.com/labels/Menifee-Foreclosures.html)

This new ordinance doesn't start until September, so all you little gutter splashers and puddle jumpers, have at it while you still can!

For more information check out this Valley news article: http://www.myvalleynews.com/story.php?story_id=30612

Labels: Eastern-Municipal-Water-District, Water

The Eastern Municipal Water District today announced that it's calling on residents and businesses to cut back their water usage by 10%, or 20 gallons per person per day.

The district cites continued drought and regulatory cutbacks on imported supplies from Northern California as contributing to the need to take proactive measures.

EMWD is targeting landscape as the place where people should cut back on their water, providing the following tips...

1. Do not hose down driveways or any other hard surfaces except for health or sanitary reasons. Use a broom or blower instead. (Saves 8 - 18 gallons per minute)



2. Irrigate lawns and landscape only between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. (unless hand watering). Adjust automatic timer clocks accordingly. (Saves 20 - 25 gallons per day)



3. Adjust and operate all landscape irrigation systems in a manner that will maximize irrigation efficiency and avoid over watering or watering of hardscape and the resulting runoff. (Saves 15 – 25 gallons for each minute; up to 250 gallons per cycle)



4. Refrain from using decorative fountains unless they are equipped with a recycling system.



5. Where possible, install pool and spa covers to minimize water loss due to evaporation. (Saves 30 gallons per day)



6. Do not allow hoses to run while washing vehicles. Use a bucket or a hose with an automatic shutoff valve. (Saves 8 - 18 gallons per minute)

The water district warns that if the situation doesn't improve, they'll be forced to implement "Stage 2", which ushers in mandatory restrictions and potential penalties.

Probably the easiest way to comply is to adjust your lawn sprinkler timers down, now that the Summer is over.

Labels: Eastern-Municipal-Water-District

Apparently, the Metropolitan Water District, which sells water to our very own Eastern Municipal Water District, will be adding fluoride to the water.

According to the Press Enterprise, last week...

Some tap water has natural levels of fluoride, and beginning in October, the Metropolitan Water District, which serves much of the Inland area, will begin to fluoridate its water, a measure to help reduce tooth decay.

The Press Enterprise article mentioned this as part of a report on increasing frequency of children with tooth decay problems. The article didn't necessarily cite unfluoridated tap water as the problem, but rather, eating too much sweets, and not enough teeth brushing.

Fluoridated tap water is something I grew up with, and while I never had a cavity in my life (yes it's true), I credit frequent tooth brushing as my dental savior. Looking back at my childhood in the 1970s and 80s, it seems like all I ever ate was candy, soda, ice cream, pastries, and anything else that ruins teeth. And all my friends ate this stuff too. I don't think kids today are eating any worse than 30 years ago.

If anything, parents are not placing enough importance on health and fitness, which includes dental care. Brushing my teeth twice a day was the absolute minimum my mother would tolerate, and then she'd complain that I brushed them too quickly.

Personally, the idea of a "quasi-government agency" trying to address an epidemic by adding chemicals to the water gets into that "Orwellian" thing. There are quite many people who will tell you that fluoride in the water is actually dangerous. Check out "Fluoride Action Alert".

The Metropolitan Water District is a pretty large district. They provide water to much of Southern California. It's pretty hard to avoid them. The soda fountain at any restaurant around here, is using their water, for example.

If you like fluoridated water, then take heart. If you don't, then I guess you'll have to head for the hills.

Labels: Eastern-Municipal-Water-District, Water

The Eastern Municipal Water District announced earlier this week that water bills will increase for most customers.

If the average monthly water bill for Menifee residents was $34.46, it will now be $36.04 beginning January 1, 2005, according to a chart published by the EMWD.

The price hike is due to an increase in price for imported water from the Metropolitan Water District, as well as a 3.3 percent adjustment based on last year’s Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Labels: Eastern-Municipal-Water-District, Water