Archive for Around the District
A Mother is like a flower, each one is beautiful and unique in their own special way!
PCWD would like to wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful customers and a special thanks to all the amazing mother’s. We hope everyone enjoys celebrating their mother, or the gift of being a mother!
Posted in: Around the District, Community, From the Office
Leave a Comment (0) →The amount of moisture on Earth has not changed. The water the dinosaurs drank millions of years ago is the same water that falls as rain today. But will there be enough for a more crowded world? How we use and reuse water will help define the future of our planet. Water is life. It’s the briny broth of our origins, the pounding circulatory system of the world. We stake our civilizations on the coasts and mighty rivers. Our deepest dread is the threat of having too little – or too much.
People use water in many ways at home: drinking, cooking, bathing, brushing teeth, washing clothes, dishes, and cars, flushing toilets, watering gardens and lawns, and filling swimming pools. Most people do not think much about how much water they use. Perhaps this is partly because they don’t all pay for it each time they use it, except when they buy bottled water.
There are many ways we can conserve water in our homes. Some are easier than others. Leaky faucets and leaky toilets waste very large amounts of water, because even though the flow rates are small, they leak all the time. New designs of toilets and washing machines use much less water than older designs, but replacement may be expensive. Water-saving shower heads save a lot of water, and they are relatively easy and inexpensive to replace. The most effective ways to reduce water use, however, might be the most difficult. Taking “navy showers” (turning off the water while you’re soaping yourself), not planting lavish lawns in areas that are normally arid, and not washing cars so often are examples of effective and simple ways to conserve water.
Furthermore, PCWD does offer a rebate program to our residents! All Rebates must be approved by the General Manager and must include proof of purchase and installation and there will be no repeat rebates allowed for a minimum of 5 years. Within any fiscal year, the maximum total rebate is $250.00 per property. Proof of Purchase is a copy of the receipt that shows the cost of the item. We will not accept a copy of a bill from the person installing the item as proof of purchase. Their bill is for proof of installation only. Labor and Installation are not included in the rebate.
LOOK LISTEN CALL!!
If you see or hear water running, be the first to call it in, and you could earn a $25.00 reward, to a restaurant of your choice in Idyllwild.
Office: (951)-659-2675
After Hours: (951)-294-8282
Thank you for your help!
And we would also like to thank all of the customers and residents of Pine Cove for your continued diligence in helping us find leaks and conserve water. There have been several helpful calls made to us by the residents regarding possible leaks. While not all of the reports have been confirmed leaks we sincerely appreciate the continued efforts to work together. As promised we are still giving rewards to anyone who a calls in a possible leak and it is confirmed.
The customer shutoff valve located inside the meter box stops the flow of water from the meter to your property. The meter box, which houses the customer shutoff valve, is usually near the street at the front of your property. If and when you see the green stake in your yard, the box will be located about 6″-12″ away from there. Once inside the meter box, locate the valve on the pipe between the meter and the piped to your home. This is the customer shutoff valve.
To turn off the water using the customer shutoff valve turn the handle one-quarter turn clockwise until the water is off. To verify the water is off, turn on the water anywhere in your home or around your property. Alternatively, if the water is off, the indicator on the face of the meter will stop turning or stop counting.
To turn the water back on, slowly turn the valve one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
Warning: Turn the valve slowly to turn on the water to your home. Opening the valve too quickly can result in damage to the pipes in your home. Be sure to also clear any air from the water lines. You can do this by opening the hose-bib next to the master shutoff valve and running the water until the air is released.
One of the many wonderful things we get to experience in this beautiful mountain town is all the wild life. The spring time is a great time to see the beautiful butterflies touch down in our garden making it even more magical. While butterfly bushes do attract these majestic creatures, it in fact is actually milk weed that Monarch butterflies call home, mate, and lay their eggs.
Planting milkweed will support the monarch populations, and their incredible migration. Monarchs cannot survive without milkweed. Monarch butterflies need milkweed to lay their eggs and the caterpillars of these butterflies only eat milkweed plants. We have lost much milkweed from the natural landscape with shifting land management practices. Planting milkweed is a great way to help other pollinators too because milkweed provides valuable nectar to many types of bees and butterflies.
Adult monarchs will drink the nectar of milkweed and many other flowers. In fact, they need sources of nectar to nourish them throughout the entire growing season. Include a variety of native flowering species with different bloom times to provide monarchs with the food they need to reproduce in the spring and summer and to migrate in the fall. Offering a wide array of native nectar plants will attract monarchs and many other butterflies and pollinators to your habitat all season long.
You can check with local native plant nurseries or greenhouses for their recommendations of good pollinator plants for your area.
Milkweeds can be propagated from seeds, cuttings, and, in some cases, from root divisions. Milkweed seeds can be planted in prepared beds outdoors or started indoors in flats. We recommend the latter approach since germination rates are usually higher indoors and it is easier to establish your milkweeds with transplanted seedlings that are well-rooted and therefore more resistant to weather extremes and pests.
Harvest and Storage of Milkweed Seeds
If you have some milkweed and would like more for next year to promote butterfly a habitat in your garden; the timing of the collection of milkweed pods or seeds is critical. Mature pods are those that are within a day or two of opening. If you squeeze the pods and they don’t open easily, they usually do not contain mature brown seeds. Seeds well into the process of browning and hardening will germinate when planted the next season. Pale or white seeds should be not collected.
Preparation for planting
To stratify seeds, place them in cold, moist potting soil (sterilized soil is best but is not required) in a dark place for several weeks or months. Since most people prefer not to place potting soil in their refrigerators, an alternative is to place the seeds between moist paper towels in a plastic bag. This procedure works well, in part because there are fewer fungi and bacteria available to attack the seeds. After a stratification period of 3-6 weeks, the seeds can be planted in warm (70˚F), moist soil. Without stratification, the percentage of seeds that germinate is usually low.
Germinating, Growing and Transplanting
Milkweed seedlings can be started indoors in a greenhouse or under artificial lighting and then transplanted outdoors after the average date of last frost. If seeds are started indoors, allow 4-8 weeks growing time before transplanting. Plastic flats can be used to start the seeds. Fill the flats with a soil mix thoroughly soak the soil, and let the excess water drain. Sow the seeds by scattering them on the soil surface 1/4-1/2 inch apart, and then cover with about 1/4 inch of additional soil mix. Gently mist the soil surface with water to dampen the additional soil mix that has been added. To improve germination rates, you can place the seeds in packets made from paper towels and soak them in warm water for 24 hours prior to planting. This method seems to work especially well for seeds of species that require stratification.
After the seeds are sown in the flats, cover each flat with a clear plastic cover or a plastic bag to keep the seeds from drying out while germinating. Then, place the flat under grow lights, in a warm sunny window, or in a greenhouse. Most seeds will germinate in 7-10 days if the flats are maintained at 75˚F. After the seeds have germinated, remove the plastic covering from the flats. Once the seedlings have emerged, the soil should be kept moist by watering the flat from the bottom. You can water from the bottom by placing the flat in a sink or a larger flat filled with 2 inches of water until moisture appears on the soil surface. The soil should be kept moist but some care is needed to keep the seedlings from getting too wet to prevent any fungal growth.
The plants are ready to be transplanted when they are about 3-6 inches in height. Before transplanting, acclimate the plants to outdoor conditions for a few days by placing them in a sheltered location during the day and then bringing them indoors at night. The seedlings should be planted 6-24 inches apart depending on the species (check the back of your seed packets for information). Newly transplanted plants should be watered frequently. Add mulch around the seedlings soon after planting. The mulch holds in the moisture and minimizes the growth of competing weeds. The seedlings should be fertilized 2-3 times during the growing season if using water-soluble fertilizer or once a season if you utilize a granulated time-release formulation.
When to Plant
Milkweed seeds can be sown outdoors after the danger of frost has passed. Plant the seeds early since those planted late in the season may not germinate because of high temperatures. Keep in mind that seeds have a range of soil temperatures at which they will germinate. Remember sunny conditions can cause the soil temperatures can be much higher in daytime. Germination outdoors depends on soil moisture and temperature and could take several weeks if conditions are not ideal.
Hello Residents of Pine Cove!
April billing (due May 1, 2024) has gone out. If you get emailed bills, you should have already received yours.
The bi-monthly minimum is $80.00 for two month billing period, excluding any water usage. Water usage is billed as follows:
$8.00 per thousand gallons from 0 to 7,500 gallons
$10.00 per thousand gallons from 7,500 to 15,000 gallons
$12.00 per thousand gallons over 15,000
Water bills are mailed around the 1st of the Billing Month (even months). All bills are due and payable by the 1st of the following month (odd months). Any bill not paid by the due date will be termed delinquent and subject to a $15.00 late fee and/or termination. If shut off, a reconnect fee of $75.00 will be charged, in addition to the current amount due, to re-establish service.
There are several ways to pay your bill. ACH Auto Draft is a free service; the payment is automatically taken out of your bank account (filled out form required). You can log on to your account online, and pay with a Visa/Mastercard/Discover, or E-check. To register your account online, you will need your account number, and the Municipality Code which is PineCoveWDCA. Go to www.pcwd.org and click the “Billing” tab and the Payment option link. Next, click on the www.ub-pay.com link and register your account from there. You can come into the office and pay by check, cash, or card (one person at a time). Call with a credit/debit card (Please note that there is a convenience fee of $3.00 per hundred dollars charged if using a credit card). Drop payments thru the slot on the front door or mail a check or money order.
Hello Residents,
With the increase of short term rentals in our community we wanted to provide our residents with the “Good Neighbor Brochure” to provide to any guests staying within our community. The county requires these guidelines to be given to each rental guest. Please visit the following website and download the brochure. Also, check out the incredible website to learn more about short term rental ordinances as well.
Spring cleaning and gardening season is here or for others right around the corner. Thinking of getting in the gardening spirit here soon?
PCWD offers free wood chips to our customers. If you are interested in wood chips just come on by the Dutch Flats location anytime. It is great for gardening, holding in moisture of soil and makes a nice added touch to spruce up your yard or potted plants.
You must bring your own materials to gather or shovel and haul the mulch or wood chips away. If you are planning on gathering a large amount on your own, please let us know in the office as we want to be sure there is enough for everyone.
Check out this great video of a brief overview of our Dutch Flats location.
Making Dutch Flats Healthy on Vimeo
Also, if you need a larger load of wood chips, call the office and we can deliver a dump truck load for $125 delivery charge.
