Archive for Customer Infomation

Free Water Saving Kits!

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We are inviting Pine Cove Water District Customers to come in and take advantage of our free Water Saving kits.  We have mentioned this several times before, but it bears repeating.  Any Pine Cove Water District customer can come into the district office during normal business hours and request a water saving kit.  Our office is open on Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.  Just pop in and ask for one of our kits.

What is in these kits you may be asking yourself.  Well, the kit includes an Earth Massage 1.5 GPM showerhead with a two setting massage spray showerhead.  This alone is worth stopping by for the kit.  It doesn’t end there though.  There is also a 1.5 GPM Kitchen Swivel Aerator.  It has dual-spry functionality with wide-spray radius and a water pausing on/off valve.  Then there are not one, but two Bathroom Faucet 1.0 GPM Aerators that deliver half the flow with twice the power!  These are commercial grade aerators for your home.  Also included in the kit is a Toilet Water Saver (Fill Cycle Diverter).  This is a patented water saver that takes excess water from the bowl and diverts it to the tank to reduce water consumption.  This is NOT a flow restricting device.  Finally, there is a packet of Toilet Leak Detection Tablets that are FDA certified, non-toxic dye tablets used to detect leaks in toilets.

So there you have it.  This kit is a great start to reducing water usage in your home.  Each item takes only a couple of minutes to install and will have you saving water and money in no time.   So stop by the office today and pick yours up!

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Posted in: Conservation, Customer Infomation, Pine Cove Water District, Water Conservation

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Conserving Water Tips

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The Environmental Protection Agency, aka the EPA, has some great tips for saving water on their website.  Here is the link to their website where there are many more links to other websites.

http://www.epa.gov/greenhomes/ConserveWater.htm

There are lots of tips on saving water for both inside the house as well as out in the garden.   It is definitely worth reading.

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Posted in: Community, Conservation, Customer Infomation, From the Office

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Bills Have Been Mailed!

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The April bills were mailed out yesterday and should arrive in your mailbox within the next day or two.  Please be sure to read the colored inserts we have included with your bill.  There is pertinent information on the conservation stages, water prices, rebates and water saving tips.  We try very hard not to bombard you with junk and to only include information we think our customers will find interesting and helpful.  If you ever have any questions on any of the information we include with your bill, you can always contact us for further information.

The Pine Cove Water District office is located at 24917 Marion Ridge Road and we are right next to the fire station.  Our phone number is 951-659-2675 and we are open from 9 am until 4 pm, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.  Our mailing address is PO Box 2296, Idyllwild, CA  92549.  We can also be reached by email.  You can send your email to Jerry, Becky or Vicki at pcwd.org.  Jerry Holldber is the District Manager, Becky is the Office Manager and Vicki is the Office Assistant.  Any one of us  would be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the district, it’s policies and conservation.

In addition, you can visit our website  www.pcwd.org and our blog at www.pcwd.org/blog 24/7 and find all sorts of helpful information.  We encourage everyone to keep up with what is going on at the water district.  We also have a monthly board meeting and the public is invited to attend.  It is held the second Wednesday of each month and starts at 10 a.m. sharp.  We would look forward to seeing your there and hearing your suggestions.

board meeting audience

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Posted in: Billing, Board Meetings, Conservation, Customer Infomation, From the Office, Water Conservation

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April Billing

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The sun is shining this morning, however, it is still very cold.  It is currently 36 chilly degrees at 9:30 am.  The weather forecast is calling for temperatures to rise tomorrow, but there is another chance for rain or snow coming on Saturday evening.  The boys will be out and about reading meters today and tomorrow, so let’s hope the weather holds out for them.    April’s bills will go out next week.

Remember, water bills are due by the 25th of the billing month.  If they are not paid by the 10th of the following month, a $15 late fee will be incurred.  If you are having problems paying your water bill, please call Becky at 951-659-2675 during regular business hours.  She will work with you on a solution.  Doing nothing or ignoring your bill will only lead to more problems down the line.  Communication is key!

We bill every other month on the even months.  Your water bill is for 2 months of water usage.  You may pay your bill via check, money order, cash, or with your online banking.  We accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover cards for credit card payments and these can be made in person or over the phone.

worried-about-a-bill-clip-art

Our billing system is not “online” and we cannot do any type of check by phone or auto billing.  We do not retain credit card numbers either.  Once paid, all credit card information is shredded.  Our current management team feels this is the safest way to protect your personal information and privacy.

Be sure to check out the inserts with your April bill.  There is important information regarding our move into a Stage I Water Emergency.  There is information on what each stage entails as well as the tiered water rates for each stage.  We have also included information on our rebate program for water saving appliances as well as 50 Tips to Save Water both indoors and out.   There is lots of good information and you won’t want to miss it.

 

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Posted in: Billing, Customer Infomation, From the Office, Pine Cove Water District, Water Bills

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Storm Approaching!

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There is a small storm coming our way.  No significant snow fall accumulation is expected, but temperatures will be dropping.  Here is the forecast:

This afternoon, sunny, with a high near 54. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

  • Tonight A 30 percent chance of showers after midnight.  Partly cloudy, with a low around 36. West wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
  • Wednesday A 50 percent chance of showers.  Cloudy, with a high near 39. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
  • Wednesday night A chance of rain and snow showers.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. West wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
  • Thursday A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after noon.  Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.  New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
  • Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.

So, not a big event, but any chance of moisture is a good thing.  Looks like it is going to be cold and windy though, so be prepared for that.  By Friday, we will be back up in the 50’s.

Old Man Winter

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Posted in: Around the District, Customer Infomation, From the Office, Hazardous Weather Outlook, High Wind Warning, Weather

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Help Support ARF

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ARF, Animal Rescue Friends of Idyllwild, is our local animal rescue group and they do a fabulous job rescuing dogs and cats and finding them new homes.  They are currently collecting ink jet cartridges, cell phones and small electronics such as cameras, pagers, ipods, mp3 players, ipads, tablets, ebook readers, PDAs, video cameras, calculators, GPS and radar detectors, video games & accessories, video game consoles and handhelds.

Stitch, Mascot

Stitch, Mascot

If you have any of these devices gathering dust around your house, please bring them into the water district office and place them in the drop off box provided by ARF.  Or you can take them down to ARF yourself.  Either way, why not de-clutter your home and help save some animals at the same time?

Want to know more about ARF?  There is a link to their website here on the blog or you can just click this link.

www.arfidyllwild.weebly.com

 

Gracie, the office cat.

Gracie, the office cat.

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Posted in: Animals, Community, Customer Infomation, From the Office, Pets and Animals

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Sunny Days Ahead

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Looks like nothing but sunny days for the next week.  While I wish I could say rain or snow is coming, it just isn’t so.   Now is a good time to get out into your garden and add some compost and mulch to help your soil absorb and retain more water.  That way your outdoor watering will become more efficient and you will use less water.

Summer Sun

We are offering FREE compost and mulch to all Pine Cove Water District customers in order to help them conserve water outside in their gardens.  Yes, you heard right.  FREE!!! You can help yourself as the piles of compost and mulch are located behind the water district garage/workshop right here on Marion Ridge Road.  If you need an exceptionally large amount, such as a dump truck full, please stop by the office or give us a call during regular business hours.  Our phone number is 951-659-2675 and we are open Monday thru Friday from 9 am until 4 pm.  We want to be sure there is enough for everyone, so please be considerate if you plan to take a large amount so that we can make arrangements for that.   Otherwise, just help yourself.

According to Gardening for Dummies, putting down a layer of  mulch in your garden will usually provide the following benefits:

  • Inhibits weed germination and growth. (Weeds are not only unsightly, but they also steal resources from desirable garden plants!)
  • Holds in soil moisture, protecting your plants from drying out quickly
  • Moderates soil-temperature fluctuations (This benefit is especially valuable during that turbulent-weather period in spring when you don’t want your plants to be stressed.)
  • In cold-winter areas, protects plant roots from winter cold and helps prevent frost-heaving, in which plants are literally pushed out of the ground by the natural expansion and contraction of the soil as it cools off and heats up
  • In hot-summer areas, helps keep plant roots cooler
  • Depending on what you use, adds a bit of welcome nutrition to your garden as it breaks down

So come on down and get yours today and make your plants and trees happy and save water in the process.  We also have bluebird houses available to all Pine Cove Water District customers as well.  Pick yours up today.

Wood Chips

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Posted in: Compost, Conservation, Customer Infomation, From the Office, Garden, gardening, Mulch, Rain, Water Conservation, Wood chips

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Communication

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Here at the Pine Cove Water District, communication with our customers is a top priority.  We think we do a pretty good job, however, at a recent meeting, we were informed that we need to improve communication with our customers.  With that in mind, we would like to ask your input on our communication methods and what you think we could do better or more of.  Below is a list of the methods we have employed and services we provide thus far.

  • We include a newsletter or information we think our customers will find useful in each billing cycle, which occurs every other month on the even months.
  • Information board in the office with all sorts of helpful tips and information.
  • Winterizing pamphlets that help our customers prepare for the cold weather.
  • Website and blog at www.pcwd.org and www.pcwd.org/blog.  These are available 24 hours a day and contain a plethora of information on not only the water district, but on a variety of interesting topics that we feel would be helpful to Pine Cove residents.
  • Community Outreach.  We have had a booth at the Earth Fair for several years now as well as the Book Fair at the Idyllwild School.  We also  speak at local meetings and the school when requested.
  • We have worked with the Idyllwild Garden Club as well as a local native plant grower.
  • We work with the Idyllwild Historic Society and have provided them with items to auction off.
  • We work closely with the Pine Cove Property Owners Association and provide information to them for their newsletters and speak at their monthly meetings when asked to do so.
  • We also work closing with the Fire Safe Council and provide them with water district information as well as providing our customers with Fire Safe Council information.
  • We are available by phone and in person Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm and we are now open during lunch most days.  Our phone number is 951-659-2675 and our office is located at 24917 Marion Ridge Road, right next to the fire station.  Stop in and see us!
  • Free Stuff!  Water conservation kits, mulch and compost are currently available free of charge to help our customers conserve water indoors and out.
  • Public meetings and public hearings.  Our monthly board meetings and any public hearings are open to the public and we encourage our customers to attend.  If you are unable to attend our meetings, you may write a letter to the General Manager or to the Board of Directors and drop it by the office.  Or you can send it to PO Box 2296, Idyllwild, CA  92549.  You can also call the General Manager and voice your concerns.
  • Agendas and minutes for all meetings are posted on our website in case you are unable to attend our meetings.
  • Customer appreciation lunch when the budget allows.
  • Mailbox and paper machines for customer convenience.
  • Mail slot in water district office door for drop off of after hours payments or letters to the district.
  • A Transparency Award by the California Special Leadership District.

So what do you think?  Are we doing enough to let people know what is going on around the district?  What are your ideas?  What would you like to see us doing to keep everyone better informed?  We would love to hear your thoughts and ideas.  You can leave a message here on the blog, call us, write to us, stop by the office or email us at Vicki@pcwd.org or Becky@pcwd.org or Jerry@pcwd.org.  Talk to us!

Office workers

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Posted in: Around the District, Board Meetings, Board Members, Community, Customer Infomation, From the Office

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Stage I Water Conservation

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On Wednesday, March 12, 2014, our board of directors declared a water emergency at a public hearing.  Due to the current drought and the lack of winter snow and rain, they felt the time has come to move back into a conservation stage.  Stage I takes effect as of April 1st.

As most of you will remember from the last time we were in Stage I, this is voluntary compliance.  Customers are asked to conserve, whenever possible, the amount of water used for domestic and business purposes.  Fix leaking pipes, faucets and toilets.  Refrain from washing down or hosing off sidewalks and driveways.  Do not sprinkle unplanted areas for dust control.  Utilize the free compost and woodchips we provide to our customers to minimize watering in the garden.

In Stage I, water prices do not increase until the 4th tier of 18,000 to 24,000 gallons. Any increases will appear in the June bills.

As past experience has shown us, the residents of Pine Cove do a wonderful job of conserving water and we have no doubt that they will once again step up to the plate and do what they can to save as much water as possible.  We will be monitoring this situation very closely and will keep our customers informed on any new developments, good or bad.

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Posted in: Around the District, Board Members, Community, Customer Infomation, From the Office, Water Conservation

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Rain Barrels

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If you missed out on our rain barrel purchase program last year, fear not.

Special Offer from PCWD

Rain Barrel from last year’s promotion.

I now have instructions that show you how to make your own rain barrel, here at the district office that you can pick up free of charge.  Or you can go to this address and look it up for yourself if you’d rather.

http://www.shelterness.com/great-diy-rain-barrel-for-those-who-want-to-go-green/

Rain water harvesting is an excellent way to collect water for outside use.  If you are interested in learning more about harvesting rain water, I recommend going to Brad Lancaster’s website at http://www.harvestingrainwater.com/.  He is one of the leading experts in rain water harvesting and saving and reducing water usage.  I highly recommend his books, videos and website as they are a wealth of information.  He also shares a lot of information on how to make your property act like a sponge and retain the rain that does fall on it.  He has many tips and tricks that we can all implement in our own gardens in order to take better advantage of any moisture that we do receive, such as creating berms and swales.

You can also amend the soil in your garden so that it is more absorbent and retains more water.  We have free compost available for Pine Cove water customers as well as wood chips that you can apply to help retain moisture and will gradually decompose over time and add even more nutrients to the soil.

Compost

Wood Chips

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Posted in: Around the District, Compost, Customer Infomation, From the Office, Garden, Rain, Rain Barrels, Rain Water Harvesting, The Garden, Water Conservation, Wood chips

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