Tips to Save Water – Every Drop Counts!!!

Saving water is not hard. We simply need to be smart about using what we have. Here are a few easy water conservation tips:

• Never pour water down the drain, especially when there may be another use for it such as watering a plant or garden, or for cleaning.
• Make sure your home is leak free. Many homes have hidden water leaks.
• Repair dripping faucets, toilets, and sinks. If your faucet is dripping at a rate of one drop per second, you can expect to waste 2,700 gallons of water per year.
• Retrofit all household faucets by installing aerators with flow control.
• Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded.
• Take shorter showers. Replace your shower head with an ultra-low version.
• Place a bucket in the shower to catch excess water.
• Insulate your water pipes. You will get hot water faster and avoid wasting water while it heats up.
• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects, and other waste in the trash rather than the toilet.
• Plant smart. Drought efficient landscaping is a great way to design, install and maintain both your plants and irrigation system.
• Check sprinkler systems and timing devices regularly to be sure they are operating properly.
• Use mulch to retain moisture in the soil. Mulch also helps in controlling weeds that compete with landscape plants for water.
• Use a shut-off nozzle on your hose which can be adjusted down to a fine spray so that water flows only as needed.
• Be aware of and follow all water conservation and water shortage rules in your community.
• Report all significant water losses (broken pipes, open hydrants, errant sprinklers, etc.) to the property owner and local water district/agency.

IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN REDUCING YOUR WATER USAGE, TRY TO DO ONE THING EACH DAY THAT WILL RESULT IN SAVING WATER. EVERY DROP COUNTS – YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. 

Early Warning Notification System (EWNS)

The EWNS is part of a group of alert and warning tools used in Riverside County. The telephone alerting system allows public safety first responders to rapidly alert and warn the public in the event of small to medium sized emergencies. These may include wildfires, floods, hazardous materials, severe weather, and law enforcement incidents. The EWNS can make up to 250,000 calls per hour.  The primary phone number for every business and residence in Riverside County can register their numbers. You may add your cell phone and VoIP numbers via a secure website. To add these numbers, visit the Riverside County homepage; www.countyofriverside.us. 

For more information on the EWNS, visit the Riverside County Fire Department website at; www.rvcfire.org 

Indoor Visual Leak Detection

Here are a few tips to detect leaks inside your home:

Toilets:

Lift up your tank cover and put a couple drops of food coloring into your tank. Wait for about 15 -20 minutes. If you see the color inside your toilet bowl, you have a leak and your flapper valve is not working as it should. If you do not see any dye, you have a leak proof toilet. A leaky toilet can consume/waste up to 6,000 gallons per month and up to 10 gallons of water waste per hour.

Shower heads, Faucets, and Bathtubs:

Shower heads, faucets, and bathtubs can also leak. Check around your sink, faucets, and shower heads for wet spots, moisture, or a musky smell. The majority of faucet leaks are caused by worn – out washers which are inexpensive parts, however, a plumber, or a specialized tool may be required.

Early leak detection is key to avoid rot, structural damage, mold, and a pricey water bill.

Candidate’s Forum

There will be a Candidates Forum at the Pine Cove Fire Department (located next door to the Water District office) Tuesday, August 4th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The forum is being sponsored by the Idyllwild Town Crier. PLEASE ATTEND and hear what your candidates have to say.

Ballots started being mailed out yesterday, July 27th. Please fill them out and mail them back by August 25th. There is not a designated polling place or station for this particular election. As an option, you can bring your ballots by the Pine Cove Water District and drop them in the outgoing USPS box out front.

Weather & District News

According to our Weather Station located at the Rocky Point Tank Site, we received 2.24 inches of rain over the weekend. That is a lot of rain for such a short period of time. Hope your rain barrels are overflowing!! Temperatures this week call for mid 70’s, however, raising to high 70’s into the weekend.

We are preparing for our August billing which should go out by August 5th.  Please be sure to read the colored inserts which includes our newsletter filled with pertinent information regarding Pine Cove Water District News.

Rain Barrel Update: The new order of rain barrels are on back order with a target delivery date in mid August. We expect them to go fast!! You can call our office at 951-659-2675 to reserve yours now. We are offering these barrels to Pine Cove Customers only and there is a limit of 2 per account.

Pine Cove District News

Just a reminder:

Please limit your watering to 2 times per week. We ask that you only water after 6:00 pm and before 8:00 am.

Lets all welcome AMR  Ambulance to the hill.  They used the Pine Cove Water District Board Room on Saturday, July 11th to host a meet and greet with Pine Cove Customers and offered free blood pressure checks. It was a huge success!!

The Board welcomes Tim Lange as the newest appointed Director, to fill the vacant seat for the Board of Director’s. He is also running for a permanent seat on the board in the upcoming election. Tim is a retired educator, School Counselor, and School Psychologist who devoted 30 years to school and special education.

Hope you all had a wonderful Forth of July!!!

Happy Fourth of July

The 14th annual Idyllwild Rotary sponsored parade begins at 10:00 am on Saturday, July 4th. After the parade, between Jo’An’s and the Fort, the Rotary is hosting a party. There will be inflatable bouncy houses for the kids, ring toss, Big Dev’s Down Home BBQ, and a chili cook – off. If you want to see fireworks you will have to venture off the hill. Soboba Casino will be doing a firework show at 9 pm on July 3rd.  Valley Wide Parks and Recreation located at 901 W. Esplanade will be hosting fireworks at 9 pm on the fourth. You can also check out a fireworks show at Civic Center Park located at 73510 Fred Waring Drive in Palm Desert at 9 pm on the 4th.

Have a Safe Holiday and Happy Independence Day!!!!! 

Pine Cove Water District News

We will be re-paving the entire facility here at the Pine Cove Water District on Thursday, June 25th. We wanted to give you plenty of warning so you can make other arrangements that day as it will be very difficult, if not impossible to access the office. Along with the office, the blue post office box out front will not be accessible. The office staff will be available by phone with any questions or problems. You can reach us at 951-659-2675 from 9 am -4 pm.

Pine Cove Water District Rebate Program Effective 7/1/2015:

• Low Flow Toilets – 1/2 of purchase price, max $100.00 (1.6 or less gpm).
• High Efficiency, Front Loading Washing Machine, $50.00.
• Instant Hot Water Unit (Goes in under the sink) – 1/2 of purchase price, max $75.00.
• Hot Water Circulator -1/2 of purchase price, max $100.00.
• Smart Water System Installed on Outside Watering/Drip System – 1/2 off purchase price, max $100.00
• Rain Water Collection System – 1/2 off purchase price, max $100.00. Large extensive systems – max $200.00. District rain barrels do not count because the cost of each barrel is $70.00. We are giving you an instant rebate of $12.81 as we are only charging $57.19 each.
• Low Flow Shower Heads and Shower Adapters 2.0 gpm or less, adapters such as The Lady Bug – 1/2 off purchase price, max $25.00.
• Water retention on your own lot, such as limiting run off using rock, waddles, jute netting, etc. – 1/2 off purchase price, max $200.00.
• Any Commercial or multiple units requesting rebate from above categories, will be on a case by case basis – 1/2 off purchase price, max $200.00.

All rebates must be approved by the General Manager, in writing, and must include proof of purchase and installation, labor not included, and there will be no repeat rebates allowed for a minimum of 5 years. Within a fiscal year, the maximum total rebate is $250.00 per property, and the proof of purchase must be dated within the current fiscal year. 

Rain Barrels:

We still have a few green ivy rain barrels available for our Pine Cove Water Customers. All components are included to start collecting and reusing your rainwater. The 50 gallon barrels are $57.19 and are limited to 2 per account.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call or stop by the office. 24917 Marion Ridge Road (next door to the fire department). 951-659-2675

Thank you!!

June Billing

The billing was mailed out last Tuesday, June 2nd and is due on June 25th. If you have not received your bill, you can give us a call at 951-659-2675. We greatly appreciate you paying your bill in a timely manner and paying on time eliminates a late fee of $15.00 being added to your bill.

Holiday – Memorial Day

Just a quick note to let everyone know that Pine Cove Water District will be closed on Monday May, 25th. It is a good day of remembrance and reflection for many of the Freedoms we are fortunate to have. Happy Memorial Day. NEVER FORGET!!!! We will resume regular business hours on Tuesday May, 26th from 9 am – 4 pm.