Archive for Water Conservation

Xeriscaping

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I recently came across this term and wanted to learn more about it. Xeriscaping is a way to landscape with using minimal water.

When searching xeriscaping, I found that there are 7 basic principles:
* Sound landscape planning and design.
* Limitation of turf (commonly referred to as lawn) to appropriate, functional areas.
* Use of water efficient plants.
* Efficient irrigation.
* Soil amendments.
* Use of mulches.
* Appropriate landscape maintenance.

There are many plants that can survive with little to no irrigation. I recommend either having a local expert help with finding the right plants or doing an online search.
The main thing to look for is “drought-resistant plants”.
The ones I found listed on TheSpruce.com are Hens and chicks, Aloe Vera, and Autumn Joy sedum, or “stonecrop”. If you are looking for a little more color, I found that Verbena, Marigold, Lavender, Daffodils, and Iris are low maintenance plants as well.

The LA Times did an article in February 2020 about xeriscaping and why you should try it. They mention that even when plants are labeled as a “California native plant”, there are many different climates in California. In Southern California, we should be look for plants around our Mediterranean climate, similar to central Chile, the Western Cape province of South Africa, and southern and western Australia.
They recommend some of the same principles as I found above such as taking stock of your lawn but also add things like visiting a Southern California botanic garden, nurseries devoted to Caliornia native plants, and The California Native Plant Society’s Calscape database.

I have no doubt that the experts at Idyllwild Community Garden are a great resource to learn more and advise on what plants grow well on our little mountain. Just looking at their website I came across this page that has multiple resources – choosing-what-to-plant.

However you start your spring, we hope it brings you joy!

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Posted in: Around the District, Drought, gardening, Water Conservation

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Conserving Water

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With the most recent storms, snow and rain have helped increase the amount of ground water that we can pump into our wells. However, it takes a while for the new water to be pumped and processed into clean drinking water so conserving is always a great thing to do to make sure we have continued water in the dry season.

According to energy.gov Americans use between 80-100 gallons of water each day. Where is all of this water going? One of the biggest contributors is the bathroom.

Toilets – Do you know your toilet’s water usage? If it’s an older model, it could be using up to 6 gallons of water per flush. The federal standard is 1.6 gallons per flush. Even low flow toilets need to be looked at for age and leaking*.

Shower – Federal regulations say that showerheads cannot exceed 2.5 gallons of flow per minute. Using a low flow shower head* can help reduce water usage as well as energy/propane from heating.

Bathroom faucets* – If you turn off the water while brushing your teeth*, you can save up to eight gallons of water per day.

*The FREE Water Saving Kit at the PCWD office includes:
Toilet leak detection tables – FDA-certified, non-toxic dye tablets used to detect leaks in toilets.
Earth Massage 1.5 GPM Showerhead – two-setting massage spray showerhead.
Bathroom Faucet 1.0 GPM Aerators – half the flow, twice the power. Commercial grade aerators for the home.
Ask to add in a 3-min sand timer to help with teeth brushing time.

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Posted in: Conservation, Freebies, Water Conservation

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FREE Wood Chips for your Garden

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As a Pine Cove resident, you are welcome to our offer of FREE Wood Chip for your Garden.
Our wood chips are from local wood and kept as clean from twigs and leaves as possible.

We have an abundance of wood chips at our Dutch Flats location that you can help yourself to. Please bring your own materials to gather or shovel and haul the wood chips away. If you need a larger load call the office and we can deliver a dump truck load for a delivery charge.
Our regular rate for delivery is $125 but we are having a SPECIAL FOR DECEMBER where you can get a delivery for ONLY $100. Our deliveries are around 9 cubic yards and you just need to indicate where to leave the pile.
If you are planning on gathering a large amount of wood chips on your own, please check in with us at the office first, as we want to be sure there is enough for everyone.

We still have a small amount of compost if you would like that as well. Same pick up or delivery situation; help yourself to the pile at Dutch Flats or call for a delivery at $125 a load.

Pine Cove Water District hours M-F 9am – 12pm, 1 pm-4pm
951-659-2675 or email info@pcwd.org

Winterizing with wood chips to try to prevent the roots from freezing. Looking forward to more growth next Spring.
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Posted in: Around the District, Community, Compost, Conservation, Garden, gardening, Mulch, Water Conservation, Wood chips

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Winterizing Tips

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Prepare and protect your home for winter.
Your October 1st mailing included a pamphlet that has all of this information.

Conserve water and always use wisely.
When temperatures begin to lower in the fall, it’s time to get ready for winter. Every winter season, homeowners in mountain communities are at risk of the damage and expense caused by frozen pipes. However, just a few precautions can greatly reduce your risk (and may even help with your winter heating efficiency)!

Disconnect and Drain
Detaching hoses from outdoor faucets allows water to drain from the pipe.

Insulate Pipes or Faucets in Unheated Areas
If you have pipelines in an unheated garage or cold crawl space under the house, wrap the water pipes before temperatures plummet.

Seal Off Access Doors, Air Vents and Cracks
Winter winds whistling through overlooked openings can quickly freeze exposed water pipes. Don’t plug air vents. Your furnace and water heater need proper ventilation.

Find the Master Shutoff
In case of a leak, everyone in the family needs to know where it is and what it does. It’s usually where the water line comes into your house from the street.

Remember, all water that passes through the meter is the homeowner’s responsibility, even water lost due to frozen/broken pipes.

Vacant Home?
Turn Off Your Water!
Homes should have a “customer” shut-off valve just outside the District’s meter box at the street. All homes have a “District” shut off valve before the meter. Before vacating your home, always turn off your water at your customer shut off valve, located next to the District valve. It is not necessary to have the District valve shut off if your customer valve is shut off and operational. Please remember that ONLY authorized District personnel may turn off/on the District water meter shut-off valve. If you need help or can’t locate your customer valve, contact your local District.

Once your water is turned off, open and drain ALL household and irrigation lines. Any trapped water can freeze causing pipes to expand and break. Once all the lines have been drained, it is important to close all household and irrigation lines again before leaving your home.

Keep in mind that maintaining low heat in your home does not necessarily ensure that your pipes will not freeze. This is especially true if you are not a full-time resident. If you have any questions about winterizing or a Customer Shut-Off Valve, please contact your District office.

Pine Cove Water District 951-659-2675

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Posted in: Uncategorized, Water Conservation, Weather, Winter, winterizing

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Fall Preparation for Winter Precipitation

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When the beautiful fall leaves turn and the air becomes crisp is a good time to think about how to prepare for the coming cold months. It is important to make sure your home is ready for the coming winter. Winter can cause cause costly bills. Heating costs can double if your windows are poorly insulated or if the heating system is out-of-date. Plumbing can break or burst creating extensive damage to your home and high water bills. To prevent damage, it is just as important to winterize your home even if it will be vacant for long periods of time. Making proper precautions to ensure your home is prepared for winter can save you time, money and a lot of unnecessary hassle.

  • Learn how to properly shut off your water valve (in case a pipe bursts) and turn your water off every time you leave your mountain home.
  • Insulate pipes with insulation and wrap any exposed pipes.
  • Clean your gutters; make sure water can flow freely through your gutters to avoid icicles and ice dams.
  • Change your ceiling fans clockwise to force hot air at the ceiling towards the floor.
  • Replacing the filters in your forced heating unit improves the efficiency of your unit.
  • Window insulation film can help keep heat from escaping out your windows.
  • Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic.
  •  The simple act of installing a storm door can increase energy efficiency by 45%, by sealing drafts and reducing air flow
  • Placing a rolled towel at the bottom of your exterior door or a draft guard prevents heat from leaking out.
  • Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected every year. Your chimney doesn’t necessarily need to be swept every single year, but it does need an annual inspection. Wood stoves, however, should be swept more often.
  • Trim tree branches near your windows, roof, or parking areas before the weight of winter ice and snow can cause them to snap.
  • Inspect your home for any openings where animals could use to get inside. Make sure your fireplace flue or damper is closed, as bats, birds and squirrels are known to get inside this way.
  • Winterize your house, barn, shed or any other structure that may provide shelter for your family, neighbors, livestock or equipment.
  • Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in your house knows how to use them. House fires pose an additional risk, as more people turn to alternate heating sources without taking the necessary safety precautions.
  • It is wise to communicate with a trusted  friend or neighbor if you plan to be gone for a prolonged period of time and make sure they have your contact information. Taking these steps can help protect your home from theft, water damage, and heating or electrical system issues while you are away.

Early this year we experienced extreme low temperatures and lots of snow. Pine Cove lost of over a million gallons of water in February and March this year. This loss was a result of many leaks around the District and caused by freezing temperatures. PCWD always recommends turning your water off at the street customer valve to prevent any water disasters or leaks. Conserving water whenever possible is important to this District.  Pine Covers are very aware and are cautious about conserving water as much as possible.  If you  aren’t sure how you can reduce your water usage,  we have many water conservation tips here on the blog and on our website at pcwd.org that are useful for conserving water both inside the house as well as outside.

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Posted in: Around the District, Community, Conservation, Customer Infomation, Customer Valve, From the Office, Frozen Pipes, Leaks, Pine Cove Water District, Storms, Water Conservation, Weather, Winter, winterizing

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Self Watering Raised Bed Gardens

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In an effort to reduce water usage out of doors, but still be able to garden, one option is a self watering container.  They are an excellent choice because the water is contained under the plant and therefore does not evaporate and is available to the plant 24/7, which makes over or under watering impossible.  As long as the water reserve has water in it, the plant takes what it needs when it needs us and pretty much cuts the human out of the equation all together.  Which brings me to my next point.  Self watering containers free up your time.  Instead of being a slave to watering the garden, you just make sure the containers are kept full and that is all you have to do.  While you can use a drip or soaker system on a timer, these methods take more effort to install and the squirrels love to reek havoc on drip system parts.  Luckily, they cannot do much damage to a self watering container.

So if these self watering containers are so fabulous, why isn’t everyone using them?  Well, price is a big obstacle.  They are fairly expense when compared to other types of containers of a similar size.  Plus, what if you want to make a raised bed veggie garden for instance?  The amount of containers you would have to buy would be extensive.  So what is the solution?

A self watering raised be garden of course.  I found this video over at mylittlehomestead.com, where they show how they made a self watering raised bed garden using a 55 gallon drum cut in half.  Genius!  Why didn’t I think of that?  Here is the video.
 

I think this is a fabulous way to have your cake and eat it too. All the benefits of a raised bed garden combined with the benefits of a self watering container. What could be better? If you try this in your garden, let us know! Send us pictures or video and we will post it here on the blog. Also if you discover how to make any improvements to this design, let us know. I will be trying this in my own garden. I think it would be great.

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Posted in: Edible Landscaping, From the Office, Garden, gardening, Raised Bed Gardens, Re-purposing, Recycling, The Garden, Water Conservation

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Stage 1 Conservation

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The June bills have been mailed and the Stage One water conservation rates will be in effect.  What does this mean for you?  Not much.  Since we use a tiered rate system, the rates in Stage One do not increase until the 18,000 to 24,000 gallon level.  Most customers will not see an increase in their bill unless they use a large amount of water, so most customers will not notice the increase.  If you use less than 18,000 gallons each billing period, your rates will not increase.

Remember, Stage One is voluntary compliance.  We are asking you to conserve water whenever possible.  By conserving water voluntarily now, that means there will be more water later and conserving now could possibly mean that moving into Stage 2 could be delayed or possibly avoided altogether.  Our goal here at the Pine Cove Water District is to be sure that there is always an adequate amount of water for everyone.  If we work together, we can get through these tough water times.

We have water saving kits available here in the office, free to all Pine Cove water customers.  Just stop in and ask for yours today.  Our office is located at 24917 Marion Ridge Road here in Pine Cove.  We are right next to the fire station.  Our blog and website also offer many excellent tips and suggestions for saving water indoors as well as outdoors.  So we hope you will comply and voluntarily conserve water.

water-droplet-th

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Posted in: Around the District, Billing, Community, Drought, From the Office, Water Bills, Water Conservation

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Frugal Friday

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Here it is Friday again.  Hope your week was good.  With the weekend ahead of us, it is time to turn our attention to the garden.

Since we will spend the summer in the grips of a drought, now is a good time to review your outside watering needs and do something to reduce them.  How is this frugal you may wonder?  Well, sometimes money well spent can save you money in the long run.   Here are some tips to help you prepare for a long, dry summer and save money in the process.

  • Amend your soil.  This may not seem like a water saving tip at first glance, however, well amended soil absorbs and retains water much better than soil that is not amended.  So if you are going to be watering outside, be sure the soil is in the best shape possible so you get the most out of the water you are putting on your garden.
  • Mulch.  After your soil is in tip top shape, adding a layer of bark mulch will help retain moisture and prevent soil erosion from wind and rain runoff.  The bark mulch will also keep water from splashing up onto plants and will help keep water from running off in downpours.
  • Install soaker hoses or drip irrigation.  If you have a garden or outdoor watering needs, you can use water more wisely by applying it right where the plant needs it.  By laying a soaker hose under the bark mulch, you will let the water slowly seep into the ground and avoid any evaporation at all.  Drip systems deliver water right to where the plant needs it without spraying anything up in the air.  Both of these ways of watering are much more efficient than watering with sprinklers or a hose.
  • Water in the early morning or late in the evening to avoid water evaporating before it gets to the plants.
  • Use water that would otherwise go to waste.  Put a bucket in the shower and collect water while you shower.  Use a basin to scrub veggies instead of washing them under running water and then take the water in the basin out to the garden.  If you have outdoor animals or dogs, put their old water onto the garden instead of just dumping it onto the ground when you are giving them fresh water.
  • Cut back on water use altogether.  Try showering every other day if you aren’t doing dirty work.  Wear clothes twice before laundering, especially in the winter when you aren’t outside getting dirty.  Take shorter showers.  Only run clothes washers and dish washer with full loads.  Compost instead of using a garbage disposal.  Install a low flow toilet and use the mellow yellow rule.

These are just a few ideas you can incorporate into your daily routine to save water. Check the page at the top of the blog for even more ideas on how to save water inside and outside of your home.  Remember using less water is not only good for the environment as well as your pocketbook!

 

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Posted in: Around the District, From the Office, Frugal Friday, Pine Cove Water District, Water Bills, Water Conservation

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Wood Chips and Compost

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There must have been a lot of yard work and gardening going on over the weekend because when we arrived this morning, both piles were depleted!  This means Pine Covers are amending their soil so it retains moisture better and putting down wood chips to keep the moisture in the soil.  We are working on getting more compost as well as wood chips, so if you didn’t get yours, do not worry.  I will post here on the blog as soon as our supplies are replenished.  We are so happy to be able to provide these items to Pine Cove Water District customers free of charge.

Compost

Remember, if you need a large amount of either item to check in with us at the office first, as we want to be sure there is enough for everyone.  Now is the time to be outside cleaning up your yard, doing your fire abatement, amending your soil and adding a layer of woodchips to keep moisture in.  These are all very necessary chores that need done, so get them done now so you can enjoy the summer with peace of mind knowing you are doing all you can to keep your mountain home safe and that you are helping to conserve water.

Wood Chips

Jerry & Stitch

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Posted in: Around the District, Compost, Conservation, Customer Infomation, Drought, Fire Abatement, From the Office, Water Conservation, Wood chips

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Drought

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As everyone is aware, the drought we are currently engulfed in is statewide and does not just affect us here on the hill.  The state of California has a website dedicated to the drought and has a lot of information regarding this situation.  Here is the website in case you would like to check it out for yourself.

http://ca.gov/drought

There is all sorts of information on the drought and all that is being done.  It is well worth spending some time there reading up on what is happening throughout the state.

On April 22, 2014, the State Water Resources Control Board approved $4 million in funding.  However, these funds are to provide interim replacement drinking water for economically disadvantaged communities with contaminated water supplies.

Occasionally, the topic of applying for grant money comes up from the public.  What they don’t realize is that the money is not just there for the taking.  There is very specific criteria that needs to be met and here at the Pine Cove Water District, we have excellent quality water and therefore, we do not qualify for these emergency monies.

We do check for grants on a daily basis and should something open up that we do qualify for, we will definitely apply .

In the meantime, we trust that the wonderful folks of Pine Cove will continue on with their water saving ways.

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Posted in: Around the District, Conservation, Customer Infomation, Drought, Water Conservation

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