Rebates for water-saving devices, limited availability

Scholarship Flier and Application for high school seniors

Rebates available for some water-saving devices

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California currently has 90 percent of its funding remaining in its residential rebate program.

High-efficiency washing machines, high-efficiency toilets, matched precipitation rotating sprinkler nozzles, smart sprinkler timers, and artificial turf are among the items for which rebates are available.

Customers must purchase from a prescribed list of approved devices. The lists and information about how to obtain rebates can be found at: www.bewaterwise.com.

Helix Water District participates in this program and adds additional funding to the rebates for smart sprinkler times and artificial turf.

Rebate funding is limited. These rebates are on a first-come, first-served basis.

District allows watering 3 days a week year-round

By Kate Breece
HWD Public Affairs

Helix Water District customers are using 10 percent less water now than they were a year ago. The Helix board of directors appreciates customer efforts to meet our region’s conservation mandates. In light of this significant reduction in water use by Helix customers, the board took action this week under the Water Shortage Level 2 to soften winter water restrictions. Customers can continue to water three days per week year-round.

All other portions of the Level 2 Water Shortage mandatory water restrictions [below] remain in effect. Customers may pick the three days to water that work best for them. However, because plants need less water during the winter months, the district asks that customers reduce the number of minutes they water and turn off sprinklers during rainy periods.

When the board declared a Level 2 Water Shortage in June, it gave customers time to adjust to the new rules before imposing fines for wasting water or violating the watering restrictions. The district has received complaints of water waste and notified those customers who are in violation. Virtually all customers have responded by complying and conserving water. The board is pleased that the vast majority of customers are following the new rules, with less than a handful of customers who may now be subject to fines. However, the board has now authorized staff to impose fines for those continual violators who do not comply after three written warnings.

WINTER water restrictions November 1 – May 31
Pick 3 – Water Less

The district requires customers to “Pick Three Days and Water Less.”
• The “ Pick 3 – Water Less” program allows customers to determine the three best days to water on their property and requires that they water less per irrigation station. These restrictions apply November through May. Dial back your sprinklers to account for cooler weather and turn them off when it rains.
• Watering of landscaped areas by hand (bucket, hand-held hose with positive shut-off nozzle, or low-volume non-spray irrigation) will be done on the same two-day schedule.
• Leaks must be repaired within seventy-two hours of notification by the District, unless other arrangements are made with the General Manager.
• Customers are encouraged to shut off sprinklers when rain is predicted.
• In addition, all provisions of Water Shortage Level 1 are mandatory:

1) Stop washing down hard surfaces, including--but not limited to--sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, tennis courts, or patios, except when it is necessary to alleviate safety or sanitation hazards.
(2) Stop water waste resulting from inefficient landscape irrigation, such as runoff, low head drainage, overspray, etc. Similarly, stop water flows onto non-targeted areas, such as adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, hardscapes, roadways or structures.
(3) Irrigate residential and commercial landscape before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. only. Irrigation run time should be adjusted to avoid runoff.
(4) Use a hand-held hose equipped with a positive shut-off nozzle or bucket to water landscaped areas, including trees and shrubs located on residential and commercial properties that are not irrigated by a landscape irrigation system.
5) Irrigate nursery and commercial growers’ products before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. only. Irrigation of nursery propagation beds is permitted at any time. Watering of livestock is permitted at any time.
(6) Use re-circulated water to operate ornamental fountains.
(7) Wash vehicles using a bucket and a hand-held hose with positive shut-off nozzle, mobile high-pressure/low volume wash system, or at a commercial site that reclaims water on-site. Avoid washing during hot conditions when additional water is required due to evaporation.
(8) Serve and refill water in restaurants and other food service establishments only upon request.
(9) Offer guests in hotels, motels, and other commercial lodging establishments the option of not laundering towels and linens daily.

Visit the Water Conservation Garden for great water smart landscaping ideas: www.thegarden.org
Water waste can be reported to: 619.667.6244 or conserve@helixwater.org

#09 – 11-06-01

Customer Alert: 10/02/09

Helix has received a number of calls from concerned customers who have received a solicitation for “Water Line Protection Insurance.”

The District is in no way attached to the insurers who are currently canvassing East and South County residents for business.

Helix wishes its customers to know that it does not endorse or recommend any specific home warranty or insurance.

An additional consideration for customers considering such coverage would be that many water line insurance policies cover only from the property line to the entry of the house or facility. It is important to note that customers are responsible for the line from the meter box to the house and that sometimes meters and lateral piping are outside the homeowner’s property line.

The District recommends that homeowners carefully weigh the cost of the service to benefit gained over time for any plan they might choose.

Free residential surveys -- No waiting list

We are aware that many customers have been proactive in reducing their water use and in following the current Level 2 water restrictions. Your actions are greatly appreciated by the district.

In an effort to help you conserve even more, possibly lessen the impact of the current proposed rate increase, and avoid penalties from our water wholesaler, the district is offering free residential surveys that may help reduce water consumption at your property.

The residential survey covers indoor and outdoor water use and is available to all customers once every two years.

A specially trained district representative will meet with you one-on-one at your home. The survey typically begins indoors where the representative will look at the water-using devices in your bathroom, kitchen, and laundry area and will make recommendations, if the devices are not water efficient.

Since single family homes use on average 60 to 70 percent of their water outdoors, the majority of the survey is spent evaluating your home's irrigation system. The representative will look at the type of plant material you have, the type of sprinklers being used, and your current watering schedule. S/he will make site-specific recommendations and answer any questions you may have.

Additionally, you will be provided information about available low-water-use plant material, indoor devices, such as high-efficiency toilets and washing machines, and outdoor devices, such as rotating sprinkler nozzles and weather-based irrigation controllers.

The average survey takes about an hour to complete, depending on property size. To schedule a survey at your home, please contact our water conservation staff by phone: (619) 667-6261 or by e-mail: conserve@helixwater.org.

Why conserve?

The San Diego region is experiencing a water supply shortage caused by low Sierra snowpack, the multi-year drought on the Colorado River, and court-ordered pumping restrictions on water from Northern California. As a result, our wholesalers have reduced water deliveries to the district by 8% and increased our wholesale cost of water by 25.4%. Helix customers are facing an average proposed rate increase of 21% effective September 1. The new rates would apply to all water used after your July or August bill, depending on your billing cycle.

Drought Response Declaration & Water Conservation Program Policy. (64k pdf)