Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
June 29, 2009
5. Agencies, Programs, People –
Grand Jury: Thermalito water rate is justified
Oroville Mercury-Register
Water crisis unites East Kern communities
Troubled water district rejects plan to boost rates
Don't divert the
Rainwater, IPhone App Help Thirsty
NPR Morning Edition
No fireworks over
Restrictions placed on catch-and-release salmon fishing
Colusa Sun-Herald
Fake grass a hot issue
Water-conservation kits offered in
Water district directors take up climate issues
Marin Independent Journal
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Grand Jury: Thermalito water rate is justified
Oroville Mercury-Register-6/28/09
By Mary Weston
The Butte County Grand Jury looked into the Thermalito Water and Sewer District's water rate hikes, but the report cites the increases were reasonable.
The Grand Jury review was prompted by a letter complaining about alleged "price gouging," according to the report released Friday.
The jury compared district water rates to those of surrounding agencies and found TWSD had the fourth- to sixth-lowest rates.
While district water rates were competitive with those of other water purveyors in the county, the jury decided to evaluate district operations.
The district has water rights to 7,200 acre feet of water from Concow Reservoir.
Water is transported from Concow and stored in
The district pulls surface water released from the lake and ground water from wells. The water is treated at a new pressure-filter treatment plant and stored in a tank near
The district recently installed new 36-inch diameter pipe from the filtration plant to the storage tank.
Old meters sometimes under-record the amount of water delivered to customers, so meters are being replaced.
Capital costs are offset by changing water and sewer connection fees to new customers.
The district bought a television camera truck, which is used to test water and sewer pipelines for cracks or breaches where water could enter or leak from the system.
The district performs all operations and maintenance with a staff of 11 technicians. For the 2007-08 year, the district expenses were $2.7 million and revenues were $2.3 million due to capital upgrades.
District water rates were based on a philosophy of having the lowest rates, according to the report, but that was causing funding shortages for operations and maintenance and capital improvements.
The jury's overall assessment of district operations was good, stating that it has planned for an adequate water supply for current and future needs.
The district also appears to be properly maintaining water and sewer systems and has a reasonable number of employees and an efficient work force.
The report is available on CD or hard copy at the Butte County Superior Court Clerk's Office on
http://www.orovillemr.com/search/ci_12710775?IADID=Search-www.orovillemr.com-www.orovillemr.com
Water crisis unites East Kern communities
By Allison Gatlin
The region's water woes - specifically local water districts' disagreements with the Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency over the use of chloramines - have brought with them something of a silver lining in the form of increased cooperation among the communities of East Kern in working toward their mutual benefit.
"We've all come together. We all realize we share common goals," said Jack Stewart, general manager of the Rosamond Community Services District, in an address Thursday to the Mojave Chamber of Commerce.
The region is "totally different than south of Avenue A (in
The addition of Rosamond as an active participant in regional development efforts has helped reinvigorate the combined forces of Mojave,
Stewart, who has helmed the services district for 18 months, has some 20 years' history in the region, including a six-year stint as city manager in
He retired from that post in 2004, intending to spend his golden years following NASCAR in
At the time, "Rosamond was going through major changes in how they were operating," he said, and looking for additional guidance.
"Someone once said there are no second acts in American life," chamber secretary Bill Deaver said in introducing Stewart. "Jack has proved them wrong."
Once in the community, Stewart learned that Rosamond's civic activities focus on three major entities: the community services district - which provides water and sewer service, parks and recreation, street lighting and graffiti removal - the Rosamond Municipal Advisory Council and the Southern Kern Unified School District.
"Although the three actually talked to each other, they didn't really work together," Stewart said, something he has worked to change.
"We actually created the three-legged stool for the foundation of Rosamond's future."
The community reached out to other regional entities, such as the Kern Economic Development Corp., Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance, Antelope Valley Board of Trade and chambers of commerce.
"We have gotten a seat at the table. We're considered involved with where the
A similar cooperative approach may help the rest of East Kern reach its potential, as well.
One of the latest efforts at building a regional identity is the resurrected East Kern Economic Alliance, an organization that had been dormant for a number of years.
The group, which includes Rosamond (through the services district), Mojave, the East Kern Airport District, California City, Kern County, Tehachapi and Ridgecrest, is working to develop a regional branding and marketing campaign to attract economic development.
"We're going to build a foundation for East Kern … so there's going to be beneficial growth," Stewart said.
The area has four "500-pound gorillas" when it comes to industry, he said: The Rio Tinto mine in Boron, the Mojave Air and Space Port and the military bases at China Lake and Edwards. Emerging as a fifth "gorilla" is the growing wind energy industry.
Development of these areas can help attract additional industry, retail and other economic activity, which in turn leads to improvements in health care offerings and schools.
"We can change the way East Kern looks," Stewart said.#
http://www.avpress.com/n/27/0627_s6.hts
Troubled water district rejects plan to boost rates
By Kerana Todorov
Property owners at a
Homeowners representing roughly 52 percent of the properties in Berryessa Highlands voted against increasing the water and sewer rates by 83 percent while the future of Steele Park Resort remains up in the air.
The resort, with about one-third of the water and sewer hook-ups in the district, is in transition.
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials hoped to have a new operator at
County officials said the rate increases would have raised $896,000 next fiscal year to keep the district solvent. They are negotiating an agreement with utilities giant CalWater to run the aging water and sewer systems at both Napa Berryessa Resort Improvement District and at Lake Berryessa Resort Improvement District on the lake’s northern tip.
“We’re in a difficult spot,” Don Ridenhour,
The board will meet again Tuesday to select two directors to discuss the next steps with a new citizens committee from Berryessa Highlands.
The residents say they want to consider all options. After the meeting, residents said those options include:
• Enacting a temporary rate increase until the future plans for Steele Park Resort are unveiled;
• Building new water and sewer systems that would be economically and environmentally efficient;
• Keeping the district in place to make sure
• Obtaining solid financial information from CalWater to gauge whether the private company would improve conditions for beleaguered homeowners and the county.
A moratorium on new construction, established by state water regulators in 2006, remains in effect until the district upgrades its infrastructure. According to state water regulators, the improvements have to be completed by 2012.
In separate interviews, Ridenhour and Mark Luce, chairman of the board of supervisors, said a rate increase is essential.
“You can’t do without it,” Luce said. “There needs to be money to operate the system.”
CalWater can inject capital when it’s needed and has the expertise to run water and sewer systems, he suggested. “To me, it’s a wonderful operation — from what I understand,” he said.
Tracy Renee, a longtime Berryessa Highlands resident who voted against the new rates, said residents want to find a solution and pay their own way without lumbering county oversight.
“It’s not like we’re not willing to pay more,” said Renee, a member of the citizens committee that wants to meet with county officials.
Bart Barthelemy, another member of the citizens committee, said nearly doubling the water and sewer rates was not justified. He said he opposes selling the district’s water and sewer systems to CalWater.
District approves other rate hike
Also on Tuesday, county officials said property owners at Berryessa Estates, a subdivision at the northern tip of the lake in the Lake Berryessa Resort Improvement District, failed to garner enough valid signatures to oppose water and sewer rate hikes, increases many residents said they cannot afford.
In a 4-1 vote, the supervisors sitting as directors of the Lake Berryessa Resort District, voted to approve a 62 percent water and sewer rate hike. Diane Dillon, the director who represents the area, voted against the rate hikes, which will have residents pay $1,908 a year for water and sewer services effective July 1. The increase will generate an estimated $654,000 next fiscal year, county officials said.
Currently, judicial foreclosure proceedings have begun against 13 properties whose owners have failed to pay their assessments to repay $5.2 million in bonds sold to finance improvements, including a new water treatment plant. State regulators, who levied a $400,000 fine in 2005 against the district for a series of sewage spills, expect the plant to be built by 2010. But three bids failed to find a contractor to build the plant within budget.
The district has made it through the first round of review to receive $2.21 million in stimulus funds from the federal government to build the water treatment plant, Ridenhour said.
John Hallman, a longtime Berryessa Estates resident who did not oppose the water and sewer rate increases, did not oppose the hikes because of the unknown ramifications.
He also wants the district to cut costs. “They have no idea what lean is,” Hallman said.
Hallman and other residents in both districts said the county is pushing the rates to expedite the sale of their water and sewer systems to CalWater, which has to gain the approval from the California Public Utilities Commission, a state agency.
“That seems totally unfair,” Hallman said.
He and others in both districts said the public process has lacked transparency.
But Ridenhour and Luce disagreed.
“The problem is not a lack of transparency,” Luce said. “It’s suspicion.”
Darlene Marler, another longtime Berryessa Estates resident, cast her protest vote, saying county officials have mismanaged their districts for years. She fears the subdivision will lose even more residents.
“As more people move out, there will be fewer and fewer people to support this district.”
In the meantime, she will spend more to remain at Berryessa Estates, which she loves.
“I just have to pay and not worry about it. It doesn’t do any good, right?”#
http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2009/06/27/news/local/doc4a45aa92e1815308801662.txt
Don't divert the
Opinion
Why did our local water district, the North San Joaquin Water Conservation District petition the State Water Resources Control Board to divert our
The NSJWCD has the responsibility to manage our
In 2007, the NSJWCD told the people that they had to enact a groundwater (TAX) fee to deliver water to the people and recharge the groundwater in our area. We the people of the NSJWCD are being forced to pay a groundwater (TAX) fee to "Save Our Groundwater." Now the NSJWCD is taking our tax dollars and asking the State Water Board if they can "Divert Water to
Are we being told the truth about the intentions of the water district? Why is the water district taking our tax dollars to "Save Our Groundwater," and then turn around and divert our
After our June 2 Water District meeting, I protested the diversion of our
Please ask the North San Joaquin Water Conservation District to cancel the petition to divert our
Bryan Pilkington
Director
North San Joaquin Water Conservation District#
http://www.lodinews.com/articles/2009/06/29/opinion/letters/ltr_pilkington_090629.txt
By Kevin Courtney
The price of building a new house could rise by $2,240 if Napa Sanitation District approves a proposed hike in the connection fee paid by developers of new homes.
A consultant is recommending that the connection fee be increased 39.6 percent, from $5,660 to $7,900 per dwelling unit.
The intent is to have residential and commercial growth pay the cost of adding sewage treatment capacity, rather than sticking existing customers with the tab, Michael Abramson, the district’s general manager, said Thursday.
The district hasn’t raised connection fees since 1995. Since then, the district has spent nearly $68 million to expand treatment capacity, consultant Bartle Wells Associates reported.
Recognizing how controversial a major fee increase could be, the district’s finance committee told Abramson Monday to present a more comprehensive report on the need and how the $7,900 recommendation was calculated.
Napa Mayor Jill Techel, chairwoman of the district board, said she and fellow director Charles Gravett want staff to confer with business and building industry groups.
“What would the effect be of raising the fee at this point when we’re trying to get the economy going?” Techel said Thursday.
“Yes, developers need to pay their share,” she said. But a substantial increase when the construction sector is depressed could have unwanted consequences, she said.
She and Gravett asked for a comparison of how the new hook-up fees would compare with those charged in other towns.
Abramson said in an interview said the district in 2006 tackled sewer rates paid by current customers. The board of directors approved three years of 15 percent rate increases, following by annual increases matching changes in the cost-of-living index.
Now the district needs to bring hook-up fees in line with the cost of expanding system capacity in recent years, Abramson said.
The proposed $7,900 fee would apply to single family homes, each duplex unit and condo. Apartments and mobile homes would pay $4,740 per unit.
Commercial customers would pay higher hookup fees, as well.
Techel predicted it would be many months before higher connection fees are before the full board for adoption.#
http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2009/06/27/news/local/doc4a45aa381a707913796581.txt
Rainwater, IPhone App Help Thirsty
NPR Morning Edition -6/29/09
by Sasha Khokha
Zach Sheely, 27, is excited about the family farming business now that a California-based irrigation software company, PureSense, lets him and other farmers check on their crops using an iPhone.
The iPhone application allows them to access information from underground sensors that detect moisture levels near the roots of crops.
The underground sensors aren't cheap. Each sensor station, consisting of multiple sensors in a field, costs $5,000, and the family currently has 20 of them. They've helped shorten watering times, stressing the plants just enough so they produce healthy fruit.
"We don't want to put too much on," says Sheely. "The plants go dormant with too much water, and it can slow growth. And if you put too little on, it also slows the growth. So we want to stay right in that sweet spot of growth."
Growers in
Some farmers have switched from water-thirsty crops like cotton, sugar beets and alfalfa to wheat, safflower and seasonal vegetables. They're also turning to drip irrigation and advanced sprinkler systems that lessen evaporation and wind drift.
The battle for water has helped underground sensors gain attention. Farmers can access information from the sensors by computer and adjust watering times accordingly.
The Sheelys farm 10,000 acres, mostly pistachios, almonds and tomatoes. They've yanked out acres of cotton and converted most of their fields to row crops fed by drip irrigation.
The iPhone application allows Zach Sheely to check his crops from anywhere, so he can pursue his other career as an opera singer. He's gone on the road to perform in
During a recent singing lesson, still in his farm work boots, Sheely perched his iPhone on the grand piano. He takes a break at one point to check on his fields. He clicks on the "charts" tab for information on the soil moisture content of his plants.
"We just turned on the water today," he says. "Looks good, just like we wanted it to."
Relieved, Sheely returns to his lesson.
The underground sensors have helped him increase the family's tomato yields, he says. In some cases he's doubled them, using less water.
"The agriculture of the 20th century isn't the agricultural community we'll want in the 21st century," says Gleick. "And those farmers that are innovative and flexible and smart and efficient are the ones that are going to survive. And the other farmers are going to suffer, and they're going to moan, and they're going to potentially go out of business."
Some of those innovative farmers are simply making the most of natural rainfall.
Along the
Dan Lehrer and his wife, Joanne Krueger, own Flatland Flower Farm in Sebastopol, near the
One day five years ago, Lehrer went to turn on the main valve to the well and nothing happened, he says. "No water came out. Somehow, somewhere, there's a big fat break in the underground pipes that crisscross the orchard."
The break could be anywhere, and finding it would have cost a lot of money. So the couple decided to turn off the well. And they waited.
Some of the trees started to die. Their roots, accustomed to irrigated water, were very shallow. "I definitely said on more than one occasion, 'I'm just ready to bulldoze the whole thing,' " Lehrer says.
Good thing he didn't. Eventually, most of the trees survived. "They probably survived because they had established enough roots to make it through a summer or two with no water before the roots were able to grow big enough," Lehrer says.
And something else surprised them. "They produce great fruit," says Krueger. "The trees are stressed, but the fruit is beautiful." So they started selling the fruit — also organic — at farmers markets as dry-farmed apples.
"Our customers went nuts," says Lehrer. "They're much smaller than a grocery store apple," Krueger explained. "[They're] denser, crisper, they have a sweet-tart balance." Grocery store apples are much larger, they say, because they're filled with the extra water from irrigation.
Now, Lehrer and Krueger are trying to grow new trees that will develop deep root systems from the start. And these trees will have an advantage.
Back in January, the couple terraced an acre plot with swales cut backward into the hill. When it rained in April, these swales filled with water and became one big curving puddle. This system will nurture the new trees when they are ready for replanting.
If successful, Lehrer and Krueger hope to bring certain varieties of heirloom apples to the commercial market, all dry-farmed, using their 30 inches of natural rainfall a year.#
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105838912&ft=1&f=1025
By Barbara Henry
In order to find out how much water homes and businesses use each month, the Carlsbad Municipal Water District must send out employees to manually open customers' water meter boxes and read what the machines have recorded.
The meter-reading jobs have their unpleasant moments, including the occasional vicious dog and the ever-present worries about avoiding vehicle traffic, city staff members said this week as they won district board approval for a new automated system.
The new system, proposed to go into effect over a 15-year period, will track water usage hour-by-hour and report that information via radio waves to a central district computer system. With the new devices, employees won't need to leave the office to track water usage. Eventually the district plans to eliminate four meter reading jobs.
The first folks to get the new automated water meters will be customers in
The district expects to spend $833,268 on the new meters on an annual basis, or about $0.90 per family per month, district officials said.
Initially, the district is proposing to purchase 200 meters and will gradually expand the program until they cover all of the district's nearly 28,000 water customers, Stone said Friday. They're hoping to gain a $1.3 million grant to help jump-start the program, he added.
The district serves about 85 percent of the city of
Both of those agencies have already launched automated meter reading systems, Stone said.
District employees said earlier in the week that the new system will allow water customers to know exactly how much water their business or home has used in any given two-hour period. That means people will be able to review the records and pinpoint when a water leak began, said Cari Dale, assistant manager of the city's water district.
In fact, district employees will be able to alert a customer within hours if water usage on a given property suddenly spikes, she added. That's what they were able to do last year with a pilot project that offered the special meters to 24 agricultural water customers, she said.
By comparing daytime and nighttime water use, they were able show one property owner that water was running continuously on his property 24 hours a day ---- a clear sign of an undetected leak, she said.#
No fireworks over
By Mary Weston
Funding has not been found, and the Fourth of July fireworks display on
"Of course, we're sorry to lose the fireworks this year, but it doesn't mean they are gone for good," said Claudia Knauss, executive director of the Oroville Chamber of Commerce.
The Department of Water Resources had funded the fireworks in the past through the chamber. DWR announced several months ago that the state wouldn't have money for the event this year.
Knauss applied for money from the Supplemental Benefits Fund several months ago, but was denied.
The fund was set up to benefit the area during the process to renew DWR's license to generate electricity at Oroville Dam.
Others tried to fund a fireworks display, but the efforts failed.
Bill Finley of the Butte County Private Industry Council said he had thought about backing a display on the
However, he found out fireworks have to be ordered months ahead of time. It was too late to order them for this year. Finley had hoped to buy them from someone who canceled an event, but that didn't happen.
Finley said they might fund a fireworks event next year, although that hasn't been decided yet.
Knauss said the chamber would apply for funding again through the benefits fund for fireworks on the lake next year.
Meanwhile, the Feather River Recreation and Park District offers a safe venue for fireworks on the Fourth of July. The district will open
http://www.chicoer.com/advertise/ci_12711766?IADID=Search-www.chicoer.com-www.chicoer.com
By Tony Burchyns
The City Council on Tuesday will consider a proposal to combine the public works and community development departments.
That would result in planning, building, engineering, maintenance, water and sewer under one director.
City Manager Jim Erickson said there aren't many
The decision is rooted in an effort to trim costs without reducing service levels for the public, city officials said. The elimination of the public works director position could save $200,000 a year.
Another factor in the proposal was Public Works Director Dan Schiada's looming retirement. Schiada had announced he will leave in July after 20 years as a city employee.
Community Development Director Charlie Knox has been tapped to take over Schiada's duties.
Knox said the city's budget squeeze -- caused by the housing market meltdown -- led to the idea. But he said the leaner management structure may result in better services for the public.
"The public will have a seamless, one-stop counter" at City Hall, Knox said.
Under the arrangement, Knox said residents and developers with projects large and small -- from backyard decks to commercial buildings -- could get permit applications, advice and zoning information in a more timely manner.
They also may have quicker access to the city engineer, said Knox, who deals with traffic and parking issues, utilities and city infrastructure. Currently, the engineering division is aligned with public works.
Erickson, the city manager, said tough "financial times" led him to consider combining the departments. Erickson added he is confident his staff can adapt to change.
The Central Valley city of
And
"We (also) moved code enforcement into the police department some years ago," San Pablo City Manager Brock Arner said. "Also, we now contract with
Restrictions placed on catch-and-release salmon fishing
Colusa Sun-Herald-6/26/09
Friday, Jun 26 2009, 8:26 am
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has begun enforcing new recreational salmon fishing regulations for the
In a May 28 press release, the DFG announced that catch-and-release fishing that intentionally targets salmon is now illegal in any river or stream closed to salmon fishing. DFG staff will be notifying anglers and posting information about the new regulations in the area. Violators are subject to a fine of up to $1,000.
"These changes were necessary to increase protection for
"The
The new rule went into effect May 26. The previous regulation, which specified a zero-salmon bag limit in
The regulations make an exception for a limited late-fall run recreational fishery. For the second year, fishing on the
The remaining rivers and tributaries of the
For more information regarding inland sport fishing regulations and the 2009
http://www.colusa-sun-herald.com/sports/salmon-3118-fishing-restrictions.html
Fake grass a hot issue
Some homeowners think it's great despite environmental concerns
By Emmet Pierce
In their eagerness to conserve water and escape the drudgery of yardwork, many
Despite worries about its high lead content, more and more consumers are willing to try artificial turf. Although it remains a small part of the overall market for
One recent convert is David Lang of Alpine, a retired water employee for the city of
“I was spending an hour out there every week mowing and trimming and it never really looked very good,” Lang said. “Plus you are putting fungicides and insecticides on the ground, which isn't environmentally good. I am selling my lawn mower and all my lawn tools or giving them away.”
The product specifications he reviewed convinced him there was no danger from lead. Commonly used fibers for artificial turf are polyethylene and polypropylene, along with formulations of nylon. The most common infill material used with the turf is granulated tire rubber, but alternatives include sand made of granulated quartz.
Local water districts have come to view artificial grass as a tool in the drive to cut water use, said Mayda Portillo, senior water resources specialist for the San Diego County Water Authority. A single square foot of grass can absorb about 46 gallons of irrigation water each year, she said.
Some utility officials have estimated that up to 70 percent of an average residential water bill goes to outdoor uses, and the bulk of that water is used on lawns.
The state, which is in its third year of drought, declared a water emergency in February. Water agencies in
“Yes, artificial turf does save water,” she said. “I think it's right for some circumstances and some individuals. There are drawbacks. It's more expensive than mulch and perennials and shrubs. Artificial turf is quite hot, particularly in the inland areas.”
Those who decide to try synthetic grass have numerous local companies to choose from. Annie Costa, executive director of the Association of Synthetic Grass Installers trade group, said the typical cost for installation is $9 to $12 per square foot. A typical product warranty is eight years.
Part of the reason the industry is growing rapidly is it's easy to get into the business, said Joshua Nunn, spokesman for Easy Turf of Escondido. He estimates that there are about 80 synthetic grass installers in
“A lot of consumers have been victimized by the small guy working out of his truck,” said Darby. “They come and go. When they are gone, their phone number is disconnected.”
About half of Darby's customers have used water agency credits, which vary from 30 cents to a dollar per square foot. Recently, many agencies have run out of cash for incentive programs, but Darby expects them to resume.
When he and his crew put in a lawn, they typically excavate four inches of earth, then lay a foundation of crushed rock and decomposed granite over a permeable fabric. The artificial grass is rolled out and fit together like carpet. Infill material is spread into the turf to weigh it down. The result is a permeable covering that is similar in texture to real grass. Pet waste can be scooped up or rinsed away.
While the region's ongoing water shortage underscores the need for consumers to find less thirsty substitutes for sod, a vigorous debate is taking place over the lead content of man-made lawns. Critics say there could be an increased risk to public health.
Separate lawsuits filed last fall by the state Attorney General's Office and the Center for Environmental Health in
The suits allege that unacceptably high levels of lead have been found in synthetic turf, including indoor and outdoor grass purchased from retail stores, dealers and online marketers. Settlement negotiations are under way, but no trial dates have been set. Plaintiffs are urging the companies to reformulate their products to eliminate any risks from lead.
The city of
Darren Brandt, a spokesman for FieldTurf, one of the defendants in the attorney general's lawsuit, said hundreds of studies have suggested that artificial turf is safe. While the product has been called to question in a number of states, it always has been vindicated, he added.
Although the turf industry is quickly moving toward materials and pigment with much lower lead content, an estimated 30 percent to 40 percent of artificial lawns sold before 2008 may contain more lead than the Environmental Protection Agency finds acceptable in soil, Costa said.
The state Attorney General's Office says that exposure to even small amounts of lead has been shown to permanently reduce mental capacity.
“Anytime you deal with lead in products that come into contact with consumers it is of concern,” said Scott Gerber, spokesman for the state Attorney General's Office. “We are hopeful that we can bring this issue to a swift resolution in a way that will protect the health and safety of Californians.”
Despite the environmental concerns, artificial turf has gotten the attention of the the natural sod industry, said Danielle Marman, director of marketing for West Coast Turf, one the state's largest suppliers of natural lawns.
Although it's unclear just how large a market share artificial turf has claimed in recent years, there's agreement that the industry is growing fast where water is a precious commodity.
“They have become a big competitor,” Marman said. “They claim that they are green but they are not green. They cause global warming. All people think of is, 'I don't have to mow it or water it.' Well, if you want to clean it off you have to put water onto it. If you have to replace that lawn, where do you dispose of it? It goes in a landfill.”
In the end, the convenience and durability of artificial lawns will overcome environmental concerns, Costa predicted. About 10
Betting that the market will continue to grow, manufacturers are paying greater attention to detail, she said. The result is an increasingly lifelike product that often blends shades of green with traces of brown.
“Ten years ago, we only had one type of grass to show,” Costa said. “Now some (dealers) have 30 to 40 styles. Some are for landscape, some are for sports applications. A driving force is, 'Is it beautiful enough? Does it look real?'”#
Water-conservation kits offered in
By Josh Dulaney
The Fontana Water Co. is offering free water-conservation kits.
The kits include a low-flow shower head, faucet aerators and toilet-leak detection tablets.
The company wants to reduce water usage by 10 percent this year, said Darleen Chaputa, conservation coordinator for the company.
She noted that older shower heads expend between 3.5 gallons and 7 gallons a minute, versus low-flow shower heads, which use about 1.5 gallons a minute.
The kits may be picked up at the company office at
Office hours: 8 a.m. to 5p.m., Monday through Friday.#
Water district directors take up climate issues
Marin Independent Journal-6/27/09
The Marin Municipal Water District Board of Directors will meet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to discuss climate change and water supply, and what would happen if the county were gripped by a three-year drought.
The meeting will be at the district office at
http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_12706365?IADID=Search-www.marinij.com-www.marinij.com
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DWR’s California Water News is distributed to California Department of Water Resources management and staff, for information purposes, by the DWR Public Affairs Office. For reader’s services, including new subscriptions, temporary cancellations and address changes, please use the online page: http://listhost2.water.ca.gov/mailman/listinfo/water_news . DWR operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs. Inclusion of materials is not to be construed as an endorsement of any programs, projects, or viewpoints by the Department or the State of
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