W a r n i n g : W ate r S u pp l i es S T ILL i n J e o p a r d y !
Celebrating 50 Years Moulton Niguel Water WATER QU ALIT Y & SERVICE ARE #1
1960-2010
MNWD Celebrates our 50th Anniversary Moulton Niguel Water District is celebrating a half-century of proud service this year. The District was formed in 1960 by a group of rural landowners and now provides water and sewer service to more than 167,000 residents across a large portion of south Orange County. We are celebrating our golden anniversary in November with an exciting open house event that you won’t want to miss. Check back in future editions of Waterlines for more information, or you can e-mail us at webmaster@MNWD.com.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Richard S. Fiore President Gerald E. Buck Vice President
Making Conservation a Way of Life Follow these rules to remain water efficient n Reduce water use by 20 percent n Irrigation of lawns, landscapes and other vegetation is limited to three days per week (see watering schedule below) n Watering is limited to 10 minutes per day, per station n Watering is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. n Excessive watering resulting in runoff is prohibited n No hosing down hard or paved surfaces n A bucket or hose with a shut-off nozzle must be used when washing vehicles
Wild Lilac To learn more about this and other attractive California-Friendly plants, visit www.MNWD.com
Level 2 "Water Alert" Irrigation Schedule Residential
Lawrence R. Lizotte Gary Kurtz Larry McKenney Brian Probolsky
Aliso Viejo and Mission Viejo Monday and Thursday, and Saturday or Sunday
Charles J. Roy Editor For meeting dates and agendas, visit www.MNWD.com. WaterLines is a monthly publication to keep water users in the Moulton Niguel Water District informed about water-related issues and events. Please send any comments or suggestions to MNWD, 27500 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel, CA, 92677, or call us at (949) 831-2500. www.mnwd.com.
Celebrating 50 Years
• District helps students become water wise • MNWD to celebrate 50th anniversary • Three-day-per-week watering continues
Waterlines
Moulton Niguel Water WATER QU ALIT Y & SERVICE ARE #1
1960-2010
August 2010
Summertime Efficiency is Key for Year-Round Reliability
Donald Froelich Vice President
Robert C. Gumerman, Ph.D., P.E. General Manager
IN THIS ISSUE • Water efficiency a high priority during summer • MNWD puts customers first • Water allocations remain in effect
Dana Point, Laguna Hills and Laguna Niguel Tuesday and Friday, and Saturday or Sunday
Commercial Monday, Wednesday and Friday
MNWD’s Water Conservation Program prohibits watering between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Recycled water users are exempt from this schedule.
Conserve Today: Save Water. Save Money. Protect the Environment.
Our customers typically use the most water during the warm months of summer. But are you using more than you need? Up to 70 percent of your water use this summer will occur outdoors, so that is a great place to start. Lawns are a home’s biggest water guzzler, but did you know that it only needs 10 minutes of watering a few days per week to stay healthy and green – even during the warm summer months? In fact, three deep soaks each week actually promotes healthier root growth than watering every day for a shorter period of time. If you are watering your lawn more than that, or if you see excess water running onto the sidewalk, that is an indication that you are Are you giving your lawn and likely using too much water. garden more water than they need? Visit www.MNWD.com Your garden is also a great place to become to find out. more water efficient. Plants need differing amounts of water based on variety and soil conditions. Shrubs need more water than flowers, and native plants typically require very little irrigation at all. To make sure you are giving your garden the right amount of water, visit www.MNWD.com for a detailed listing of plant watering needs. Our website also has information on the latest rebates available for water-efficient fixtures and appliances. You can save hundreds of dollars off the purchase of weather-based irrigation controllers, rotating sprinkler nozzles and high-efficiency clothes washers. Installing water-efficient devices helps you save money because you will be using less water.
MNWD Can Help You Save There are lots of ways to save water, and we are here to help. Please call the District at (949) 831-2500 to set up an appointment for a conservation specialist to visit your home. We can review your outdoor watering practices, discuss your indoor use and make recommendations on easy ways to save money by becoming more efficient. Together, we can see that there is enough water to meet everyone’s needs.
www.mnwd.com
Water Efficiency Update Since July 2010, MNWD customers have conserved
10.8%
We are required to conserve
20%
Are you using more than you need?
Water Conservation
Tip of the Month Turn the small screw atop each of your sprinklers to make sure there is no overlap and that you’re not watering patios and sidewalks. Visit www.MNWD.com or call (949) 831-2500 to learn other easy ways to save.
Mandatory Conservation Continues
MNWD in the Community
Regional water allocations remain unchanged for coming year
Crown Valley Elementary School becomes water wise
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, MNWD’s water wholesaler, determined last year the southern part of our state may not have enough water to meet our long-term needs, so it put our region on a budget – a water budget. In this historic move, it budgeted – or allocated – a specific amount of water to each local water provider for fiscal year 2009-2010 based on a variety of factors, including the number and types of customers it serves. MNWD’s allocation required our customers to use 20 percent less water than in years past, or everyone in the District would potentially face financial penalties. The District was able to avoid those penalties last year, but our allocation remains unchanged as we begin this new fiscal year, and that means MNWD customers must continue to be as efficient as possible as we all work together to reach our water conservation goals.
MNWD staff recently taught more than 460 students at Crown Valley Elementary school the value of water and why it’s so important to make every drop count. Our relationship with water starts early, so this next generation of MNWD customers is now well equipped for a water-wise future.
California-Friendly Plant of the Month: Dwarf Bottle Brush California Aqueduct
Putting Customers First Many customers recognize Megan, one of MNWD’s Customer Service Representatives, as the friendly voice on the telephone who answers questions and helps solve problems. Megan recognizes that the key to her job is being patient, helpful and knowledgeable about Moulton Niguel services and resources. Customers often comment how surprised they are to hear a "human" voice and not an automated voicemail system. Megan says she enjoys talking to people and helping them. She feels it is important to listen carefully to customers. Sometimes they are very specific about what they need; other times they may not be sure. It is always rewarding to help a customer, especially during an emergency situation. Recently, a customer called in a panic because a hose in their laundry room had burst and water was going everywhere. Megan was able to tell her how to shut off her house valve before too much flooding occurred. As a Customer Service Representative, Megan’s job includes many duties. She takes telephone orders to start and stop service, updates customer name and address changes, and initiates service orders for a variety of problems, including meter leaks, hydrant leaks and line breaks. The District has more than 167,000 customers and services five cities. On average, MNWD’s Customer Service Department receives more than 300 calls each day. Megan’s attitude reflects the feeling of the entire Customer Service Department: Customer service is a top priority at Moulton Niguel.
If you’re looking to add a burst of color to your garden this summer, then look no further than the Dwarf Bottle Brush. This shrub has bright red flowers that explode from its dark evergreen leaves. The blooms last through spring and summer and are a great way to liven up your garden without a lot of water or maintenance. This plant works well as a hedge, attracts hummingbirds and has the added bonus of being fire-resistant, making it an excellent perimeter plant for our fire-prone region. Once established, water the plant weekly through the hot months and let nature do the rest through winter. The shrub grows slowly, keeping pruning to a minimum.
Dwarf Bottle Brush Callistenmon Citrinus Season: Size: Color: Water: Sun:
MNWD’s commitment to customer service is evidenced more than 300 times each day as customer calls are greeted by a cheerful, informative member of our staff. Photo courtesy of Jeff McMillian USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Spring-summer 4-6 feet Evergreen leaves with red flowers Low Full sun