Thursday, January 21, 2010

Learn About 'Harvesting' Rain Water

With all the rain we've had over the past week, the topic of "harvesting" or "saving" rainwater to use for irrigation in the spring and summer comes up.

While our local climate is not ideally suited to the idea, the experts will be in the Bay Area this month to discuss the topic and show you how to save rainwater for use when it's not so wet.

The classes are held by the "American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association" and you'll learn about systems that you can buy, or build.

Look here for more information.



What About Those Storms?

The recent wave of storms state-wide has brought much needed rain and snow as is normal for January, but three years of continued dry conditions have left the state’s reservoirs at a huge deficit.


2009 was the third consecutive year of drought conditions in
California and water supply in reservoirs remain below normal at this point.

We are only at the half-way point of the rain/snow season, we do not know what the rest of the season will provide and we need continued, well-above-normal storms to build up the snow pack and provide run-off to reservoirs.





Free Tours of CCWD Facilities

The Contra Costa Water District has a free program that allows customers to tour its water facilities.

The bus tours are educational outings for adults that include visits to a water treatment plant, an intake facility, the Los Vaqueros Reservoir and watershed.

The dates for the spring tours are April 16 and May 14. We will also have tours in the fall, so you can be placed on a waiting list.

CCWD customers over the age of 18 are invited to sign up for this tour of District facilities to learn about water quality issues and how CCWD diverts water from the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta, stores it in the Los Vaqueros Reservoir, and conveys it in the Contra Costa Canal to a treatment plant in the service area.

The tours depart from the Concord District Center (1331 Concord Ave., Concord).

Sign-ups are on a first-come, first-served basis.

There is no cost for CCWD customers but you must be over age 18 and sign-up individually. No group bookings, please. Lunch is included.

To sign-up send us an e-mail, and be sure to mention the tour or call (925) 688-8175