CCWD Water Conservation

Turn Those Sprinklers Down A Little

2011-09-01T14:20:00.000-07:00

The days are getting shorter, and that means you may consider turning down your automatic sprinklers a bit.

CCWD recommends watering your lawn three days per week, shrubs and trees one to two days per week.

This is just a slight change from July and August, the months when most yards need the most water.

There may be some hot days left in this unusual summer. Unless your yard gets cooked, you probably don’t need to add more water past our recommendation for the month. With the days getting noticeably shorter, there’s a lot less sunlight.

Check here for all the details.

Lose the Lawn & Grow a Garden

Our Pilot Water-Efficient Landscape Rebate Program returns, offering rebates to customers who replace their lawns with water-saving gardens.

Rebates are up to $500 for residential customers. Multi-family and commercial customers can earn up to $5,000.

Please follow the steps to make sure you receive your rebate. Don't start on your project until you receive a "Notice to Proceed" from CCWD.

Take a look at our short video, where CCWD Conservation Supervisor Chris Dundon shows how he “lost the lawn” at his own home and grew a garden. The effort cut his water consumption in half, and his yard is beautiful.

Water Saving Classes at Ruth Bancroft Garden

There are several classes and events coming up in September at the Ruth Bancroft Garden.

Most notable is "Drought-Tolerant Edibles" Saturday, Sept. 3 and "Free Water: Utilizing Rain Water and Greywater" on Saturday, Sept. 17.

CCWD is a sponsor of both of these. Find out more.

Native Plant Symposium in September

A two-day native plant symposium will be held Sept. 17 and 18 here in the Bay Area. A variety of organizations will be running the symposium titled "Growing Natives: Inspiring & Enduring Gardens.”

Save Water & Save Money With CCWD Coupons

We have coupons for discounts at car washes that recycle their water, and at local nurseries where you can buy water-saving mulch at a discount.

Turn Your Sprinklers Up A Notch in July

2011-07-05T14:00:00.000-07:00

It’s July, and the weather – at last – seems close to normal.

With its long and hot days, July is also when you should turn your automatic sprinklers up a notch to keep your yard green.

For your lawn, we recommend watering three or four days per week, and your trees and shrubs two to three days per week. Of course, the best time is to water in the early morning between 3 and 8 a.m. before the sun comes up. This allows the water to soak in and help your plants before it can evaporate.

If your auto system allows it, water in short cycles.

See all the details here.

Lose the Lawn & Grow a Garden

Our Pilot Water-Efficient Landscape Rebate Program returns, offering rebates to customers who replace their lawns with water-saving gardens.

Rebates are up to $500 for residential customers. Multi-family and commercial customers can earn up to $5,000.

Please follow the steps to make sure you receive your rebate. Don't start on your project until you receive a "Notice to Proceed" from CCWD.

Take a look at our short video, where CCWD Conservation Supervisor Chris Dundon shows how he “lost the lawn” at his own home and grew a garden. The effort cut his water use in half, and his yard is beautiful.

Native Plant Symposium in September

A two-day native plant symposium will be held Sept. 17 and 18 here in the Bay Area. A variety of organizations will be running the symposium titled "Growing Natives: Inspiring & Enduring Gardens" will include a number of speakers, workshops and demonstrations. CCWD is a sponsor.

Car Wash & Mulch Coupons Return!

2011-04-04T15:07:00.001-07:00

Our very popular Smart Wash Car Wash and Mulch, Mulch, Mulch coupon programs return with money and water savings.

With the car washes, we have money-saving coupons for various car washes that recycle their water. All you need to do is print one of these coupons, and you'll get a discount on your next wash.

The mulch program is similar, with a coupon that gives you discounts on your purchases of mulch. Mulch helps save water in your garden.

We expect to add more coupons soon, so check back on both programs if there isn't a car wash or nursery near you. This is the third year we've offered these discounts, and they've become very popular with our customers.

Free Tickets To The Spring Home & Garden Show

We have free tickets available to the Spring Home and Garden Show at the Sleep Train Pavilion on April 8, 9 & 10.

These tickets are for general admission, and do not include parking.

All you need to do is print out as many tickets as you need.

“Is Your Irrigation an Irritation?” is the theme of the District's booth and will highlight common irrigation system problems and their solutions.

50 Gardens Featured In Bringing Back The Natives Tour

CCWD is a sponsor of the "Bringing Back The Natives Garden Tour" that will be held on Sunday, May 1.

This year, there will be 50 gardens featured in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

It's a fun event, and a great way to see new possibilities for using native drought-resistant plants in your garden.

Take Care of Your Water Pipes During Upcoming Cold Weather

2011-02-24T14:46:00.000-08:00

Unusually cold weather is being forecast for this weekend, so make sure you take some steps to keep your water pipes from bursting.

We have a complete guide that will help you protect your pipes, and thaw them should they freeze.

Here's all the information here:

http://www.ccwater.com/customerservice/FrozenPipes.asp

Don't Forget To Protect Your Garden Hoses As Well

Your garden hoses can also burst in the cold. So spend a moment protecting them.

If you leave the hoses outside, take off the spray nozzles and take out any kinks so there is plenty of room for the water in the hoses to expand as temperatures drop.

Make Sure Your Automatic Sprinklers Are Off

With a very wet winter, it's obvious. But, since we advise you to run them early in the morning during the dry months, maybe you wouldn't notice if they are are running. It's a good idea to check to make sure they are off.

Thinking About Watering Your Lawn?

2011-01-25T11:12:00.000-08:00

We haven't had any measurable rain in Concord since Jan. 13, and that was just a tiny bit. While the weather has been absolutely pleasant, the soaking wet days of November and December seem like a long time ago and there is no rain in the immediate forecast.

Is it time to water your lawn or garden again, even in January?

Check First

While we've seen sunny weather, the days are -- of course-- short and very cool compared to the middle of summer.

We suggest you check your soil before unrolling the hose. Pick up a clump of dirt in your hand, and feel for moisture. Use your hand shovel to dig around a little and see if there's moisture in the soil. Check in several places.

If you've put mulch around your shrubs and trees, these areas particularly should still be moist. Especially if your yard faces toward the south, it may be getting dry.

If Needed, Go Ahead & Water Your Lawn

If the soil's moist, of course, you don't need to water.

If it's dry, you may want to hand-water with a hose or turn your sprinklers on for a short time. You will not need a lot of water, so don't turn the sprinklers on and leave them running for a long time.

Use This Time To Check Your Sprinkler System

While the sprinklers are running, it's a good time to check your entire sprinkler system. Look for clogged, mis-aimed or broken emitters or pipes. You may want to remove a sprinkler at the end of the system and flush out any dirt.

With the mild weather, you have time to fix things now without risking damage to your plants and lawn while waiting for a spare moment to make repairs.

Don't Turn Your Timers On

It may be tempting to turn on your sprinkler timers, and let them do the work for the next few weeks.

That's not a good idea. Your yard will not need a lot of water, and with rapidly-changing winter weather still ahead of us, you may end up wasting a lot of water should you forget to turn them off.

Operate the sprinklers manually. CCWD doesn't advise turning your timers back on until March, and even then, that's only one day a week for your lawn.

Starting to Plan Your Summer Garden?

The "Bringing Back the Natives" Garden tour on Sunday, May 1 will be a great way to see how local gardeners have used drought-tolerant native plants to create beautiful gardens. More than 50 gardens in Contra Costa and Alameda counties are registered.

CCWD is one of the long-time sponsors of this popular community activity. There are a limited number of booklets, so register early. It's free!

Can't wait until May? Take a look at our "Gardening in Contra Costa County" online resource. There are thousands of plants listed, along with pictures and gardening ideas.

Hurry! Web Coupons To Expire! Wash Your Car, Buy Your Mulch!

2010-11-29T13:54:00.000-08:00

Time is quickly running out on our two web coupon programs.

Our Smart Wash Car Wash and Mulch, Mulch, Mulch programs both end on Nov. 30.

That doesn't give you much time to use these money & water-saving coupons, but you can still use them until Dec. 1.

In the Smart Car Wash program, you can save money and water by using these coupons to save money with car washes that recycle water.

Everyone knows that mulch saves water and also cuts down on weeds in your garden....so stock up on mulch tomorrow and save money!

Keep Your Pipes From Freezing

We have all kinds of hints and tips to keep your pipes from freezing in the very cold weather. Just look here.

2010-09-29T15:24:00.000-07:00

Cut Back Your Watering Days in October

The exceedingly hot weather of the last few days is expected to ease to comfortable temperatures by the weekend.

If you've been following our watering guide, your lawn, trees and most plants should be in great shape after the near-record heat. The only exception may be your shallow-rooted plants --like ground cover and perennials -- so check to see if they need any additional moisture.

Even though it's been sweaty-hot, do not hesitate to fall into savings and cut back your watering schedule on Oct. 1 to two days per week for lawns and one day per week for trees and shrubs.

Check our guide for the details.

Classes -- Plant Sale -- Coming Up Oct. 9

There will be class on caring for succulents, and the annual plant sale, coming up on Oct. 9 at the Ruth Bancroft Garden. Both will be held on Oct. 9

It's September, You Can Cut Back Your Sprinkler Timers

2010-08-27T16:07:00.000-07:00

CCWD recommends cutting back watering times on your sprinklers in September.

We suggest watering your lawn three days a week, and your trees, shrubs and groundcover only one to two days per week. Look to our guide for the particulars on operating different types of sprinklers.

Even though it can still get plenty hot in Contra Costa County in September, the days are noticeably getting shorter and the sun is at a lower angle. That means less sunlight and your plants will need less water.

Remove Your Lawn Class in September

Lawn Removal, with Kat Weiss will be held at the Ruth Bancroft Garden on Saturday, Sept. 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Learn how to remove and replace your lawn in this informative and hands-on workshop. CCWD is a co-sponsor of these classes.

Save Water With Greywater & Drought Resistant Plants

2010-08-19T14:40:00.000-07:00

Here are two ways to continue saving water: establish a greywater system to irrigate your garden, and plant more drought resistant plants in your yard.

A Berkeley group called "Greywater Action" is holding a class on using greywater from your shower on Saturday, Aug. 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The class will include a hands on demonstration that will install a greywater system at a home in Berkeley.

There is a fee, but it slides depending on your ability to pay.

Over in Richmond, the Watershed Nursery is having a large sale on a wide-variety of drought- resistant plants. The sale lasts a week and starts on Monday, Aug. 23.

August's Shorter Days Mean You Can Cut Watering For Trees & Shrubs

2010-08-02T09:12:00.000-07:00

July and August are the times of the year of highest water demand for your plants.

But in August, the days are starting to get shorter. That means less sun on your yard, so you can use less water and still keep everything green.

For your automatic sprinklers, CCWD recommends cutting back a day on your watering schedule for trees and shrubs. But you probably want to leave your lawn sprinklers about the same during this normally-hot month.

Temperatures have been much cooler than normal so far this summer, so maybe you can cut watering even more than our recommendations.

CCWD August Sprinkler Day Recommendations

Lawn: 3-4 times per week.

Shrubs 2 days per week.

Consult our water use guide for more specific watering information.

Now We Now Have Two Options for $175 High-Efficiency Toilet Rebates

We now have an instant $175 rebate when you buy a WaterSense-labeled High-Efficiency Toilet from one of our participating vendor, or you can get a mail-in $175 rebate when you buy a WaterSense Labeled High Efficiency Toilet for the vendor you choose.

Before you do anything, make sure you pre-qualify for the rebate. We may also need to do an inspection at your home. Call CCWD at 688-8320 or look here for more information.

Drought Tolerant Gardening Class Coming Up

A class on drought-tolerant gardening will be held Saturday, Aug. 14 at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Bobbi Feyerabend, a well-known East Bay landscape architect, will discuss the basics of low-water gardening and cover appropriate plant choices, garden design, irrigation and maintenance. She will focus on Mediterranean plants.

These classes are co-sponsored by the Contra Costa Water District.

Look here for more information.

Don't Forget Our Money Saving Coupons for Mulch & Car Washes

It's a great time to save money and water with our "Smart Car Wash" and "Mulch, Mulch, Mulch" coupon programs.

Print these coupons, and save.

Classes At Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek

2010-07-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

CCWD sponsors classes at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek.

On Saturday, July 10, there will be "Botanical Illustrations" from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with Dorcas Moulton, a botanical illustration instructor at Merritt College. She will show you everything you need to know about sketching your favorite plants.

Also coming up is: "Drought Tolerant Gardening 101," with Bobbi Feyerabend on Saturday, Aug. 14 and "Lawn Removal" with Kat Weiss Saturday, Sept. 11.

Contact the Garden for more information on these classes.

July is the Highest Water Month

2010-06-30T08:49:00.000-07:00

July is often the month that our lawns and landscapes require the most water. Here are a few steps to make sure you make every drop count. A perfect time to do this is before you go on vacation.

INSPECT SPRINKLERS
Inspect each sprinkler head and look for broken, bent or blocked sprinkler heads or nozzles.
• Broken Sprinklers: Repair or replace immediately
• Bent or Sunken Sprinklers: Use a trowel to remove soil and adjust the head so it is plumb and spraying correctly. The head should pop up high enough to spray without being blocked by the plant material.
• Broken or clogged Sprinkler Nozzles: Replace these with the correct nozzle. It is a good idea to have several spare nozzles for easy replacement)

INSPECT DRIP SYSTEM
Turn on the drip system and walk through the garden looking and listening for breaks and broken emitters.
• Traditional Drip Systems: The most common repair needed for traditional half-inch poly pipe drip with pop in emitters is broken emitters. If you find one, simply use a pair of pliers to remove it and install a “goof plug”. The goof plug has two sizes so use the size that will completely fill the hole. You can then install a new emitter a few inches away from the goof plug.
• Quadra-Bubbler Drip: The most common repair needed for these types of drip systems is the spaghetti tubing comes out of the bubbler. If the tubing is brittle at the end, you may need to snip off an inch and re-insert it. Also, if the quadra-bubbler tip is broken, you will need to replace the whole quadra-bubbler.

JULY WATERING SCHEDULE
The following is the recommended schedule for central and east Contra Costa County.
• Lawns: For pop-up spray sprinklers water three cycles for 3 to 6 minutes, 3 to 4 days per week.
• Trees, Shrubs, Groundcovers: For pop-up spray sprinklers water three cycles for 3 to 6 minutes, 2 to 3 days per week

Your Plants' Watering Needs Change With the Seasons

2010-06-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

As the seasons change, so do the needs of the plants and lawn in your yard.

During winter months, when days are short and usually wet, you don’t need to water you lawn, shrubs or trees at all.

During summer, when the days are long and there’s and not much rain, you need to water your yard. How much is enough to keep your grass green and healthy?

The Contra Costa Water District has a new handy guide appropriately called the “Lawn & Landscape Watering Schedule” that tells you exactly how much water you need. Most modern automated irrigation systems make it easy to change the settings each month, and the schedule guides you.

For example, in July water your lawn three or four days per week. If you have pop-up sprinklers, run three cycles of three to six minutes each, a few minutes longer if you have impact or rotor sprinklers. For trees, shrubs and groundcover, you need only two to three days per week. With pop-up sprinklers, run three cycles of three to six minutes each.

While your are on the page, sign up to get a water scheduling reminder through an e-mail each month.

Water Your Plants Early

What’s the best time of the day to water? Set your automatic sprinkler system to water between 3 a.m. and 8 a.m. The sun is down, the temperature is cooler and the wind is usually calm. This allows the water to do the work you want it to, soak to the roots and nourish your plants.

If you’re watering during the day, up to 30 percent of the water your spraying is lost to evaporation.

Coupons Help You Save Water & Money

CCWD has water-saving coupons online for car washes, and buying mulch.

The car washes all recycle their water, and mulch is the best way to save water in your yard and prevent weed growth.

Look for the blue “Smart Car Wash” and brown “Mulch-Mulch-Mulch” buttons on www.ccwater.com, find the deals that most appeal to you, print out the coupon and you’ll start savings water right away.

Free Home Water Surveys

Have you had one of our free home water surveys? This is a great way to start saving water immediately.

One of our water conservation experts will do everything from measure how much water your sprinklers are using, to check for leaks in your toilet and tell you about our water saving rebates for washers and toilets.

It’s absolutely free, and you’ll start saving water before our expert leaves your home.

New Page Is Resource For Grey Water, Rain Water Uses

2010-06-15T09:23:00.000-07:00

We just put up a new resource page in the Conservation section of the CCWD web site that has resources for alternative ways to save water.

Many people are taking a second look at collecting grey water -- which is water from your washing machine or shower -- and using what is normally waste water to irrigate your yard.

In addition, though the Contra Costa climate is not ideal for it, many are also looking at "harvesting" rain water for their irrigation needs. If you collect rain water, you can use the water for your garden when skies are clear.

CCWD offers the new page only as a resource, and offers no rebates or incentives for these water-saving alternatives. But if you can manage these resources carefully, and watch your expenses, you can save some money and some water.

Home Water Surveys Are Free!

CCWD's free home water surveys will help you save water immediately.

Our trained water conservation experts will come to your home, and work with you inside and outside your house to show you how to save water.

They'll check your toilets for leaks, install water-saving devices on your kitchen sink, tell you how much water your irrigation system uses and tune the system so that your lawn, trees and plants will stay green...and a lot more.

Sign up online.

We'll Remind You To Change Your Sprinkler Timers

We have a new service that will send you an e-mail reminder each month on how much you should be watering your lawn, trees and shrubs.

For example, in June, we recommend:

Lawns & High Water Use Plants – 3 to 4 days per week

Trees, Shrubs, and Ground Covers - 2 days per week

This is the same schedule professional landscapers use to keep water and costs under control.

Sign up online.

See 47 Different Drought Tolerant Plants at CCWD's Garden

2010-05-28T14:17:00.000-07:00

You can now identify 47 different types of drought-tolerant plants living and growing in CCWD's Demonstration Garden

Completed in 1991 and undergoing the final stages of a much-needed upgrade, CCWD's water-efficient District Center Garden is one of 78 Demonstration Gardens in California recognized by the Water Education Foundation, The Bureau of Reclamation and the California Urban Water Conservation Council.

Most recently, we've added labels and tags for all the plants found in the garden. In addition, there's a list of the plants on the signboard next to the entrance to the building. So if you like a particular type of plant, just check it off the list and take it to your nursery.

The garden is designed to show homeowners and businesses that by planting wisely, they can continue to have a beautiful landscape that uses very little water. You can see everything from the "Torch Lilly" to "Catherine's Lace" and "Bottlebrush Little John."

A path winds through the garden of natives, exotic shrubs and perennials. Plants were selected for their suitability to the local climate, soil and for low maintenance.

The garden is about an acre in size, and uses about half of the water of the expansive lawn it replaced in 1991....and doesn't need to be mowed every week!

The garden is located at 1331 Concord Ave. in Concord near Buchanan Field.

Want to know more about native plants, look at our online guide to "Gardening in Contra Costa County."

Increase Sprinkler Days As Temps Go Up

It's hard to believe we are still receiving rain in late May, so turn on your sprinkler system once the rains have stopped. When you do turn your system on, program it for the following number of days per week during June:

Lawns & High Water Use Plants – 3 to 4 days per week
Trees, Shrubs, and Groundcovers - 2 days per week

For lawns and high water use plants, start out the month with 3 days per week once the soil isn’t saturated from recent rains. Increase from 3 days to 4 days per week if required as temperatures increase later in the month.

For more information on irrigation scheduling and water conservation programs, visit www.ccwater.com/conserv

Time to Think About Restarting Your Home Irrigation System

2010-05-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

The late spring rains have kept the hills in Contra Costa County green, and have also been a blessing for home and business owners.

But the storms are finally tapering off and the long spring days mean it's time to look at restarting your automatic irrigation systems.

Before you do anything, check to make sure your system is working as it should and there no leaks, broken or plugged emitters. Also, make sure the emitters are all pointing in the right direction. Run them all briefly to make sure all is working correctly.

The next thing to do is to look at your soil and determine if it really needs water. Unless you know your yard very well, there is no easy to tell. The obvious is to look for muddy or wet spots on your lawn. If you have wet spots, you probably don't need to resume watering just yet.

One method many people have used for years is called the "screwdriver test" where you plunge a large screwdriver into your lawn. Depending on how much resistance you have, you'll know if you need to start watering again. If the screwdriver slides in pretty easily, you don't need to water. But if it's difficult, you should look into watering.

Of course, different types of plants and soil -- and how much sun your yard gets - will change the results of the test, so you'll have to use a lot of discretion. Even though it's not precise, this easy test will give you a clue as to how badly your yard needs water.

CCWD Water Conservation Specialist Bob Eagle said the water for irrigating the small lawns on the District's own Demonstration Garden was turned on for the first time this year last week, and this week the water will be turned on for the trees and some of the shrubs. He said he doesn't expect to need to turn on the sprinklers in some areas of the nearly one-acre garden until late June or even July.

In most cases, he said, it should be time to start irrigating most yards, especially those facing south.

When you do water, please follow our newly-updated guide. If you're one of those people who wants even more detail than we provide in our guide, look here and our "Gardening in Contra Costa County" site

In addition, sign up for our new e-mail watering reminder. Every month we'll remind you that its time to adjust your automatic sprinklers.

Cash For Appliances Still Going Strong

The state's "Cash for Appliances" program is generating a lot of interest in buying new washing machines....and there is still money available.

If you pick a high-efficiency washer that is on the state's approved list and CCWD's approved list, you can get both the CCWD Clothes Washer Rebate and the state rebate.

The new washer will help you save a lot of water.

Your salesperson can help you apply for both rebates, but you can check which machines qualify for the CCWD program here.

Here's the state's list.

Earn Additional Savings If You're Buying A Clothes Washer

2010-04-23T15:58:00.000-07:00

The state's "Cash for Appliances" program is generating a lot of interest in buying new washing machines.

If you pick a high-efficiency washer that is on the state's approved list and CCWD's approved list, you can get both the CCWD Clothes Washer Rebate and the state rebate.

That will result in a significant savings in money and water.

Your salesperson can help you apply for both rebates, but you can check which machines qualify for the CCWD program here.

Here's the state's list.

Save the Date, Garden Tour Set for May 2

Unsure how you want to make your yard or garden drought tolerant? Sunday, May 2 is the date of the "Bringing Back The Natives" garden tour in Contra Costa and Alameda counties.

The free tour is a showcase of beautiful East Bay gardens. CCWD is a sponsor of this award-winning program.

Here's all the information

CCWD's New Water Conservation Program Begins May 1

CCWD's new 2010 Water Conservation Program will begin on May 1.

While the District encourages customers to continue to work to save water, the new program is less stringent than the Drought Management Program it replaces. Here's a guide to the program, which will penalize only the largest water wasters.

If you were approved for an exception during the past year, the exception is still in place.

Have a question? Send us an e-mail or call us at: (925) 688-8044.

Don't Forget Our Money Saving Coupons for Mulch & Car Washes

With spring weather arriving this weekend, it's a great time to save money and water with our "Smart Car Wash" and "Mulch, Mulch, Mulch" coupon programs.

Print out these coupons, and save.

CCWD Board Ends Drought Management Program

2010-04-08T10:59:00.000-07:00

On April 7, the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) Board of Directors held a public hearing and ended the 2009 Drought Management Program due to improved water supply conditions.

The program was replaced with the 2010 Conservation Program that will begin on May 1.

For CCWD customers, this means the water budgets and program goals are no longer in effect. The 2010 Conservation Program does not raise rates and eliminates the four-times Excess Use Charge.

“Though our water supply this year is sufficient to meet reasonable demand, issues in the Delta make delivery of our water supply less than certain. This new program encourages customers to use water efficiently and discourages wasteful use.” said CCWD General Manager, Walter J. Bishop.

Approximately five-percent of CCWD’s residential, irrigation and agricultural customers represent large water users that use in excess of 1,000 gallons per day. The new 2010 Conservation Program focuses on encouraging these large water users to become more efficient. Large water users will be subject to a two-times Excess Use Charge on increased usage over their historical water use. This charge applies to customers using over 1,000 gallons per day that increase their water use. The two-times charge is based on the cost of purchasing supplemental water to meet additional demand.

Under the 2009 program, CCWD customers responded by cutting their water use by 20-percent and are applauded for their commitment to conservation. For more details on the program, look to www.ccwater.com or call (925) 688-8041.

CCWD Co-Sponsors Classes At Ruth Bancroft Garden

CCWD is co-sponsoring a series of classes at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek, starting Saturday with "Composting 101".

These are outstanding classes that will help you in the garden, and help you save water.

Free Passes to Home and Garden Show

The Home and Garden Show will be held April 9, 10 & 11, and you get in free by printing out these free passes. Be sure to stop by the CCWD booth to learn about ways to save water.

Don't Forget Our Water-Saving Coupons

Our popular "Smart Wash Car Wash" and "Mulch, Mulch, Mulch" coupons return.

All of the car washes recycle water, and mulch is the easiest way to save water in your garden.

Contact Us!

You can visit us on the web at www.ccwater.com or give us a call at 925 688-8044.

Car Wash and Mulch Coupons Save Money & Water

2010-04-01T17:03:00.000-07:00

Water & Money Saving Coupons Return

Two of CCWD's popular water and money saving programs from last year have returned.

The Smart Wash Car Wash program -- which gives discounts at car washes that recycle water -- returns with coupons for 11 local car washes. Print the coupons, get your car washed, save money and water.

Our "Mulch, Mulch, Mulch" program also returns with coupons for garden centers throughout the East Bay. Mulch is the easiest way to save water in your garden, it also keeps weeds down.

It's all pretty easy.

Keep Sprinklers Turned Off Until Rains Pass

There's been no need to irrigate your yards the past few weeks, with continuing rain storms in the area.

So keep them off until the rain passess. In April, we recommend watering your lawns & high water use plants to days per week.

Trees, shrubs and groundcover only needs one day per week.
Trees, Shrubs, and Groundcovers - 1 day per week

Conservation Tip - This is a perfect time to inspect your sprinkler system for problems... and get them fixed.

CCWD Board To Consider 2010 Water Conservation Program

2010-03-12T16:39:00.001-08:00

Please Continue to Conserve to Ensure Efficient Water Use

Good News! Precipitation from this season’s storms has replenished most reservoirs in the state and produced a snowpack that is slightly above average. The District expects an adequate supply of water to meet the reasonable needs of its customers.

While the state appears to be coming out of a three-year drought cycle, changing regulatory conditions make for uncertainty in Delta water supplies and delivery of water through the Delta system. Water conservation is still a priority.

At its March 17 meeting, the CCWD Board of Directors will review a proposed 2010 Water Conservation Program that is substantially relaxed compared to 2009. It could supersede the District’s 2009 Drought Management Program.

The goal of the proposed program is to encourage customers to continue using water efficiently and discourage waste.

For residential, irrigation and agricultural customers, this proposal will:

Encourage customers to continue conserving and not increase water use beyond their historical use (based on water use in the years 2005, ’06 and ’07).
Maintain an Excess Use Charge for customers using an unreasonable and wasteful amount of water.

Customers historically using 1,000 gallons per day or less will be subject to an Excess Use Charge should they increase their water use to more than 1,000 gallons per day.
Customers historically using more than 1,000 gallons of water per day will be subject to an Excess Use Charge for water use higher than their historical use.
The Excess Use Charge applies only to excess water used and will be billed at two times the quantity charge. See an example of water charges under the proposal.

If customers have a change in circumstances since the 2005-2007 historical base period (such as adding more people to their household), they may apply for an exception. Any exceptions to the program granted during 2009 or 2010, would remain in place under the proposed program.

Following the reading of the 2010 Water Conservation Program, the Board is expected to vote on the proposal at its April 7 meeting. If approved, the program would go into effect on May 1.

The existing Drought Management Program remains in effect.

If you have questions, please send an email or call (925) 688-8175

New Service Will Remind You To Change Sprinkler Timers

2010-02-12T14:04:00.001-08:00

CCWD has introduced a free new e-mail service that will remind you when to change the times on your automatic sprinklers.

At different times of the year, CCWD recommends that you change your automatic sprinkler times for plants and lawn. For example, in January, February & March, the days are relatively short and there's usually enough rain that you don't need to water your lawn or your shrubs and trees.

But in April, we recommend that you water your lawn once a week, and your shrubs, trees and ground cover twice a week.

So the new service will remind you when it's a good time change, and also how long.

You can sign up here.

Save the Date, Garden Tour Set for May 2

Unsure how you want to make your yard or garden drought tolerant? Sunday, May 2 is the date of the "Bringing Back The Natives" garden tour in Contra Costa and Alameda counties.

The free tour is a showcase of beautiful East Bay gardens. CCWD is a sponsor of this award-winning program.

Here's all the information

Water Savings Still Needed, Despite Storms
CCWD to Review its Water Supply and Drought Program on April 7

Contra Costa Water District customers have been very
successful at conserving water since the District started its
Drought Management Program last May. Over the past nine
months, customers have used about 17 percent less water than
they used during the same months in 2005, 2006 and 2007. The
District applauds this strong conservation effort and encourages
customers to continue saving water.

Water levels in the state’s reservoirs fell well below normal over the
past three dry years, and even ample amounts of snow and rain this
year might not be enough to completely replenish the reservoirs. No one
can predict how much more rain and snow will fall before the dry summer
months arrive, so the District is planning for the possibility of below-normal
water supplies.

At the Board of Directors meeting on April 7, the District’s water supply status will
be reviewed and a decision will be made on whether the District needs to continue,
modify or discontinue its existing Drought Management Program.

The meeting beginsat 6:30 p.m. in the District’s Board Room at 1331 Concord Avenue, Concord. The public is invited.

Until then, CCWD's Drought Management Program remains in effect.

Learn About 'Harvesting' Rain Water

2010-01-21T09:20:00.000-08:00

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

You Should Keep Saving Water In The Winter

2009-12-16T09:53:00.000-08:00

Even though we've been seen plenty of rain and snow this fall, CCWD's Drought Management Plan is still in place.

You need to continue to save water and remain below your water budget to avoid excess use charges.

Though the start of the rain season has been good, there is still a long way to go in the season. If the rain and snow in the Sierra stops or tapers off, we would be facing continuing drought conditions. So far, so good.

If you like sports analogies: "We're only in the First Quarter, anything thing can happen in the next three," or "It's still the first inning," or "We may be in the lead by the first pit stop, but we haven't won the race."

You get the picture, we'll keep you updated.

Five Ways To Save Water In The Winter:

1. Insulate your water pipes. Insulation saves water two ways, it will take less time to heat water in the house and also avoids water loss and expensive repairs if the pipes burst in freezing temperatures. Insulation helps save water all year long.

2. Plan your spring planting with our new gardening information site. Our site is geared to Contra Costa weather and soil conditions, and is a concise and fun way to pick plants for your water-tolerant garden. There are pictures, examples of drought-tolerant yards and more.

3. Continue to take a short shower, pick up one of our free timers to remind you to the showers short. We also have free water saving shower heads. You can get them both at our CCWD Main Office at 1331 Concord Ave. in Concord.

4. Remove your lawn and replace it with drought-tolerant plants. We'll pay you up to $500 to do it. You need to follow all the steps to qualify for the money.

5. Double-check to make sure your sprinklers are off. Since most timers are set to water in the early morning, you may not know if yours are running.
CCWD Customers Continue To Save Water

The statistics aren't changing much, and that's good. CCWD customers are continuing to save water. Between May 1 and Nov. 30, customers have saved 20 percent when compared to the historic average of the years 2005, 06 and 07.

That remains impressive, and customers are saving more than the goal of 15 percent.

New Gardening Website Filled with Information on Drought -Tolerant Plants

2009-12-04T13:12:00.000-08:00

Looking for ideas for drought-tolerant plants? Take a look at our new “Gardening in Contra Costa County” website.

It’s designed for Contra Costa weather and soil conditions. It features all kinds of information and photos that will help you select beautiful plants that don’t need a lot of water.

The site is easy to navigate.

There are photos of many types of drought-tolerant yards. Click on a plant, and it will show you all kinds of information on it. You can create a custom plant list that you can print and take to your nursery.

Turn Off Your Sprinklers

Wet weather is predicted for most of next week. We're please to see the rain and snow, but it frustrates us to see sprinklers on when it's raining.

It's a waste.

So double check to make sure the sprinklers are off at your home or office.

CCWD Will Pay Up To $500 To Remove Your Lawn

2009-12-01T14:04:00.000-08:00

CCWD has launched a new program that will pay you an incentive of up to $500 to remove the front lawn of your home and replace the grass with drought-tolerant plants or even selected types of artificial lawn.

The District’s Pilot Water-Efficient Landscape Rebate Program provides an incentive to property owners to replace high-water use lawns with low-water use landscape plants and
shrubs.

The program offers customers fifty cents per square foot to replace eligible lawn areas with water-efficient landscaping using plants and shrubs with low water requirements.

It is open to residential and non-residential customers who receive treated water in the CCWD retail and wholesale service areas.

CCWD will rebate residential customers up to $500 (one thousand square feet of lawn removed).

Non-residential customers can receive up to $5,000 (ten thousand square feet of lawn removed).

You need to follow all the steps to qualify for the money. Look here for more information.

December Water Saving Tips

During December there are a number of things to do to keep your garden looking good while saving water.

* Rake up fallen leaves and put them in your compost pile. Never use a blower to clean out shrub beds as it can blow out mulch and topsoil and expose plant roots.

* Turn off the watering system completely. Only water manually if we don’t receive rain for two to three weeks. Remember, some lawns will go partially dormant and turn brown in the winter if we have a cold spell. They don’t need irrigation. They will bounce back in spring when the weather warms up.

* Don’t mow lawns when they are wet. This will cause soil compaction and hurt the quality of the lawn. Wait until the grass is dry even if it takes an extra week or so.

Looking For Water Saving Plant Ideas?

Stop by our nearly one-acre Demonstration Garden at CCWD’s District Center office at 1331 Concord Ave. in Concord.

The garden has more than 50 types of drought-tolerant plants ranging from sea lavender to the California fuchsia. We also have trees such as the desert willow and pomegranate.

The garden was originally planted in 1991 to replace a large water-drinking lawn. It was refurbished this year with more plants and a modern irrigation system.

It is one of 78 Demonstration Gardens in California recognized by the Water Education Foundation, The Bureau of Reclamation and the California Urban Water Conservation Council.

The garden now uses one-third of the water that the old lawn consumed….and we never have to mow it!

CCWD Water Customers Have Saved 20 Percent Since May 1

2009-11-13T14:14:00.000-08:00

CCWD customers continue to save even more water, and their savings now totals 20 percent between May 1 and Oct. 31.

This remains a remarkable result, and well above our original goal of 15 percent. Since the Drought Management Program began in May, our customers have consistently been at or above the goal.

The savings are compared to average water used in the years 2005, '06 and '07.

Of course, the drought is far from over. As fall ends and winter arrives, we're losing potential rainy days. It will take more than average rain and snowfall in California to get us out of drought conditions.

In November, with its shorter days, we advise that you water your lawn only once a week, and your trees and shrubs don't need any watering at all.

Customers Recognized For Saving Water

CCWD's Board of Directors recognized two of its customers for saving water in October.

The City of Pleasant Hill was honored for proactively managing 65 landscape irrigation accounts and reducing consumption by more than 50 percent, saving at least 4.5 million gallons since May 2009.

The Dana Hills Homeowners’ Association in Clayton was also honored for continuing its active management of its landscape and saving more than 1.5 million gallons since May 2009 compared to its historical use.

Car Wash and Mulch Coupons End Nov 1.

2009-10-21T07:29:00.000-07:00

CCWD's popular car wash and mulch discount coupon programs end on Sunday, Nov. 1

The coupons are designed to promote water savings. The car wash program coupons apply only to 11 local car washes that recycle water. So with the expected sunny weather this weekend, go out and wash your car, and save a little money.

With the mulch program,local nurseries and garden centers are giving discounts of all kinds on purchasing mulch. Mulch will help you save water in your yard, and will also cut down on weeding.

So get out there and mulch!

Don't Forget To Cut Back Your Sprinkler Timers

With shorter days, and thankfully some rainy weather , don't forget to reduce the days of your automatic sprinkler timers.

In October, we recommend watering your lawn only twice a week, and your trees only once a week.

Replace Your Timer's Backup Battery With The Time Change

Most people replace their smoke alarm batteries when the time changes each spring and fall. Don't forget to replace your sprinkler timer's backup battery as well.

In some digital models, if the power goes out and the backup battery is dead, when power it restored the timer will revert to a default mode. So instead of having a finely-tuned water-saving irrigation system, you'll probably have one that wastes water, and you may not even know it.

Turn Down Your Sprinkler Timers!

2009-10-02T15:10:00.000-07:00

There's little doubt that fall has finally arrived in Contra Costa, with shorter days and cool brisk mornings and evenings.

This is a great -- and really easy -- opportunity to save a lot of water, by turning down your sprinkler timers.

CCWD's Conservation staff recommends that during October you need to water the lawn only twice a week, and the shrubs only once a week.

Many people forget to change their sprinkler timer schedules. With the shorter and cooler days, you just don't need so much water.

District Honors Water Savers

The Contra Costa Water District Board of Directors honored four of its customers in October for saving water.

Board President Joseph L. Campbell said CCWD customers have been saving water, "and we thought we'd recognize some people who are doing it well."

Concord Mayor Laura Hoffmeister, Concord's Director of Public Works Alex Pascual and Public Works Horticulture Advisor Scott Vasquez represented the city at the ceremony. The city began to plan early for the potential of the drought, used CCWD rebates to upgrade central irrigation controls and has saved more than 9.7 million gallons of water during the summer months of July and August. Mayor Hoffmeister said the city's water-saving efforts have "gone much smoother than we expected," and lauded the city staff's efforts to find creative solutions to the problems presented by having less water available.

Roy and Rosadelia Detwiler of Concord were recognized for their water saving efforts in their landscaping at their home. They have converted both their front and back yards into beautiful drought-tolerant landscapes. They reduced their water use by more than 30 percent and are saving an average of 160 gallons of water per day. They have been featured on the television program 'Water Matters' and their house is also a stop on the "Bringing Back the Natives" garden tour that CCWD sponsors. You can see the Water Matters segment on their home here.

The David Deutscher Company in Pleasant Hill was honored for a project in which it has removed more than a third of an acre of turf grass and updated its existing sprinkler system with a modern drip system. The company expects to cut 50 percent of its water use with the changes.

Also honored were James and Stacey Morikawa of Concord who have been featured on a CCWD web video for saving more than 1,600 gallons of water per day following a CCWD Home Water Use Survey. You can see a video on their story here.

Mulch and Car Wash Coupons Good Only Through Nov. 1

Don’t forget to use our Mulch and Car Wash coupons before their Nov. 1 experation date. We can save you money when buying mulch at 30 local nurseries, which saves water in the garden and at local car washes that recycle their water.

ow Pay Your Water Bill With A Credit Card Online

You can now pay your Contra Costa Water District bill online with a credit card.

It's an easy and fast way to pay your water bill. Take a look here.

You will need you account number to complete the transaction.

Customers Continue to Conserve! Good Job!!!

2009-09-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

Contra Costa Water District customers have reduced summer water consumption by 18 percent overall, beating the District's goal of 15 percent.

“Our customers are showing how committed they are to water conservation,” said CCWD General Manager Walter J. Bishop.

"Our customers are being extremely responsive to the reality that the state is in a third year of drought and may face more dry years ahead,” Mr. Bishop said. “Water conserved now will be supply insurance for next year should conditions remain dry."

Through August, 85 percent of the District’s treated-water customers maintained water use within their water budgets, saving water and money. Only about 15 percent, meanwhile, either increased water usage relative to historical use or failed to live within their requested water budget.

Take a Look at New CCWD Videos

We have four videos online we thought may be helpful.

Two of the videos are short segments from the "Water Matters' NBC 11 television show that will air for the final time on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 10:30 a.m. The other two were produced by CCWD.

We expect to produce more videos, including a step by step series on how our Water Conservation Supervisor is removing the lawn in front of his home.

All the videos are short, and we hope you find them useful.

See how CCWD performs a How Water Use Survey.

Learn how to read your water meter.

See how a local family has turned their front and back yards into drought-tolerant gardens.

See how one family is saving 1,633 gallons of water per day.

CCWD Has Rebates on 'Smart' Sprinkler Controllers

The use of “smart” irrigation controllers in home landscaping systems is the biggest breakthrough in outdoor water savings since the introduction of drip irrigation some 30 years ago.

With most controllers, the irrigation systems go on when the rains stop in the spring. The programs run on the same schedules regardless of temperatures, different humidity conditions, and length of days. Frequently, plants receive either too much or too little water, because the amounts do not change and the conditions do.

“Smart” controllers can save a significant amount of water because they are programmed with three types of additional information: Built-In logic, Entered Data, and Real-Time Data.

1)The first category, Built-In Logic, has solar radiation values for every micro-climate by postal zip code or latitude. Some systems can even measure solar radiation on site.

2) Entered Data includes information about each zone to be watered, including soil type, plant type, irrigation type (sprinklers or drip) and slope.

3) Real-Time Data uses on-site sensors or wireless ET weather date service to provide fast response to unexpected rain storms or heat waves.

These new Smart irrigation controllers range in price from $200 to about $700, depending on which features you need or want. Most include pre-purchase training to ensure correct installation and optimum performance. Some brands allow discounts for upgrades.

CCWD offers rebates on these controllers for commercial and residential use, we have more information here.

Now Pay Your Water Bill With A Credit Card Online

You can now pay your Contra Costa Water District bill online with a credit card.

It's an easy and fast way to pay your water bill. Take a look here.

You will need you account number to complete the transaction.

Water Conservation Classes Coming Up

Two classes are coming up at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek.

Lawn Removal September 19, 10 a.m.-noon
Presenter: Kat Weiss
Ready to ditch your lawn and put in a low-water landscape instead? Learn how to remove and replace your lawn in this hands-on workshop.

Composting for Families October 3, 10 a.m. -12 noon
Presenter: Karen Gardner
Anyone from the age of 7 to 101 is welcome at this family-friendly workshop on home composting. Learn about different methods of turning your food scraps into plant food.

For more information, pricing and reservations, contact the Ruth Bancroft Garden.

Tour CCWD Water Facilities Sept. 18 & Oct. 9

2009-08-26T15:58:00.000-07:00

Curious to see how your water gets to you, where it’s pumped from or how it’s treated?

CCWD offers four tours of its facilities to its customers each year, and two of these popular tours are coming up this fall.

These bus tours are educational outings that include visits to a water treatment plant, an intake facility and Los Vaqueros.

The tour on Friday, Sept. 18 has many seats available, and the Friday, Oct. 9 tour has a few.

The tours depart from the Concord District Center (1331 Concord Ave., Concord) at 8 a.m. We aim to return by 3:30 p.m. and lunch is provided.

Sign-ups are on a first-come, first-served basis. If you can’t make these fall dates, but are interested, we’ll put your name on a list for the spring.

There is no cost, and only CCWD customers may attend. These tours are offered for adults over 18 only. Please send an e-mail, or call (925) 688-8175.

Shorter Days Mean Less Water Demand

Your lawn and landscape plants will begin to demand less water during August. This is because the time between sunrise and sunset is getting shorter. By the middle of August, reduce your watering run times by a couple of minutes on each station. Alternatively, you can reduce the weekly watering schedule by one day.

Mulch Program Continues To Grow

We now have 21 stores that offer discounts on buying mulch through our "Mulch, Mulch, Mulch" program.

Mulch is a great way to save water, especially around shrubs and trees, and prevent weed growth.

Different stores have different discounts, but we're sure you can find one that meets your needs.

Water Matters This Saturday

NBC 11 will air "Water Matters" on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 3 p.m.

The show features a segment on CCWD that includes how one family has transformed their front and back yard into low-water gardens, and what's involved in a CCWD home water survey.

Free High-Efficiency Toilets Available in Antioch

2009-08-19T10:44:00.000-07:00

A company in Antioch is using CCWD's high-efficiency toilet voucher program to make free toilets available to District customers.

Southwest Environmental is making the 1.6 gallon per flush toilets available for free, and has a selection of models, including some with the dual flush feature that is gaining popularity and saves even more water.Here is more information on their web site:

You need to get a voucher from CCWD to get the toilet, and still need to have it installed.

One Customer Is Saving 1,633 Gallons of Water Per Day!

Take a look at this video of a Concord family that has made some simple changes, and are now saving a lot of money and an average of 1,633 gallons of water per day. The video is not even three minutes long.

Now Pay Your Water Bill With A Credit Card Online!

You can now pay your Contra Costa Water District bill online with a credit card.

It's an easy and fast way to pay your water bill. Take a look here.

You will need you account number to complete the transaction.

"Beat The Drought" Kiosks Now At Martinez, Brentwood Libraries

Our 'Beat the Drought' electronic kiosks have moved again, and are now at the Martinez and Brentwood libraries.

Stop in and take a look, both kiosks have water saving quizzes and games. You can even test your knowledge of Hollywood movies with water themes.

Classes Coming Up In September

The Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek is a great place to visit and get ideas on ways to save water, and still have a beautiful garden.

There are a bunch of classes coming up in September, including one on ways to remove your lawn.

Wow!!!! CCWD Customers Have Saved 19%

2009-08-11T14:35:00.000-07:00

In the first three months of CCWD's Drought Management Program, customers have saved 19 percent, exceeding the goal by a healthy margin.

“Our customers in Central and Eastern Contra Costa County are doing an outstanding job of conserving water,” said General Manager Walter J. Bishop. “The focus of the program is reducing outdoor water use and the data so far shows our customers have responded in a positive way. Their efforts are appreciated. We also know that our customers are seeing conservation benefits in their pocketbooks because at the same time they’re saving water, they’re saving money, too.”

The District’s 15 percent drought management program started May 1. The program did not raise water rates. The District sent proposed water budgets to all customers and informed them that excess-use fees would be applied to customers who increase water use or consume more than 1000 gallons per day. The excess-use fee was designed to give customers a financial incentive to conserve water.

Read CCWD's News Release

Our Surveyors Track Down A Hot Leak

A "hot leak" might be a great source of newsworthy information for a news reporter, but in the water industry a hot leak is NOT what you would expect.

One of our water surveyors was working at a customers' home helping them save water, and was puzzled by an apparent leak. The water meter's "low flow" indicator kept turning, no matter where he looked at the house. Most leaks reveal themselves after some investigation. The usual suspects of a leaky toilet or sink were ruled out, as was the sprinkler system.

Still, the indicator on the water meter kept spinning.

Finally, he noticed a wet spot next to the side of the house. He touched the ground, and the ground and the mud were warm! Which is really weird, and the last thing he expected outside a home.

It took awhile to figure out, but the warm water was coming from a hot water pipe next to the house. The older home was built on a concrete slab and at some point a hot water pipe buried in the concrete broke. Rather than cut into the concrete, a new hot water pipe was laced through the house and then outside it into the ground.

It was here where the leak was taking place, wasting water and energy at the same time. When our surveyor turned off the water to the water heater, the indicator stopped spinning.

The homeowner called a plumber right away.

A Great Resource For Drought Resistant Plants, and a Super Video

The UC Davis Arboretum's web site is a wonderful resource for looking for drought resistant plants that will thrive in Contra Costa County.

Look for this list of plant "all-stars."

Also, there is a great video on the Arboretum that will give you all kinds of ideas for planting in your yard.

Classes For Professional Irrigators Coming Up

EBMUD is again hosting Irrigation Association classes at its West Oakland facility. Once again SpotWater Management will be conducting the classes and handling all registration (except for the exam registration which the Irrigation Association handles).

There will have an Irrigation Contractor class on Oct. 29 and 30, and a Landscape Irrigation Auditor class on Nov. 9 and 10. The certification exam for both classes will be held at the same location on Nov. 11. Remember that the IA requires that exam registration be completed at least 30 days before an exam, so that is October 11.

Please email SpotWater Management if you have questions about the course content and for registration information at info@spotwater.com.

Make Your Garden Part of 'Bringing Back The Natives' Tour

2009-07-30T15:36:00.000-07:00

If you have a garden or yard that has more than 50 percent native plants, you may want to be part of next year's "Bringing Back The Natives Garden Tour."

The tour is set for Saturday, May 2, 2010 and includes gardens in both Alameda and Contra Costa County. More than 50 gardens are featured, and yours could be included as well.

CCWD has long been a sponsor of the award-winning tour since drought-tolerant native plants are featured in the gardens.

Lawns Are Water Guzzlers

We've heard from customers that keeping lawns healthy during the drought is one of their biggest challenges in saving water. We have a good guide to keeping your lawn going even with less water. It's called Drought Survival 101, and you can see it online.

The Santa Clara Water Agency estimates that by cutting your watering times by one minute, you'll save 20 gallons of water per day.

Mulch & Car Wash Coupon Programs Continue To Do The Job

CCWD’s “Mulch, Mulch, Mulch” and “Smart Wash Car Wash” programs have been very successful.

There’s no limit on how often you use the coupons. So print some coupons, then stop by the nursery and throw some bags of mulch in the trunk, then detour to the car wash and save some water there.

Water Matters Gets Additional Air Dates

Water Matters, a half-hour show on local water issues, has been given six additional air dates on NBC Channel 11

The show has segments on three water districts, including CCWD.

The District segment features Assistant General Manager Greg Gartrell and Water Conservation Supervisor Chris Dundon, along with customers who are saving water in their drought-resistant yards.

Here's the schedule for the show, sponsored in part by CCWD. The web page devoted to the program is here.

Saturday, Aug.8 noon

Sunday, Aug. 16 10am

Saturday, Aug. 29 3pm

Sunday, Sept. 6 10am

Sunday Sept. 13 9pm (post NFL)

Saturday Sept. 26 10:30am

Huell Howser To Feature CCWD

Speaking of television shows, TV personality Huell Howser interviewed Greg Gartrell earlier this week for a future feature on his California Water series titled “Tap Water: The Drink of Choice”.

Greg and Huell discussed the water quality benefits that Los Vaqueros provides for Contra Costa Water District customers. They also discussed the watershed’s beneficial habitat and recreation opportunities.

Filming is underway and the segment is schedule to be available this fall.

CCWD To Stop Filling Los Vaqueros on Aug. 1

The Contra Costa Water District will stop filling Los Vaqueros on Aug. 1. The reservoir will be about 88 percent filled at that time.

Water quality in the Delta is dropping, so the District will most-likely soon be using water stored at Los Vaqueros, meaning the reservoir water level will start heading down.

Drip Systems Explained at Ruth Bancroft & Markham Gardens

2009-07-24T13:02:00.000-07:00

Drip irrigation will be explained at two of the area's most beautiful gardens in August.

A new summer workshop series at the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek launches with a talk on drip irrigation by Water Management Trainer and Landscape Designer Lori Palmquist on Saturday, Aug. 18 and continues through October with other topics ranging from Lawn Removal to Harvesting Rainwater.

CCWD is a co-sponsor of these talks.

The cost is:

$20 for Ruth Bancroft Garden Members
$20 for Garden Conservancy Members
$25 for the General Public

Sign up for three or more classes from the series, and receive a $10 discount!

Here's more information:

Markham Garden Also Has A Drip Irrigation Class

The Urban Farmer’s Tom Bressen will speak on "Making Every Drop Count Tips and Techniques for Landscape Watering" on Saturday, Aug. 8 from 10 a.m until noon.

Tom wrote a 32-page book on drip irrigation titled:"The Drip Irrigation Handbook"

The presentation will be held at the Garden Center Markham Nature Park and Arboretum,1202 La Vista Avenue in Concord.

The cost is $10.

Here's more information.

Wow! You've Been Replacing Toilets & Washers

CCWD's fiscal year closed on June 30, and our customers have been working hard to save water by buying high-efficiency appliances.

Rebates for high-efficiency washing machines were up 57 percent when compared to a year ago, with 3,600 rebates provided. You can earn a rebate of up to $200 on a new-approved high-efficiency washing machine.

Rebates for high-efficiency toilets were up 37 percent with 2,300 rebates provided. You can earn up to $175 for an approved high-efficiency toilet.

The nice thing about these rebates is that the new toilets and washers will be saving water for many, many years into the future.

CCWD's rebate program is unchanged for the new fiscal year, but the funds that pay the rebates have limits.

We suggest you buy new toilets and washers as soon as comfortably possible to ensure that you get the rebate you're entitled to.

Look here for more information on CCWD rebates.

Water Matters Saturday

Water Matters' the half-hour television special that discusses local water issues and ways to save water, is now on the air.

Co-sponsored by CCWD, the Marin Water District and the Sonoma County Water Agency, the program discusses local water issues and ways you can save water at home.

The CCWD segment includes a portion on Los Vaqueros, what's involved with a CCWD home water survey, and living with a drought resistant front and back yard.

You can see it this Saturday at 11 a.m. on NBC 11, it will also be on the air again Sunday, Sept. 13 at 9 p.m after the NFL game)

Look here for more information on Water Matters.

With Crazy Weather, Here's a Hint For Knowing When to Water

With our weather being hot one week, and downright cool the next, it's hard to know when's a good time to water your lawn.

In our "Drought 101" phamplet, we advise people to watch their lawn. "If your lawn takes on a blue-grey tone or the grass blades don't spring back after you walk on in, it's time to water."

Cover That Pool, Save Water & Money

2009-07-22T15:56:00.000-07:00

If you have a swimming pool, the automatic filling mechanism makes it difficult to know how much water you’re losing to evaporation since the pool is always full.

There are many variables to water loss in a pool, such as wind, how much sun is on your pool, temperature at night and during the day, the size of your pool, how often it’s used, and humidity. But you can lose up to 1.5 inches of water per week in your pool due to evaporation. Unless you have a little pool, that's a lot of water.

One way to cut down water loss is with a pool cover. It keeps the water where it belongs, and can also cut your chemical loss, saving money in two areas.

So, take a look at a pool cover. CCWD recommends you consider the type of pool cover that can support a person’s weight if someone were to fall in.

The Department of Energy has a good guide to pool covers.

Water Matters on NBC 11

Look for a new television show on NBC 11 that focuses on how local people are saving water.

CCWD is one of three water districts in the Bay Area sponsoring the television show “Water Matters.” The half-hour show covers all kinds of topics about water, including lots of practical tips for saving water.

Part of the show tells how CCWD gets its water, and follows a District Home Water Use Survey. There is also a visit with a local family who has installed beautiful drought-resistant gardens in their front and back yards that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.

The show is set for:

Saturday, July 25: 11 a.m.
&
Sunday, September 13 9 p.m. after the football game.

We’ll expect to soon have clips from the show on our website: www.ccwater.com

City of Clayton Asking For Water Waste Help

The City of Clayton – recently named by Money Magazine 87th among the “100 Best Places to Live” – is asking for help in finding water waste due to broken sprinklers.

An exhibit in the Clayton Library asks people to help the city to find broken sprinklers at homes, on median strips and parks by calling City Hall at 673-7300 or sending an e-mail through its website.

In addition, the city has relaxed its rules requiring that lawns stay green.

Good job, Clayton!

You Can Call Us As Well

If you see water waste in any area of the District, call our Water Savings Team at (925) 688-8044 or by sending an e-mail to jfreschi@ccwater.com

Include as much information as you think we'll need to solve the problem.

We’ve had hundreds of calls, and nearly all of them have been solved after a visit from our Water Savings Team. Thanks

Mulch & Car Wash Coupon Programs Have Been Huge Successes

CCWD’s “Mulch, Mulch, Mulch” and “Smart Wash Car Wash” programs have been very successful.

There’s no limit on how often you use the coupons. So print some coupons, then stop by the nursery and throw some bags of mulch in the trunk, then detour to the car wash and save some water there. Drive home with a clean car; put some mulch in the garden and save even more water.

Water Conservation Kiosks Move

Our popular “Beat the Drought” Water Conservation kiosk is now at the Clayton Library and will soon be at the Bay Point Library. Look for the blue kiosk, and see how Hollywood has glamorized water!

CCWD Customers Saved 15% ; Good Job!

2009-07-17T14:34:00.000-07:00

CCWD customers have certainly done their share to "Beat The Drought."

In May and June, they saved 15 percent, which is exactly on target for the District's Drought Management Program.

The 15 percent savings is compared to an average for the years 2005, '06 and '07. These are the same years the District uses as a base for comparisons as part of the "Drought Management Program."

We don't use 2008 as a comparison, since we had asked customers to voluntarily cut back that year, and many did.

In the first two months of the Drought Management Program, customers have responded exactly to the level we have asked them to. It's remarkable.

Of course July and August are usually the hottest months of the year, so customers need to keep on working at saving water. But if the keep doing what they have been, we should be in pretty good shape.

Our customers have been sending us ideas on how they save water at home, and you can read it here.

If you haven't done so already, ask our water surveyors to come out to your home. You can read about the program here, and sign up online.

Exceptions Not Retroactive

Some customers have waited until they receive their bill before filing for an exceptions request, which allow increases to their individual water budget due to changes in their home.

These changes range from having the in-laws move in to having a medical condition that requires more water.

The thing to remember: The exceptions request is not retroactive.

If you let us know that your circumstances have changed, after you receive your bill, it's too late. If the exception is granted, it only applies to future bills.

You can fill out an exceptions form online.

'Water Matters' Returns Sunday

"Water Matters," The half-hour television special that explores the drought, and also shows how different people are saving water, will air again on Sunday, July 19 at 3 p.m. on NBC 11.

The show features CCWD in one of its segments, showing what happens during a typical water survey, along with how one family has cut their water use dramatically by redesigning their year.

It will also be aired two more times:
Saturday, July 25: 11 a.m.
Sunday, September 13 9 p.m. (post NFL game)

Look here for more on the show, including viewing clips, please look here.

Water Saving Ideas From CCWD Customers

2009-07-13T13:33:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we asked our customers for some water-saving ideas, and they came through nicely with some sound ways to save water.

The ranged from saving water while waiting for the shower to warm up, to fixing faulty sprinkler control valves.

So please take a look, maybe there's an idea or two you can use to save water and some money as well.

Hot Weather & Saving Your Lawn & Plants

High temperatures in the Concord-area are expected to remain in the low 90s for next 10 days. So here are some ways to save your plants and keep your water bill low from Water Conservation Specialist Bob Eagle:

If you have plants that were shocked during the last heat wave, you may spray a special wax on them that will reduce water loss on hot afternoons. Ask at your local nursery for these waxes, that are also used as a natural insect repellent.

As for the rest of your yard, add mulch --if you haven't already-- to areas around your bushes, shrubs and near trees. Many local nurseries are participating in our Mulch, Mulch, Mulch program, that includes good-sized discounts for mulch when you print our coupons.

Another suggestion from Bob is for your lawn...usually the biggest water guzzler in most homes.

Mow the lawn at the highest level possible, like 2.5 to 3 inches. Bob says you then spread a thin layer -- about 1/4 inch -- of compost over the top of the lawn. This will keep moisture in your lawn. Bob says even in the heat, the most you need to water your lawn is about four times per week.

It's probably too late in the season to receive many benefits from aerating your lawn, said Bob.

Free Water Wise CD Available

Our popular custom Water Wise CD is available for free. It's designed especially for the conditions in the Contra Costa areas. If you're replacing water guzzling plants, or are redesigning your yard, this is the guide for you.

All you need to get one is be a CCWD customer, and sign up. We'll send the CD to your home.

The CD has all kinds information on plants that thrive in the Contra Costa area. It includes:"

* a comprehensive, easy-to-understand plant selection guide takes the guesswork out of plant placement and care, allowing the creation of a lush, healthy garden.

* tips on practical matters to consider before beginning a project to avoid costly mistakes

* examine the "dos and don'ts" of water-wise gardening

* learn how to determine water needs before you plant

* discover the best methods for eliminating pests

* try your hand at composting.

Looking For A Nice Simple Water Saving Video?

The California Water Awareness Campaign put together this 13-minute video with lots of practical hints for saving water. If you're new to the idea of saving water, this is a great way to see all the things you can do.

It will point you in the right direction to save water right away. Just for fun, many of the scenes were shot right here in Contra Costa County.

Have any questions about saving water?

Send us an e-mail, we answer promptly!

'Water Matters' Hits The Airwaves

2009-07-09T12:57:00.000-07:00

'Water Matters' the half-hour television special that discusses local water issues and ways to save water, is now on the air.

Co-sponsored by CCWD, the Marin Water District and the Sonoma County Water Agency, the program discusses local water issues and ways you can save water at home.

The CCWD segment includes a portion on Los Vaqueros, what's involved with a CCWD home water survey, and living with a drought resistant front and back yard.

So take a look at the CCWD section below, or see the entire half hour show when it airs again:

Here's the schedule for the remaining showings:

Friday, July 10: 11 a.m.
Sunday, July 12: 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, July 19: 3 p.m.
Saturday, July 25: 11 a.m.
Sunday, September 13 9 p.m. (post NFL game)

Keep An Eye On Your Irrigation Timer

One of our home water surveyors says she's noticing a trend in many homes that have gardeners taking care of the maintenance of the yard.

The gardeners are putting too much water on the lawn.

She said one home with a very large yard had the timers for the lawns set for three 12-minute cycles, every night of the week. With multiple stations, this home was wasting thousands of gallons of water every week.

With pop-up spray sprinklers, CCWD recommends that at the height of summer -- July when sunny days are longest and temperatures the hottest -- that the most you water a lawn is four days per week and three cycles of six-minutes per cycle. We recommend you start your cycles at around three or 4 a.m. and stop watering by 8 a.m. when evaporation and windy weather can literally steal the water you intended for your lawn, trees and shrubs.

That will keep your lawn alive, encourage deep root growth, save water and keep you closer to your water budget.

So have a conversation with your gardener and check your timer to make sure you're not wasting water.

The Cost of Leaky Faucets

A National Geographic publication titled "Water for Tomorrow" estimates that leaky faucets are costing American households more than 1 trillion gallons of water per year.

If you have a leaky faucet that loses 60 drops of water per minute, you'll waste nearly 6.4 gallons of water per day or 192 gallons of water per month. That could be enough to send you over your water budget.

Water Conservation Kiosks At New Locations

We moved our Water Conservation Information kiosks to new locations. You can now see them at the Ygnacio Valley and Pittsburg libraries. Ask us a question, and we'll send you the answer via e-mail.

Water Saving Ideas That Work From Our Customers

2009-07-02T13:12:00.000-07:00

We've asked our customers for some of their water saving ideas, and have been impressed by what we've seen so far.

Let us know how you're saving water, and we'll spread the word.

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"We have cut down our water use by 50 percent. We replaced our entire lawn with drought tolerant plants. We flush all toilets with water collected from showers. We replace bed linen less often, take shorter showers and reuse dish water to irrigate some plants. We collect rain water. Cover the pool to reduce evaporation and stress plants so they become less water dependent.

"We feel passionately about conserving water all the time, not only in drought years."

Ilana...Walnut Creek

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1. Heavily mulched all gardens
2. Collecting rinse water from washing machine to use in garden.
3. Collecting rinse water from kitchen & bathroom sinks.
4. Collecting water from shower until warm water starts flowing.
5. When working in yard, shower off with hose to cool down, clean up and water grass.
6. Only flush toilets when solid material present.
7. Fix leaks in sprinkler system and adjust sprinkler heads so no water goes on sidewalk.
8. Cut back lawn and garden watering to minimum required to keep plants alive.
9. Shut of water in shower and in sinks when soaping up. Never let it run.
10. Used CCWD Smart Car Wash coupons to have car washed instead of washing the cars myself.

"The coupons worked fine. The attendant recognized the coupon and the process was smooth. I’ve made additional copies of the coupon so that I can go to that car wash on a regular basis in the future."

Bryan...Concord

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"The biggest way we've saved water is by detecting and fixing a faulty timer on our irrigation system. CCWD was very helpful in ruling out a leak on its' end, thanks. Also, we have your shower timers in every bathroom, and we are all getting good at limiting scrub-downs to four minutes.

"We've actually reduced our usage by half since last year according to our bill (mostly because of fixing the irrigation timer).

"My husband and I paid closer attention to how our sprinklers were running and discovered a solenoid valve was running for hours instead of the mere minutes we'd programmed. Since we replaced the faulty valve and wiring our sprinklers shut off like they're supposed to and there's no more puddles in the street.

"Since responsible irrigators time their irrigation in the very early morning, we are not always awake to notice problems like this. It might be worth reminding customers to check on their systems during real-time runs to make sure problems don't go undetected for months (as ours unfortunately did). We only figured this out by getting up at 3-4 a.m. to check!

Jennifer...Walnut Creek

We have more correspondence from our customers and we'll publish them in the next installment of the blog, and we'll put them on our website at www.ccwater.com.

Watch "Water Matters" on NBC 11

We're excited about a television show that will be aired locally on saving water.

"Water Matters" was shot here in the Bay Area and features a number of local water districts, including CCWD.

The show not only discusses our water situation, but also many ways to save water, including visits to local homes where there have been dramatic water savings.

Here are the air times:

Thursday, July 9 11 a.m.
Friday, July 10 11 a.m.
Sunday, July 12 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, July 19 3 p.m.
Saturday, July 25 11 a.m.
Sunday, Sept. 13 9 p.m.

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Secrets of Irrigating Unveiled

CCWD Water Conservation Specialist Bob Eagle will speak to the Clayton Valley Garden Club Wednesday, July 8 at Diamond Terrace Retirement Community in Clayton at 7 p.m. Everyone is invited.

Bob will talk about the secrets of irrigating gardens successfully in Contra Costa County.

We Want Your Water-Saving Ideas

2009-06-30T16:50:00.000-07:00

We Want Your Water Saving Ideas

With CCWD’s Drought Management Plan nearly two months old, most of our customers are saving water….thank you and keep up the good work.

Our question is: how have you done it? We want to tell those who are having trouble what our successful customers are doing. So let us know if you’ve cut back on your outside watering, are taking shorter showers, did you buy a new high-efficiency clothes washer? Let us know what works. We’ll spread your knowledge and help others save. Send an e-mail or call (925) 688-8175.

Wait for Home Water Surveys Shorter Now

One of our most popular and useful services is the free Home Water Use Survey, where one of our water-saving experts will come to your home and show you how to save water.We’ve been offering these free surveys for more than 10 years. When the Drought Management Program was first announced in the spring, many people signed up and we had a long waiting list. We’ve worked our way through the list, and now the wait is much more manageable. Even if you had a survey a few years ago, and feel you might need a refresher, we’ll be happy to come back to your home and fine tune your water saving efforts. This is what we’ll do in the free survey

* Provide useful conservation tips to help you meet your Drought Management Program goals.

* Inspect irrigation stations, and provide a checklist of suggested improvements.
*

Provide irrigation scheduling information to assist you with programming your timer.
*

Check for signs of leaks
*

Demonstrate how to read your water meter and use it to monitor your use.
*

Provide high-efficiency showerheads and kitchen faucet aerators, if needed.

This free service is offered to residential customers in the CCWD service area.

. Sign up for a FREE Home Water Use Survey online. We'll call you to schedule a date.

Our New Water Calculator Helps Fine Tune Your Water Savings

If you’ve had a home water survey done, you know exactly how much water each of your irrigation systems uses per minute. Now, you can easily use that information – and our new online calculator – to fine tune your watering schedule, and know exactly how much water you’re saving.

Just enter the figures, and we’ll do the math instantly. You can make adjustments, and see how those ideas affect your water use.

More, More, More 'Mulch, Mulch, Mulch' Coupons

Last month, we introduced our “Mulch, Mulch, Mulch” program, in which you can print a coupon to get a discount on the price of mulch, which will save a lot of water in your garden.

Since then, we’ve added seven new locations and even better coupons, including Orchard Supply Hardware’s three stores within the District, four local Navlet’s centers and Village Nurseries in Brentwood. We’ve got coupons that will give you substantial discounts, whether you’re buying mulch in bulk or in bags.

Our Smart Car Wash discount program continues as well. You can use these coupons as often as you like to save money and water.

See Our New Water Conservation Kiosks at Local Libraries

2009-06-25T08:24:00.000-07:00

We have new water conservation kiosks touring local libraries this summer.

Now when you look for new books, you can also stop by our blue kiosk and pick up some water saving tips, take a quiz about water-themed movies, even ask a question online or sign up for a home water survey.

The kiosk are at the libraries in Antioch and Pleasant Hill this week and next, and will then head out to other libraries. We'll let you know where they're at. So please look for the kiosks and give them a test drive. Do you know how the James Bond movie "Quantum of Solace" is related to water?

In the photo, a library patron seeks water saving answers at our new kiosk at the Antioch Library.

Set Your Lawn Mower Higher, Save Water

As the weather is getting warmer, remember lawns are water guzzlers. Lawns are generally the single biggest water user for a typical property — offering the greatest potential for water savings.

If you have good reasons to keep your lawn, remember we all must reduce our water use. Here are some simple maintenance practices that will help it survive drought.

Mow lawns 2½ to 3 inches high. Taller blades promote deeper roots and provide shade for soil.

Adjust your watering schedule by reducing the number of watering days per week and make sure you are only watering early in the morning, between 3 a.m. and 8 a.m.

Trim grass adjacent to sprinkler head to ensure the sprinkler is not blocked.

Check your sprinkler heads on a regular basis to ensure they are not watering the sidewalk or fence.

Share Your Water-Saving Secrets

It's been nearly two months since CCWD started the Drought Management Program, and while we don't have all the figures in yet, it looks like people are saving quite a bit of water. Thank you.

We want to know how you are doing it, and want to share your knowledge with others.

We know many customers are putting a bucket in their shower, to collect cold water in the morning, and then using the water in the bucket for your plants. We also know that many of you have cut back your irrigation timers, and are watering in the early morning before it gets hot to ensure the water soaks into the ground.

But maybe you've come up with a new idea, or a twist on an old one.

Let us know, and we'll let our customers know here in the blog, tweets and on the web. Send Us An E-Mail With Your Idea or call (925) 688-8175.

Don't Overreact Outside Now That It's Warming Up

2009-06-18T15:10:00.000-07:00

The temperatures in eastern and central Contra Costa County are expected to warm up to normal for this time of year...but summer weather is not the time to pour a lot of water on your garden.

Even though it's warming up, don't go crazy and put extra water on your plants and lawn. We're still in a drought, and for most people most savings will come from watering their yards wisely and frugally.

Water Conservation Specialist Bob Eagle says the important thing is to stick to your schedule of watering early in the morning and for short cycles. Your lawn and plants will be fine in the warmer weather. "Don't overreact," warns Bob.

If you've been watering early and in short cycles, Bob said your plants and lawn will have developed the deep roots needed to stay healthy for the sunny weather. If you haven't been following these practices, it's a good time to start.

For more information on landscape irrigating, please look here. If you need a quick guide, we have 10 helpful tips here.

Some Folks Are Slipping On Following Water Rules

Our Water Surveyors are starting to see more instances of people forgetting the "Prohibited Uses of Water" during the District's Drought Management Program.

You can't wash your driveways, sidewalks and parkways with water, use a broom instead.

You also can't have excessive flooding or runoff of water. Keep sprinklers pointed in the right direction, don't over water.

If you're washing your car, trailer or boat, you must have a hose with with a shut off nozzle attached.

Look for the complete list of prohibited uses of water here.

See Water Waste? Call Our Water Savings Team at (925) 688-8044

If you suspect water waste in your neighborhood, call our CCWD Water Savings Team at (925) 688-8044 or send us an e-mail at jfreschi@ccwater.com.

Make sure to let us know what's happening, where , what time it's happening, and any other details that may help us solve the problem.

We've received hundreds of calls since the team was formed earlier this year, and we check up on each call. We talk to the people involved, and in most cases all it takes is a little education and the problem is solved.

Drought Management Program In Four Languages

We have now printed the Drought Management Program in four different languages: Spanish, Farsi, Tagalog and Chinese. Look here to download them.

Conservation Tip for June: Raise the lawn mowing height to 2-1/2” – 3”. This keeps lawns looking better all summer and saves water.

CCWD GM To Talk About Water At Commonwealth Club

2009-06-15T15:19:00.000-07:00

CCWD General Manager Walther J. Bishop will be one of four speakers at a Commonwealth Club presentation titled "California Parched: The Future of Water Policy in California" on June 25 in Lafayette.

Mr. Bishop will be joined by: Charles Hoppin, Chairman, State Water Resources Control Board; Richard Howitt, Professor and Department Chair, Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Davis; and Mark Schlosberg, California Director, Food & Water Watch.

Mike Taugher, Environmental Reporter for the Contra Costa Times, will be the moderator.

Mr. Bishop has been the General Manager of the Contra Costa Water District since 1992.

He is well known for his active leadership role in state and national water issues. At a national level, he has served an important role in shaping drinking water policy. He currently is a member of American Water Works Association’s (AWWA) Water Utility Council, International Council and Strategic Planning Committee. In 2004, he was elected Chair of the American Water Works Association Research Foundation (AwwaRF), the largest research organization dedicated to drinking water. He served on the AWWA Board of Directors and Executive Committee during his three-year term as the AwwaRF Chair.

He has been a two-term member of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council, which is chartered by Congress to advise the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on national drinking water policy. Mr. Bishop formed and then chaired the Leadership Center at the University of North Carolina School of Business for five years.

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Look up local city information on drought plans

Some of the cities within the Contra Costa Water District have started their own water conservation plans. If you live in one of these cities, take a look to make sure you understand the water savings goals you're expected to meet.

City of Martinez

City of Pittsburg

City of Antioch

Diablo Water District

Golden State Water Company (Bay Point)

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Mulching Essential To Saving Water Outside

Mulching is essential to the survival of your landscape during a drought. Mulch will reduce the amount of water that evaporates from your soil, greatly reducing your need to water your plants. Mulch also provides nutrients to sandy soil and improves its ability to hold water.

Roots like mulch. Mulch acts as an insulating layer on top of soil, keeping it cooler in the summer.

Gardeners like mulch. Mulch keeps weeds down, and the weeds that do grow are much easier to pull.

CCWD has introduced a mulch program providing coupons to save on mulch purchases from local nurseries and landscape material suppliers. Select a mulch supplier from our Web site, www.ccwater.com/conserve/mulch.asp, print out a coupon and save on your next mulch purchase!

For more drought survival tips, go to www.ccwater.com/conserve or check with your local water provider. For questions on the drought management program or your water allocation call the drought help line at 925-688-8009.

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Stop By The Green Fest Saturday

2009-06-12T09:34:00.000-07:00

CCWD's water conservation experts will be at the CCCAR Green Fest at Heather Farms on Saturday, June 13.

There will be a 5K run in the morning, and then a community festival. Please stop by our booth and ask any questions you have about conserving water and CCWD's Water Management Program. You can also pick up a free shower timer.

Here's a link to the event:

Our Water Meter Video Proves Popular

You never know what to expect when you post a video on You Tube. But when we posted our video on "How To Read Your Water Meter" about a month ago, we hoped a few people would find it helpful.

Well, the three-minute video featuring Water Conservation Specialist Bob Eagle has now been seen by more than 600 people.

That's more attention than we expected.

Hopefully the video, and our online water use calculator, helps you determine your water use in real time.

Local Websites That Can Help You With Your Water Conservation Plan

CCWD water is served to more than 550,000 people in central and eastern Contra Costa County.

If you live in a city that distributes water and bills you through the city, you may have a different conservation plan than CCWD's. Here are links to the cities that have their own versions of the water conservation plan. Wherever you live, the idea is the same: "Save Water & Beat The Drought."

City of Martinez

City of Pittsburg

City of Antioch

Diablo Water District

Golden State Water Company (Bay Point)

Want Even More Water Conservation Information?

The state has developed a neat website called "Save Our H2O." If you enjoy baseball, you'll get a kick out of a water conservation video with former Giants Manager Dusty Baker. There is also a neat water use calculator that can show you where you're using water.

Also, you can follow CCWD on "Twitter" We update it nearly everyday.

Some Good Tips To Save Water

2009-06-08T11:22:00.000-07:00

Here are a few actions you can take to meet the goal of CCWD's Drought Management Program.

# Reduce the number of lawn and landscape watering days per week. Landscape irrigation accounts for more than half of most residential customers use.

# Mulch your shrub areas and deep-soak them monthly only. Get discounts on mulch through our Mulch, Mulch, Mulch program,.

# Replace inefficient fixtures such as toilets, washers and showerheads. Check for rebates at www.ccwater.com.

# Stress your lawn areas. Lawns use the most water and are the easiest to come back.

To receive current drought information sign up for the CCWD Conservation E-Newsletter. For questions on water conservation programs, in-home surveys and rebates call 925-688-8320. For questions on your water allocation call the drought help line at 925-688-8009

Get Your Free Shower Timers

2009-05-29T16:59:00.000-07:00

Get Your Free Shower Timer
We now have free and nifty four-minute shower timers. They’re small, colorful and stick to your shower door. You have no excuse for taking a long water-wasting shower now.

You can pick them up at our offices at 1331 Concord Ave. in Concord on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

We’ll also have them at the CCWD booth at the "Emergency Preparedness Fair at the LDS Church in Pleasant Hill (555 Boyd Road) Saturday, May 30 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and the “Fit Fest Health Fair” Saturday, June 6th at Los Medanos College in Pittsburg.

Sunset Magazine Cites CCWD Website

Sunset Magazine's online "Kick the Water Habit" cites CCWD's Conservation website as one of nine sites for reliable information on water conservation. "This site, based in Northern California, is packed with stealable ideas on conservation, landscape design, and maintenance,” stated Sunset.

We loved the pat on the back and the Sunset article has all kinds of useful information on ways to save water.

Many, Many More High Efficiency Toilets

Participation in the District’s High Efficiency Toilet Rebate Program has nearly tripled this year. In fiscal year 2008, the District provided 683 toilet rebates to single family customers. Thus far in fiscal year 2009, the District has processed nearly 1,900 rebates. The program is helping customers meet their drought reduction goals – toilets are the single largest user of water inside most homes – and the new high-efficiency toilets will save water for decades to come.

Mulch Coupons Will Help You Save Water & Money: Watch For Misting Sprinklers

2009-05-27T13:29:00.000-07:00

We have another water-saving coupon offer available, this one called "Mulch, Mulch, Mulch"

This gives discounts of between 5 and 10 percent on purchases of mulch from seven local landscape companies.

Mulch is one of the easiest and most-effective ways to save water in your landscaping, it will also reduce weed growth. Read more about mulch in our Mulch 101 brochure.

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Our "Smart Wash Car Wash" program has three more local car washes signed up.

That brings the total to 11 local car washes that recycle water, and give you a discount ranging from $1 to more than $7.

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If your sprinklers cause excessive misting, there is a good chance your water pressure is too high. This wastes water, and plants don't get the water they need. There are several ways to correct the problem.

If the entire sprinkler system has high pressure, a single pressure regulator can fix the problem.

Alternatively, pressure-regulating sprinkler heads or pressure-compensating nozzles will remedy the problem for each individual sprinkler.

Talk to the folks at your local hardware store about pressure regulators, pressure-regulating sprinkler heads or pressure-compensating nozzles. In many cases, you can add pressure control discs to your existing nozzles.

Water Conservation -- & Free Shower Timers -- At CCWD Booth At Kidfest

2009-05-21T12:55:00.000-07:00

If you're staying in town this weekend, one "staycation" place to visit is KidFest in Concord's Todos Santos Plaza in downtown.

There are lots of booths, lots of music, food and the whole thing is geared for kids.

CCWD is a co-sponsor of this event, and we're using the opportunity to talk about water conservation. We'll have our water publications and experts on hand who can answer your questions about saving water.

You can also pick up one of our new free shower timers that will help you limit the amount of time you spend in the shower. These rugged timers are set for four minutes and stick onto the shower door or tile.

We'll see you there.

CCTimes Produces Impressive "Managing Our Water" Special Section

2009-05-18T15:15:00.000-07:00

The Contra Costa Times and the San Jose Mercury produced an impressive special section all about regional water issues titled "Managing Our Water" on Sunday.

The section tells the story of water in California, including lots of resources for saving water and beating the drought.

You can read nearly all the stories in the special sections below:

California's Broken System For Water Delivery

San Francisco, Other Cities That Draw Water From Hetch Hetchy in Better Shape

Water Shortage: Bay Area Faces First Drought in Nearly 20 Years

Getting Your Water Use Under Control

How to Find Enthusiasm In Drought Time Gardening

With Little Water Coming in, Small Towns Face Extinction

Silicon Valley Stores Water in Vast Bank

Eliminate Overspray From Lawn Sprinklers

2009-05-15T07:52:00.000-07:00

This week's Water Wise Tip looks at eliminating overspray from your lawn sprinklers at home.

# Check sprinklers for overspray onto adjacent pavement, walls, fences, decks and homes.

# Overspray will waste a lot of water and can cause severe property damage.

# One of the primary reasons homeowners replace fences is because of rotting fence posts. This rotting is primarily a result of the post's repeatedly getting wet and dry from sprinklers.

# You can save water and increase the life of your fence and other structures by eliminating overspray.

For more drought survival tips, go to www.ccwater.com/conserve or to schedule a free home water use efficiency evaluation, call 925-688-8320. For questions on the drought management program or your water allocation, call the drought help line at 925-688-8009 or contact your water provider.

Nice Story on Drought-Tolerant Gardening

2009-05-13T07:44:00.000-07:00

There's a nice story in the San Francisco Chronicle today on drought-tolerant gardening.

The surprise is there are some cantaloupe varieties (the Bush Star, an F-1 hybrid) that don't need a lot of water, are good to eat and grow quickly.

Here are some tips from the story:

-- Space your plants farther apart than suggested to give the roots more space to search for water.

-- Plant cool-season crops or crops that prefer a good watering in sunken beds that gather water. This will also create a cooler microclimate.

-- Mulching with flat stones will also help keep the ground cooler and wetter while absorbing heat to be released at night thereby moderating the microclimate.

-- Plant your veggie patch in a place sheltered from prevailing winds. You can also contour your beds to direct water flow and to prevent it from escaping.

-- Deeper, infrequent watering will help edibles to develop deeper root systems that will further help them tolerate drought. Consider a rain barrel to collect extra water for irrigation in dry times. You can also recycle your gray water.

-- Allow plants that root on the stems like squash and tomatoes to sprawl on the ground, further increasing their ability to mine water.

-- Gardening in the shade of trees or large shrubs is an excellent way to save water.

CCWD has put together a nice guide that will help you

New Car Wash Coupons Save Water & Money

2009-05-07T16:15:00.000-07:00

We've started a neat new program that will help you save water and money when you wash your car.

We have a list of eight local car washes that recycle the water they use.

Print out a coupon, take it with you to the car wash and present it when you pay. You can save a little bit of money (ranging from $1 to more than $5) while saving water and keeping your car clean.

Most people who wash their cars at home use about 100 gallons of water, these car washes will use less than 30.

Keep Those Sprinklers Turned Off For At Least A Week

2009-05-04T16:34:00.000-07:00

With this weekend's rain, and a little more forecast for tonight and tomorrow, remember to turn off your irrigation sprinkler system.

Between 1/3-inch and up to one inch of spring rain has been recorded so far within CCWD boundaries during the past three days, and that's more than enough precipitation to help you save water by turning off your automatic sprinklers.

Water Conservation Supervisor Chris Dundon said the unseasonable moisture was enough to keep sprinklers off for at least a week, depending on how much of the expected sunshine follows this storm. "This rainstorm will help you start saving water for the Drought Management Program if you just turn off the sprinklers for awhile."

"Bringing Back the Natives" This Sunday

2009-04-30T07:25:00.000-07:00

CCWD is a long-time sponsor of the award-winning "Bringing Back the Natives" tour of local gardens that use native plants to save water and have a beautiful garden.

More than 50 gardens located throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties will be showcased on this tour, which will take place on Sunday, May 3.

In addition as part of the Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour, a number of native plant nurseries—most not normally open to the public—will be open on Saturday, May 2 and Sunday May 3, from 10 to 5. Take advantage of this opportunity to shop for unique or hard-to-find native plants that are not normally available in most nurseries! You do not need to register for the Tour in order to shop at these nurseries on the weekend of the extravaganza.

Drought Management Program Begins May 1

2009-04-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

Contra Costa Water District Meter Readers will be working long hours and through the weekend starting May 1 as part of the District’s Drought Management Program.

The Drought Management Program begins on the first day of May.

So that all CCWD customers will start the water-saving program at the same time, more than 60,000 water meters will be read during the first week of May.

Meter readers will be seen in neighborhoods on Saturdays and Sundays, and much earlier and later in the day than normal. All meter readers will be wearing orange CCWD shirts and safety vests and will be carrying their CCWD identification card.

Though meters will be read to establish the starting point for the Drought Program, customers will receive their water bills at close to their normal time frames. The bills will explain charges under the Drought Management Program and under normal billing.

Have a question?Please send an email or call the CCWD Drought Center at (925) 688-8009.

Tips From Our Customers For Saving Water

2009-04-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

With California suffering from drought conditions, the Contra Costa Water District offers weekly tips on using water wisely.

CCWD has had its water supply reduced by its supplier, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. CCWD has planned for a reduction and has secured additional water to make up most of the reduction, however, to meet the full reduction, CCWD is asking its customers to reduce until further notice.

Residential customers are asked to reduce water use compared to their historical use. CCWD recently sent a letter to all customers showing their individual water budgets to meet the reduction goal.

We have received great suggestions from many customers on how to reduce. Here are just a few:

# Water one less day than normal.

# Reduce the number of minutes on the irrigation schedule by 15 percent.

# Cut the water on a lawn that needs to be replaced by adding drought-tolerant plants.

# Replace that old water-guzzling toilet with a new high-efficiency toilet. (CCWD and other water providers have rebates.)

# Install a high-efficiency shower head (CCWD has free shower heads, just stop by our office at 1331 Concord Ave. between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.).

# Read your water meter every few weeks to monitor usage. CCWD has a tip sheet for this, where we do the math, and a video as well.

For more conservation information and drought survival tips, visit www.ccwater.com/conserve.

Lots of Great Ideas on Saving Water With Your Lawn

2009-04-21T08:21:00.000-07:00

Lawns are generally the single biggest water user for a typical property — offering the greatest potential for water savings.

If the only time you walk on your lawn is to mow, consider eliminating turf areas and plan a new landscape with permeable materials and native plants. CCWD has a CD available for District customers for your computer that will help you find attractive water-saving plants. You can order it here, it's free.

If you have good reasons to keep your lawn, remember we all must reduce our water use. Your lawn may not look its best this year, but here are some simple maintenance practices that will help it survive drought.

# Mow lawns 2½ to 3 inches high. Taller blades promote deeper roots and provide shade for soil.

# Don't fertilize. Actively growing plants need more water, and fertilizers can damage already stressed root systems.

# Trim grass adjacent to sprinkler head to ensure the sprinkler is not blocked.

# Reduce the watering schedule and make sure you are only watering early in the morning (between 3 and 8 a.m.).

For more drought survival tips, go to www.ccwater.com/conserve or to schedule a free home water use efficiency evaluation, call 925-688-8320. For questions on the drought management program or your water allocation, call the drought help line at 925-688-8009. Those living outside the district should call their water provider for information and assistance.

Meet us at the John Muir Earth Day Celebration Saturday

2009-04-16T16:16:00.000-07:00

CCWD will have a water conservation booth at the John Muir Birthday -Earth Day Celebration in Martinez Saturday, April 18.

Be sure to stop by our booth, and say hello. Also, feel free to ask any questions about water conservation, our drought management plan and more. Be sure to mention you read about it in the blog!

The celebration will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the John Muir National Historic Site, located at 4202 Alhambra Ave. in Martinez.

This is a fun day, with lots of neat things to see and do. Read more about it here.

Lots of Good Ideas On Saving Water in CC Times

2009-04-13T14:55:00.000-07:00

The Contra Costa Times ran an informative article with lots of good ideas on saving water in the home.

You can read it here:

CCWD offers rebates on new high efficiency toilets and clothes washers and you can pick up free low-flow showerheads at CCWD's Main Office at 1331 Concord Ave. in Concord.

April Water Saving Tip of the Month -- Aerate

April is a good month to aerate your lawn. Aerating reduces soil compaction, allows air, water, and fertilizer to get to the roots; producing a healthy lawn, and improving water use efficiency.

Brochures on Drought Information Now Available

2009-04-06T16:01:00.000-07:00

Brochures with more details on CCWD's Drought Management Program are now available online.

These brochures will be sent in the mail this week to CCWD customers in an envelope with a red note on it that states: "Drought Information."

In addition to the brochures, there will be individual information on historical water use for each of the six billing periods during the year, and the water budget.

The brochures are specific to the following rate classes:

Single Family Residential

Multi-Family Residential

Commercial

An additional brochure for irrigation customers will be available, and I'll post it when it's complete.

Many have asked about the exceptions form. This PDF is available now, we expect to have an online version this week.

Remember, the program does not start until May 1.

Please write if you have any questions, or if I can be of any further service.

Drought Management Program Starts May 1

2009-04-04T07:40:00.000-07:00

In yesterday's post, I inadvertantly published the wrong date for the start of CCWD's 15% Drought Management Program.

The program starts May 1.

My apologies. You can read more about the program -- with all the correct dates -- here.

See you at the Home and Garden Show this weekend at the Sleep Train Pavilion in Concord!

See us at the Home and Garden Show This Weekend!

2009-04-03T10:57:00.001-07:00

CCWD will have a booth at the Home and Garden Show this weekend at the Sleep Train Pavilion in Concord.

We'll be there to answer all your questions about the saving water and the new 15% Drought Management Program that starts on May 1.

Please stop by. We'll have all kinds of resources for you.

I'll be there until about 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, please mention you've been reading our blog and say hello.

CCWD Board Approves 15% Drought Management Program

2009-04-02T10:09:00.000-07:00

CCWD's Board of Directors approved a 15% Drought Management Program that will start on May 1.

CCWD's 15% Drought Management Program is designed to conserve water, without raising rates or impacting industry because of the extended three-year drought.

Those who have conserved in the past, and continue to conserve water, will not see an excess water use fee.

Everybody can save water today. CCWD expects most customers will be able to save water by improving the management of their outdoor irrigation and wise water use indoors.

Here are more details on the program.

If you have a question, please send us an email or call our CCWD Drought Help Line at (925) 688-8009.

Water-Wise Tip: Plant Your Water-Wise Garden

2009-03-30T09:54:00.000-07:00

Recent storms have brought some much-needed rain and snow; however, California is still in drought conditions. The Contra Costa Water District offers its weekly tips on using water wisely.

It's spring and time to get out in the garden. But wait, California is in a drought. Bay Area water agencies request their customers conserve water this summer and some may impose restrictions. So how can you get out in the garden and still save water? Here are a few ideas:

Replace one of your lawns with a beautiful water-wise garden. Lawns typically use more than twice the water that common landscape plants require. Look here for the Contra Costa Water District for a free water-wise garden CD-ROM.

Weed your garden so your plants don't have to compete for water.

Add 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch to your planting areas.

For more information and to learn more about other CCWD conservation programs, visit our Web site at www.ccwater.com/conserve or call 925-688-8320.

CCWD Staff Recommends 15 Percent Water Use Reduction

2009-03-27T16:20:00.000-07:00

CCWD’s staff is recommending to the District’s Board of Directors a Drought Management Program designed to reduce water consumption in the District by 15 percent.

The Board will hold a public hearing on the program at its April 1 meeting, and is expected to vote at that time.

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at CCWD’s Main Offices at 1331 Concord Ave. in Concord. If approved, the program will begin May 1.

The Bureau of Reclamation has increased the CCWD allocation for Central Valley Project water from 50 percent to 55 percent. The 15 percent water use reduction target, coupled with available supplies, will allow customer demands to be met this year.

Under the program, all customers will be asked to conserve. Most customer classes are being asked to cut by 15 percent. Industrial users will be asked to cut by 5 percent and irrigation customers by 45 percent.

The focus of the 15 percent Drought Management Program is on reducing outside water use while minimizing impacts on jobs and the economy. The District’s Drought Management Program does not increase rates.

Any Single Family Residential customer who uses more than 1,000 gallons per day, and does not reduce water use by 15 percent – compared to their three-year (2005, 2006 and 2007) historical average -- will be charged an excess water use charge of four times the quantity charge.

In addition, Single Family Residential customers who increase their use when compared to their three-year average for the billing period will be charged an excess water charge of four times the quantity charge.

All customers will be sent their historical average and other program information in early April.

Here is more information on the program:

Read the amended Ordinance 0901:

Read the Board Agenda docket form:

Read the Staff Report:

The Agenda for the April 1 Board Meeting:

Please send an e-mail if you have questions on the program.

Advice For Saving Water From The California Landscape Contractors' Associaton

2009-03-26T15:36:00.000-07:00

We received an e-mail for the California Landscape Contractors' Association, filled with good advice for saving water:

The California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) is pleased to offer some recommendations to help you make smart choices and protect the environment using your area’s mandated water reductions. This advice can help your landscape survive this year’s drought and help you prepare for predicted future water shortages.

Water Trees First. If trees are lost, it increases the surrounding temperature making everything hotter. They are also expensive to replace. Many surrounding plants depend on them, because trees offer shade and protection for some lawns and other plants that may not survive the hot sun without them. In addition, they are often homes, shelter and/or food to birds and animals, which could possibly die if the trees perish.

Some Ways to Maximize Water and Help Protect Your Trees

• Drill several 4" wide holes about 24”-30” deep around the base of the tree being careful not to damage large roots. Fill the holes with compost, which will allow the water to reach the roots of the tree.

• Another option is to put your garden hose on a timed, low drip and get the water down deep. You can also install a temporary drip system tied into a hose bib or use a soaker hose on the surface to slowly water the base of the tree.

What Can I Do Now to Prepare for the Drought?

• Mulch heavily all flower and soil beds. Mulch helps keep water in the soil. Do not use rocks/gravel because they add heat to the soil and moisture evaporates faster.

• Mow grass (Fescue, Rye, Kentucky Blue Grass) higher – 3”-3.5” to promote deeper root growth and hold more moisture.

• Aerate the lawn and fill the holes with compost so the water can infiltrate deeper.

• If you intend to prune, do so before April or don’t prune. Pruning stimulates growth, which needs more water. Existing growth will also provide additional shade to the soil, helping to retain moisture.

• Do not use high nitrogen fertilizers during a drought. They encourage growth but the plants will need more water.

• Fix or replace any broken sprinklers and repair leaks.

• Keep your lawn as healthy as possible. A healthy lawn will survive better. Many lawns can go very dry and still come back.

• Attach a water efficient spray nozzle to your hose and use it to mist your lawn to build up humidity for a few minutes at the end of the day. (Drop by CCWD's Main Office at 1331 Concord Ave in Concord between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and we'll give one to your fore free!)

How to Maximize Landscape Watering During A Drought

• Start watering earlier and finish before 9 a.m.

• Set your spray irrigation timer to run half the normal time and run a second cycle at least half an hour later. This will dramatically reduce runoff. Clay and other soils will only absorb so much water and anything beyond that point is wasted water. Average time should be five minutes or less per cycle on a level site.

• Consider a smart controller, which monitors the weather and adjusts watering accordingly. (CCWD has rebates on these, though they work best on large yards. You can get info here.)

• Soil may look dry, but may still have plenty of moisture. If a 6-inch screwdriver goes easily into the soil then wait to water.

What if I Can Only Water One or Two Days a Week?

• Program your sprinkler time for multiple start times with run cycles about 5 minutes each. Repeat the cycles 3-4 times at least 30 minutes apart. If runoff occurs reduce minutes per cycle. (CCWD recommends doing this in the morning before sunrise)

• Mow lawns higher and less frequently. Do not take off more than 25% when mowing.

• Help your trees get more water as mentioned above.

How Can I Maximize My Landscape Water Savings?

• Check regularly for leaks and then fix them immediately.

• Incorporate existing water saving technology into your irrigation system. New sprinkler heads and smart controllers maximize water savings.

• If you have a water meter, learn to read your meter. It will help you determine if you have a leak. (CCWD has a page with a video and a calculator to make it as easy as possible.)

• Turn on each sprinkler zone and see how much time it takes to start generating runoff for each zone. Round sprinkler time down to the nearest minute and set that time as your maximum run time for each station. Program your controller for multiple run cycles.

• Runoff means wasted water. No runoff means the water is being absorbed by the soil.

How Can I Prepare for a Drier Future?

• Make sure your irrigation system is efficient, pressure regulated and consistently up to date with the latest water saving technology.

• Examine the long-term survivability of your current landscape and consider incorporating climate appropriate plants. (Sign up for a free CCWD on finding plants that thrive in Contra Costa County).

• Study your environment, the animals that exist within the landscape and your long term needs to help you make good ecological choices.

For more information, look for the association's web site.

Bureau Updates Water Forecast

2009-03-23T12:58:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released its latest water forecast on Friday.

Based on precipitation through March 1, Reclamation announced in a news release that CCWD would receive at least 55 percent of its historical use.

What this means to CCWD and its customers:

- The announcement represents an incremental increase to the initial 50 percent allocation announced in February

- Continued storms through the end of the month and into April will be very important.

CCWD is still considering two different drought management plans, and will decide which plan to follow at its April 1 meeting (See the posts below).

Read the Bureau's release. CCWD is considered an M&I User, and North of the Delta.

Snow Levels Fall A Little Behind Average

Even with the cold and rainy weather this past weekend, we apparently did not see a lot of snow in the northern Sierra, and remain slightly below average for this time of year.

The eight automatic snow sensors in the Northern Sierra ticked up a little, but have now recorded a snow pack of 37.8 inches, which is 95 percent of the 76-year average snow pack for this date.

Look here to see the snow sensor data This graph is updated daily

10-day forecasts show no storms on the immediate horizon.

CCWD Board Considers Two Drought Management Programs

2009-03-19T16:40:00.000-07:00

CCWD’s Board of Directors Wednesday night discussed and read a Drought Management Program Ordinance that features two plans to save water while not raising water rates.

The board will not decide on either of these two plans until its next meeting on April 1, and will most-likely base its decision on a water forecast from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation that’s expected to be released later this month.

The allocations for both programs would be based on customers’ average historical allocations for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007, adjusted for each two-month billing period.

The first of the two plans is a Mandatory Program and would seek an overall 25 percent reduction in water use. The program features a sliding scale that requires little or no cutbacks from the smallest water users, to required cutbacks of more than 40 percent for the largest water users.

The second plan, called the Voluntary Program, would seek a 15 percent reduction from residential customers. For customers who use less than 1,000 gallons per day, they will not be subject to excess water use charges if they meet or use less than their historical use. Those who use more than 1,000 gallons per day will need to cut water use by 15 percent or face excess water use charges.

With either plan, customers will be sent their allocation information in early April. In addition, whichever plan the Board chooses will begin on May 1.

Last year, CCWD asked customers to voluntarily cut their water use, and General Manager Walter J. Bishop said they responded to the request and saved 8 percent during peak summer months.

For more details on the plan, please look at this PDF that was presented to the Board Wednesday night.

Please send us an e-mail or call if you have any questions.

Board To Discuss Drought Management Program Wednesday Night

2009-03-17T16:56:00.001-07:00

CCWD’s Board of Directors will undertake its first reading of a Drought Management Program Ordinance on Wednesday, March 18.

The ordinance will set the rules and regulations for the District’s Drought Management Program.

The meeting will be held at CCWD’s offices at 1331 Concord Ave. in Concord starting at 6:30 p.m.

Two different programs are outlined in the ordinance, and the Board will decide which program to follow at its next meeting and public hearing on April 1.

Neither program raises rates, and customers who meet their water savings goals will save money on their water bill.

Which program the Board will follow will depend on water supply information expected later this month from the Bureau of Reclamation.

One program the Board will consider is the “Mandatory Water Rationing Program” that was detailed previously and can be seen on the District’s web site.

The other program is called the “Voluntary Water Conservation Program” and would seek a 15 percent reduction from customers. Customers who increase their water use when compared to averages from 2005, 2006 & 2007 in billing cycles would face excess water use charges.

In addition, single family residential customers who have used more than 1,000 gallons per day and do not reduce their water use by 15 percent will face excess water use charges.

You can read the ordinance here:

Whichever program the Board of Directors chooses, it is expected to start on May 1.

We’ll post more information as it is developed.

CCWD's New 'On Tap' Tells How To Save Water

2009-03-16T15:12:00.001-07:00

As you would expect, the current edition of the 'On Tap' highlights saving water.

The newsletter is delivered to more than 160,000 households within the District's service territory, and this issue is full of ways to help you save water. In addition, it shows you how to read your meter.

The whole idea of the current issue is to stretch the water supply during the drought.

For example: Did you know that most households can reduce their landscape watering by 50 percent or more with little damage to their plants?

Or that many trees and shrubs can survive with a deep soaking of water one day a month in the summer?

Or CCWD Water Suveyors will come out to your home and help you tweak your irrigation system to save water? If you're interested, all the information you need is here.

How about that high-efficiency washing machines use 50 percent less water and energy than older models.

All this, and more, is in the latest edition of CCWD's On Tap.

Learn How To Read Your Meter, Calculate Gallons Per Day

2009-03-13T08:43:00.000-07:00

It's not too difficult to read your water meter and know how much water you are using.

We 'll show you how, and do all the math on our website.

We have a new four-minute video, featuring Water Conservation Specialist Bob Eagle, who will show you how to read your meter at home, and what to look for.

In addition, our website calculator at the top of the page will do the math for you.

All you need to do is read the meter twice over a 24-hour or longer period, enter the numbers and you'll know how many gallons of water you are using -- on average -- per day.

March is Time To Test Your Irrigation System

2009-03-09T14:06:00.000-07:00

March is the perfect time to get your irrigation system in running order for the summer. A well-maintained and managed irrigation system can save thousands of gallons of water. Here are a few tips:

# Pop-up sprinklers — Check and repair bent, blocked or broken sprinklers. Adjust sprinklers to eliminate all overspray onto pavement, fences and other non-vegetation.

# Sprinkler nozzles — Replace or clean clogged nozzles.

# Drip emitters — Replace clogged and broken emitters.

# Drip tubing — Check all tubing for cuts and breaks. These are easy to repair and can save a lot of water.

# Sprinkler timer — Keep that timer in the off position until necessary. Remember we are still in a drought and water restrictions could be necessary beginning as early as May 1.

If you have a high water bill and can't figure out where all the water went, consider calling Contra Costa Water District for a free home water Survey.

CCWD will inspect your irrigation system and provide you with suggested improvements and repairs. If you don't live in the CCWD area, check with your water provider for assistance.

For information on the survey program and other conservation programs call (925) 688-8320 or go to www.ccwater. com/conserve.

CCWD Board Passes Water Shortage Conditions

2009-03-05T16:11:00.000-08:00

Wednesday night, CCWD's Board of Directors passed a Resolution declaring water shortage conditions and directed District staff to prepare a drought ordinance.

The ordinance will be read at the Board's next meeting on March 18.

There will be a public hearing and a vote on the ordinance at the Board's April 1 meeting.

If the board enacts a drought management program, it would begin May 1.

Assistant General Manager Jerry Brown told Directors that improving snow pack and reservoir conditions are such that if the wet weather continues through March the Board could have flexibility in considering conservation measures.

With continued improving weather conditions, the Board could consider a voluntary or mandatory drought program. It will not make that decision until April 1.

Last year, CCWD asked its customers to conserve water voluntarily.

Gov. Schwarzenegger declared a statewide drought emergency last Friday, and asked urban water users to cut back their water uses by 20 percent this year.

I will update you as new developments take place. Please write or call if I can provide further information.

Regards,

Jim Freschi
CCWD Public Information Specialist
(925) 688-8175

Timeline For Board Decision on Drought Plan

2009-03-03T16:54:00.000-08:00

We've had a few questions about how and when the Contra Costa Water District's Board of Directors will be making decisions concerning its Drought Management Plan.

Even though its pouring buckets of rain today in Concord, there remains considerable concern that there will not be enough snow in the Sierra to refill the state's reservoirs that have been depleted after two years of below-normal precipitation.

The laws are specific about how Board decisions are made, so these are the three steps the Board will take within the next 30 days.

This Wednesday, March 4, the Board will vote on a resolution declaring a water shortage. The resolution will direct District staff to prepared a ordinance for the Drought Management Program. You can read the Board agenda here:

At it's next meeting on Wednesday, March 18, the Board will receive a water shortage situation update and also formally read the Drought Management Program ordinance for the first time.

Finally, on its Wednesday, April 1 meeting, the Board will have the second reading of the drought ordinance, and is scheduled to vote on the ordinance. The formal Public Hearing on the ordinance will also be held at this time.

Should the board approve it, CCWD's Drought Management Plan will begin on May 1.

The public is always invited to CCWD Board of Director meetings, and comments are welcome.

The meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. at CCWD's Main Office, 1331 Concord Ave, in Concord. Here's a Mapquest-map to the office.

If you cannot attend the meeting and would like to make a comment to the Board about the Plan, send CCWD an e-mail (mention in the subject line that you are sending a comment on the Drought Management Plan) or send a letter to:

Contra Costa Water District
Attn. Brice Bledsoe, Director of Finance
P.O. Box H20
Concord, CA 94524

CCWD Rebate Offers Are Generous

2009-03-02T08:59:00.000-08:00

A story in the San Francisco Chronicle Friday stated that many people are buying new toilets and washers to save water.

The story mentions rebates of $100 or more are available from local water agencies.

I'm happy to report that our rebates are on the "more" side, and can even be used to purchase the popular Toto "Gwyneth" that has reached "near-cult" status in popularity. (I guess you have to give your toilet models names, but a likable movie star's first name?)

By the way, the rebate applies to both models of the Gwyneth.

On the toilets, CCWD offers vouchers of $175 that work as "instant" rebates when you buy models that use 1.28 gallons of water per flush or less.

These are the "High Efficiency Toilets" and include:

Gravity flush Toilets – use the weight of water to create a siphon action that pulls water and waste from the bowl.

Pressure-Assist Toilets – have a sealed vessel inside the tank and use air pressure to force a flush.

Dual Flush Toilets – allow you to select the amount of water that is used to flush the toilet, either a half flush for liquids or a full flush for solids.

All of the toilets approved for the voucher program have been tested and shown to be top performers, flushing at least 500 grams of material per single flush.

For more information on the program, look here. Prequalification is required, so get your vouchers before you buy.

For the washers, CCWD and PG&E are working together to offer rebates of $125 to $200, depending on how much water and power the model saves. All the information you need is here:

If you are a commercial customer, we also have all kinds of rebate programs tailored to your needs, including rebates of $350 for clothes washers and $175 for toilets.

Toilets and washers are long-term investments, and will save water for years to come.

Governor Declares Drought Emergency

2009-02-27T16:45:00.000-08:00

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today proclaimed a state of emergency because California is in the third year of a drought.

His declaration sets the stage for additional steps to conserve water statewide.

"This is a crisis, just as severe as an earthquake or raging wildfire, and we must treat it with the same urgency by upgrading California's water infrastructure to ensure a clean and reliable water supply for our growing state," he said.

Here at CCWD, the announcement was expected. Last week, we received news of a severe 50 percent reduction in our water supply from the Bureau of Reclamation, and last year asked customers to conserve water voluntarily.

The District has already announced it is likely to ask its customers for mandatory reductions depending upon upcoming announcements of water supply.

We are continuously providing information to our customers along with providing rebates for homeowners and businesses that purchase water-saving toilets and washing machines. CCWD also provides to all of its customers free water saving devices such as low-flow showerheads and on-site conservation surveys.

On Wednesday, CCWD's Board of Directors is scheduled to take the first step in implementing CCWD's Drought Management Plan. At that meeting, the Board will consider declaring a water shortage condition and direct preparation of a ordinance to include water use reduction goals.

The board is expected to vote on CCWD's Drought Management Plan at its April 1 meeting.

'Lawn Out - Nature In' A Success

2009-02-26T07:57:00.000-08:00

There was standing room only of more than 40 people at the “Lawn Out-Nature In” talk by Troy McGregor last weekend in Clayton.

The talk was sponsored by the Markham Regional Arboretum Society and the Contra Costa Water District and is the first of four garden talks this year.

Troy reviewed various methods of removing your lawn, none of which are easy. Removing a lawn around an existing tree is even harder. Troy emphasized replacing your lawn with native plants, and planning your irrigation system before you plant.

He has a web site here: and you can see his slides from Saturday's talk here.

We’ll let you know when the next talk takes place.

Bringing Back the Natives May 3

CCWD is a long-time sponsor of the annual "Bringing Back The Natives Garden Tour" on Sunday, May 3.

This popular tour -- which won a Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award in 2008 -- shows you how your neighbors have been able to use native plants to cut down their water use, and still have beautiful gardens.

CCWD Likekly To Look At Mandatory Water Use Restrictions

2009-02-20T17:33:00.000-08:00

Contra Costa Water District General Manager Walter J. Bishop said CCWD is likely looking at mandatory water use restrictions in order to meet severe water allocation restrictions announced by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation today.

The Bureau released its initial water supply forecast for the Central Valley Project on Friday, stating CCWD would receive 50 percent of its contracted supply of water.

The forecast is based on precipitation through Feb. 1, before the latest series of storms swept across the state.

The District is the largest municipal contractor of water from the project.

“This announcement from Reclamation is not a surprise as this is the third consecutive dry year. Fortunately, we have been preparing for this announcement since last year," Mr. Bishop said.

"CCWD has planned ahead," he said "and prepared a drought management program that protects jobs and the local economy, recognizes the conservation measures customers have made and encourages reductions primarily on outdoor water use. The more water you use, the more you will need to save.”

The program will provide water allocations based on customers’ historical water use. CCWD is not raising rates, but customers that do not reduce their consumption would pay penalty charges. CCWD will continue to monitor the water supply outlook and a decision on imposing water use restrictions will be considered at the Board of Directors’ meeting on April 1.

Reclamation’s allocations to CVP contractors are updated each month during the spring and change as the water year develops. The outlook also assumes below-normal precipitation conditions through the spring. Reclamation is expected to update allocations again in mid-March.

Look here for more information on CCWD's proposed water use restrictions.

See Reclamations' news release here.

CCWD Drought Management Program

2009-02-19T15:10:00.000-08:00

CCWD has sent a notice to its treated and untreated water customers about the District's proposed Drought Management Program.

A Public Hearing on the program will be held April 1 at 6:30 p.m. in the CCWD Board Room located at 1331 Concord Ave. in Concord.

If the program is instituted, it will start on May 1.

CCWD will not be raising water rates as part of its drought program. However, the District is proposing to implement a penalty charge for customers who do not conserve. Customers who meet the conservation goals will save money since they are using less water.

The proposed penalty charge will be based on a sliding scale with a maximum charge of ten-times the quantity charge of the District’s adopted rates.

We've got a slide presentation that explains how the program will work, you can see it here as a PDF file.

Have a questions or concerns? Give me a call at (925) 688-8175 of send an e-mail to me at jfreschi@ccwater.com.

'Rain! Rain Feel Good' -- Tarzan

2009-02-17T17:17:00.000-08:00

Here at the Water District, we love that quote.

So far, February has brought nothing but good news in terms of rain locally and snow in the Sierra. Even though it has rained pretty solidly the last few days, we still have a lot of catching up to do.

At our Bollman Water Treatment Plant, we’ve measured 3.4 inches of rain in February, and that doesn’t count the deluge today (Feb. 17). We’ve had measureable rain in all but six days so far this month, compared to only six days of rain in January. Another big storm is forecasted to arrive this weekend.

In the Bay Area, rainfall is now about 80 percent of the average for this time of year.

If you have friends who ski, they’ve been talking about all the snow.

All that’s good and we’re encouraged, but the drought isn’t over.

Up in the Northern Sierra -- where much of the water in the Delta originates – snowfall totals are moving up. That’s what we’re watching here at the District, since the snowpack is like a giant reservoir holding water until the spring and summer months.

As of this morning, the snowfall total was 23.5 inches. That’s less than what it normally is at this time (January was incredibly dry in the Sierra as well) and remember most of the major reservoirs in the state are still well below where they should be. Shasta is about 45 percent of where it should be at this time of year.

We’ve kinda enjoyed replacing the windshield wipers on the car and digging the umbrellas out from the back of the closet…but we need a lot more rain and snow.

'Lawn Out - Nature In' Coming Up Feb. 21

2009-02-13T13:53:00.000-08:00

Does the drought have you thinking of replacing that thirsty lawn with a more sustainable solution?

The Markham Regional Arboretum Society in Concord and CCWD are sponsoring "Lawn Out-Nature In!" on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 10 a.m. at the Oakhurst County Club in Clayton.

Troy McGregor, owner of Garden Natives Nursery in Martinez, has lots of strategies to help.

The cost is $10 per person, more details are here.

Welcome to CCWD's Water Conservation Blog

2009-02-12T09:50:00.001-08:00

I'll update the blog regularly with news about the drought and how you can save water to help all of us get through what looks to be a difficult spring and summer.

As I write this first post on Feb. 12, it's raining in Concord.

That's good news, but we're way behind in rainfall and -- more importantly -- snowfall in the Sierra. We need a lot of precipitation to catch up after two years of drought that has left reservoirs throughout the state well-below their normal storage supplies.

Even thought it's raining today, water rationing may be unavoidable this spring.

We are committed to implementing a rationing plan that is fair. We are also assisting our customers by providing rebates on water-saving appliances like toilets and washing machines, free conservation devices and information from the professionals in our Water Conservation Department.

You can find out more on our water conservation web site at www.ccwater.com

Please send a comment or a question, and we'll get right back to you.