Why has my water pressure been reduced, or come to a complete halt?
Turf Management Before, During, and Following Drought in Colorado
Changes at Bingham Lake…. EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 2, 2008
Zebra mussels are small barnacle-like mollusks with dark and light colored stripes. They smother aquatic organisms, such as crayfish and native clams and out compete for food and aquatic habitat. Zebra mussels damage equipment by attaching to boat motors or hard surfaces and clog water treatment facilities.
The District’s Board of Directors has adopted a resolution prohibiting all activities which might pose a threat of causing zebra and/or quagga mussel infestation in Bingham Lake.
Effective September 2, 2008 boating of all types, use of float tubes, and wading in the lake (with or without waders) is prohibited. Fishing is still permitted from the shore and from the dock. Zebra and Quagga mussels have been detected in Pueblo Reservoir and Lake Granby. The Board will continue to monitor the spread of the Mussels in the State and will modify these changes in the management of the Lake events unfold. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Additional information is available at:
http://parks.state.co.us/Zebra+Mussels.htm
www.100thmeridian.org
Invitation To Visit Facilities
The District would like to extend an invitation to visit facilities operated by the District for Water Treatment, Water Distribution, Wastewater Collection, Wastewater Treatment and Reclamation. Interested parties, individuals, schools, homeowner associations, etc., can contact our office at (303) 841-2797 to set up tour dates or obtain additional information. District representatives are available to attend community gatherings for informational presentations.
Topics of tours or presentations can include:
How can I identify a District employee in my neighborhood?
To help you identify District employees when they are in your neighborhood or servicing an issue at your home, please note that our employees will be driving a District truck (clearly marked with the District logo) and wearing attire also sporting the District logo. If you’re ever in doubt, please call the District office (303) 841-2797.
Why has my water pressure been reduced, or
come to a complete halt?
In the
middle of the winter season and almost every year the District receives calls
from homeowners who have lost water service. The majority of frozen water lines
actually occur inside the house. Water service lines are buried in the earth
nearly 5’ down and rarely does the frost get that deep. However, if an outside
pipe does freeze, it most often occurs in a sprinkler system that has not been
properly winterized or in the water meter pit. Most water meters in the District
are installed in a meter pit located outside, near your property line. The
ground temperature at the bottom of the meter pit typically prevents the meter
from freezing. Also, the meter cover is designed to insulate the meter from the
surface temperature.
Back inside your home, the slightest chilly draft near plumbing
lines is capable of freezing the water line. Homeowners are encouraged to check
where their water service line enters the home and follow the piping. Small gaps
in the exterior woodwork just above the top of the foundation or basement wall
are the usual culprits. These gaps allow cold air from the outside to enter the
room. If the basement is finished then this cold air enters the wall. Properly
insulating the water line from the cold air and caulking seams or holes near the
piping greatly improves your chances of having uninterrupted water service in
cold weather.
If you are away on vacation or not occupying your home during the
winter, think about having someone check your home and running the water
occasionally. You might also consider turning your water off while you are away
– see article below on master shutoff valves. It’s after
the freeze that split or broken pipes thaw out and extensive damage to your home
can occur.
In the event you have no water, please call the District at (303)
841-2797, ext. 0 (after hours dial ext 299 to connect to our answering service).
A District Representative will come to your house and check to see if there is
water to the meter. If they determine that water does flow through the meter,
you may need to call a plumber or search out the problem on your own.
Where is my Master Shutoff Valve?
If a
water pipe inside your house freezes and begins to leak, would you know what to
do? Would your family? Such nightmares do happen, but damage can be minimized if
you’re prepared. It’s a great idea to find and share with all members of your
household the location of the master shutoff valve. The valve is usually located
inside your home where your water line enters from the meter pit.
Why would you want to shut off this valve? If a pipe breaks inside
your house, this valve will turn off all water entering your home. Think about
marking it with a tag or paint it a bright color for quick reference. Being
prepared and taking quick action could help save your home and family treasures.
If you have difficulty finding it, please give us a call at (303) 841-2797 and
we will try to assist you.
Why is the District flushing good water down the drain?
Have you ever seen
the “flushing” signs in your neighborhood and questioned what that is all about?
Ever wondered why we’re sending gallons and gallons of water down the drain? Or,
where that water is going? Over the winter, mineral deposits that occur
naturally in the water build up inside the water main due to lower water usage.
Every spring the District “clears” the water mains that serve your home of such
build-up by opening fire hydrants. The surge of water delivered out the hydrant
is able to pickup the deposits and remove them from the water supply. While this
may seem wasteful, our high water quality is maintained: taste is improved, odor
is reduced and color is clearer. At the same time, fire hydrants are checked for
operation and visibility to ensure that should there be a fire, they are
operational and easy to find.
It takes nearly 2 months to complete the flushing cycle throughout
the District! The Staff will begin flushing the water in late March; watch for
signs in your neighborhood.
If you have any questions, just give us a call.
Turf Management
Before, During, and
Following Drought in Colorado
This is an excerpt from an article written by Dr. Tony Koski, Extension Turf Specialist, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension.
Precipitation, snow pack, stream flow, and reservoir levels are significantly lower than historic averages throughout Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region. During normal precipitation years, landscape irrigation comprises 50% or more of urban water use during the growing season in the Rocky Mountain region. In anticipation of restrictions in turf irrigation that may be imposed by water utilities, communities, and other water-management entities, the following practices allow you to have a green lawn and still reduce water consumption:
PLEASE HELP US CONSERVE WATER by doing just one thing each day that will save water. Don't worry if the savings is minimal, every DROP counts!
How “Hard” is my water?
What is Hardness?
These are some of the questions we answer
regularly. Hardness in drinking water is caused primarily by the
presence of two minerals; calcium and magnesium. “Soft” water on the
other hand has very little amounts of these minerals. A good way to
think about it is that making a lather or soapsuds is “hard” with hard
water and making a good lather with soft water is easy.
The average hardness of the water supplied by the Pinery Water &
Wastewater District is 160 mg/L. This is considered moderately hard
and is to be expected, given the geographic location of the Pinery
area. Hardness will not harm you and your District currently does not
treat for hardness.
Should you consider a home water treatment system? This is a personal
decision. These systems are not needed to make the water “safe”. In
fact, if not properly maintained, the systems actually may cause water
quality problems. However, some people do not like hard water. So if
you decide to install a treatment system, think about where to install
it inside your house. These systems can be installed on you faucet(s),
under your sink, just on your hot water heater or at the point of
entry into the house. A water softener can help eliminate hard water
spots on your dishes and glasses. Most softeners are regenerated with
salt. After the salt is used, it goes down the drain and into the
environment. To prevent unnecessary regenerations, set your softener
to regenerate after a selected amount of water has passed through it,
rather then using a timer. This prevents wasting salt and water by
regenerating too soon, producing a cost savings to you.
Rain and moisture sensors are a great water conservation tool for those with large lawns or landscaped areas. Moisture sensors are installed in the ground and measure the moisture received. When the desired amount of moisture in the soil has been reached the sensor shuts off the sprinkler system until moisture is again needed. The most commonly used moisture sensor is the Mini-Click II. Rain sensors, on the other hand, are mounted on the side of a house or building in a place exposed to direct rainfall. These sensors conserve water by suspending irrigation during and after a rainfall. The Rain Switch by TORO is the sensor most widely used by professionals. Sensors can be purchased at most large hardware stores. The moisture sensor retails for about $45.00 and the rain sensor for about $35.00. If you choose to have a professional install your sensor, expect to pay around $85.00 for installation.
The water meter for your home is usually located in a meter pit near the property line. The water meter pit is a cylindrical vault buried in the ground with a cover and a lid that houses the water meter. The meter lid is approximately one foot in diameter and indicates "Water" on the cover. Once every two months the meter reader reads the water meter so your usage can be billed. The meter reader and maintenance personnel need to have ready access to the meter cover and the water meter inside in the event there is a need to shut off the meter. No sod or landscaping material is allowed to cover the meter cover lid. We also request that no shrubbery, rock gardens or trees be planted within 10 feet of the meter so that the meter reader can easily access the water meter and maintenance staff will not have to disturb the landscaping if there is a leak at the meter pit. If you have existing shrubs or trees near the meter pit consider relocating them before they mature. The District is not responsible for replacing them in the event there is a leak at the meter. The District maintains the waterline from the street to the meter pit, while the homeowner is responsible from the meter pit to the house. All homeowners should be aware of the location of their water meter and the master shut off valve within the house in case there is a leak. Steps in technology have even addressed water meters. Most homes can now be read from a black disk located on the meter cover or a post nearby with a "wand" carried by the meter reader. This has allowed for more accurate readings and has reduced the time it takes to read the meters. Future meters will be read through radio technology.
Where does our water
get used?
The American Water Works Association Research Foundation recently completed a study of where water gets used. They did a detailed analysis of 1,188 homes in 12 different cities. The results of this study appear to match the experience of our District. Here is what they found:
Inside water use:
- Toilets 26.7%
- Clothes Washers 21.7%
- Showers 16.8%
- Faucets 15.7%
- Leaks 13.7%
- Other 2.2%
- Baths 1.7%
- Dishwashers 1.4%
Outside Water use:
- Homes with in-ground sprinkler systems use 35% more water than homes without a sprinkler system
- Homes with an automatic timer on their sprinkler system use 47% more water
- Homes with a garden use 30% more water outdoors than homes without a garden.
Tree roots are rapidly becoming a problem encountered by many residents in the Pinery’s older subdivisions. The trees we all love become our worst nightmare in a sewer line with any minor imperfections. Current technology gives us several solutions for this condition. Option one is to call a plumber every one to two years and have the roots cut out. But, this will soon destroy your sewer lines. Option two is dig up your sewer service and repair the problem. This can be very costly, destroy landscaping and harm mature trees. Option three is a product called RootX. This product kills roots in the sewer line and prevents their re-growth for up to one year. You can purchase similar products from your plumber, but DO NOT PURCHASE PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN COPPER SULFATE. The EPA has approved RootX for use in all fifty states. RootX will not harm your trees, only the roots that intrude into your sewer. RootX can be purchased at the District office. Please call the office at (303) 841-2797 for additional information.
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Fats, Oils, and
Greases aren't just bad for your arteries and your waistline;
…..they're bad for sewers, too!
Sewer overflows and backups can cause health hazards, damage home interiors, and threaten the environment. An increasingly common cause of overflows is sewer pipes blocked by grease. Grease gets into the sewer from household drains as well as from poorly maintained grease traps in restaurants and other businesses.
Where does the
grease come from?
Most of us know grease as the byproduct
of cooking. Grease is found in such things as:
Too often, grease is washed into the
plumbing system, usually through the kitchen sink. Grease sticks to
the insides of sewer pipes (both on your property and in the streets).
Over time, the grease can build up and block the entire pipe.
Home garbage disposals do not keep grease out of the plumbing system.
These units only shred solid material into smaller pieces and do not
prevent grease from going down the drain. Commercial additives,
including detergents, that claim to dissolve grease may pass grease
down the line and cause problems in other areas.
The results can be:
What we can do
to help?
The easiest way to solve the grease
problem and help prevent overflows of raw sewage is to keep this
material out of the sewer system in the first place.
There are several ways to do this:
Copyright ©
2006, 2007 Pinery Water & Wastewater District
all rights reserved.
Date last modified:
August 27, 2008.