2013 Spring Resource

S PR ING C LE ANING WAS NE VER SO E ASY SPRING CLEANUP WEEK : JUNE 17-21

No Water Shortage for SLO Water Customers

Nothing feels better than shedding junk or unused items from your home. So start planning now and prepare for Spring Cleanup Week, June 17 to 21.

During Spring Cleanup Week, San Luis Garbage Company picks up additional items on your regular trash and recy-

cling day. Look for more information in the coming weeks.

The City of San Luis Obispo is not threatened by the drought conditions and imminent water shortages plaguing many other communities statewide, even as we head

Remember, either 12 standard trashcans (32 gallons each)

into the dry weather season.

four feet or less in length and 75 pounds or less in weight,

That’s because about 25 years ago the community em-

or the equivalent in other containers, or 12 bundles, each are allowed during the special pick up.

Special prices for bulky items are valid during Cleanup Week.

Additional items must be on the curb to qualify for these special prices, and you must schedule the pickup in advance.

Please call (805) 543-0875 two days before collection day to schedule the pickup.

barked on one of the most successful water conservation campaigns in California, and at the same time diligently pursued alternative water supplies to secure a reliable water future.

As a result, the City has reduced water use to sustainable levels and completed the Nacimiento Reservoir Supply and Recycled Water Projects, which added more than 3,000 acre feet of water to the City’s water portfolio.

BULKY ITEMS: Bulky items can be picked up during cleanup week for only $10 each. This includes: Televisions • Water Heaters Couches • Washers • Dryers Small Appliances • Chairs Box Springs • Mattresses Refrigerators • Overstuffed Chairs • Metal Items • Passenger Car Tires (no more than four)

San Luis Obispo now has enough water to weather an 11-year drought. The combination of good planning and a strong community commitment created a unique balance of water efficiency and water supply, which is the exception, not the rule, in California.

HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE:

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Spring Cleaning Water, Sewer Rate Changes Spring Irrigation Tips New Sewer Cap Improved Utility Billing | Rainy Season is Coming

Spring 2013 Volume 17, Issue 2

CIT Y PROPOS ES WATER , S E WER RATE C HANG ES The City of San Luis Obispo is recommending changes to the water and sewer rates as well as the Water Rate Structure in order to account for rising costs, replace aging infrastructure and continue to provide high quality service.

By now, every water and sewer customer should

have received the Proposition 218 (Prop. 218) notice in the mail, which was delivered in April 2013. This

notification included information about the proposed water and sewer rate increase as well as the Water Rate Structure change. These proposed changes require Prop. 218 approval.

Raising rates is never easy, and the City staff and City Council take this task very seriously. Please take the

time to read the Prop. 218 notice and understand why

NEW WATER RATE STRUCTURE UP FOR APPROVAL As reported in the last Resource newsletter, the City Council completed an in-depth study on how the City charges for water service. The purpose of the study was to review the current rate structure and explore alternatives to ensure that the community’s goals, objectives and expectations are being met.

As a result of the study, City staff recommends a rate structure that has a base fee of $5 and two tiers for all customer classes (see tables below).

The public hearing to consider these changes will be held on June 12, 2013 at 5 p.m. at the Council Chambers located at 990 Palm Street.

More information regarding the water rate structure change can also be found in the Prop. 218 notice.

the costs for these essential services are rising.

Current Rate Structure

Proposed Rate Increases July 1,2013

July 1,2014

Water

7.5%

5.5%

Sewer

4.0%

3.0%

WHY THE CHANGE?

Residential

Non-Residential

$0.00

$0.00

0 – 5 units

$6.25/unit

$6.25/unit

6 –25 units/6+ for non-residential

$7.82/unit

$7.82/unit

26+ units residential

$9.80/unit

Base Fee (minimum charge) Volume Charges

There are some costs the City can’t control, such

Proposed Rate Structure

as electricity rates and chemical costs associated

with treating drinking water and wastewater to meet regulations; they are expensive, but necessary, and

July 1,2013

July 1,2014

$5.00

$5.28

0 – 8 units

$6.56/unit

$6.92/unit

9+ units

$8.20/unit

$8.65/unit

Base Fee (minimum charge)

contribute to the need for rate increases.

The City’s proposed water and sewer rate increases will be used to:

Volume Charges

• Support the City’s multi-source water supply • Support ongoing operations and maintenance of the water and wastewater systems

Have Questions?

• Cover the costs of debt payments associated with replacing expensive but important pieces of the water and wastewater systems

about your water and sewer service, the proposed rate increases or the

• Fund required upgrades to the Water Reclamation Facility • Fund upcoming repairs to the wastewater collection system

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Extended office hours and online assistance are available. Talk with us

proposed water rate structure. It will be an informal, one-on-one meeting.

Utilities Department offices are located at 879 Morro St. No appointment is needed; just drop in at your convenience any time before 6 p.m. on any of the following days.

May 14 • May 21 • May 28 • June 4

CIT Y INSTALLS ADVANCED WATER METER TECHNOLOGY The City is moving into the new age of water meter

technology to enhance accuracy and improve service.

Older water meters use a series of moving parts

S pring Irrigation Tip

that wear out over time and actually slow down,

SMART WAYS FOR WATE R E FFICIE NCY AND IMPROVE D WATE R QUALIT Y

passing through the device. The new meters use

The most effective way to keep water bills down is to check for

which eliminates the wear and tear and enhances

schedule. (See Suggested Spring/Summer Lawn Irrigation Guide.)

increased water flow to your home or business. This

Irrigation overspray and runoff not only cost you money, but are

you are using higher volumes of water, such as when

season. A lot can happen to your irrigation system during the

which means they do not register all of the water electromagnetic flow measurement technology,

the accuracy of the meter. The design also allows for

leaks in your irrigation system and to follow a reliable irrigation

will improve your water pressure during times when

some of the leading causes of water pollution during the dry

you are irrigating.

winter season while your system has been shut down. So spring

This new technology also has the ability to register

is the perfect time to check for leaks.

and retain customer water use information on an

Based on an average system, we suggest dividing the watering

high water use problems. A special handheld device

to avoid runoff. If water runoff occurs, use multiple start times a

hourly basis, which will help customers experiencing

time into three or four watering days. Be sure to monitor watering

can retrieve this information, and City staff can then

day to allow your soil to soak up the water.

download the data and analyze it to help pinpoint problems either in the indoor plumbing

For more information, please call (805) 781-7217.

system or with their outdoor irrigation.

To date, about 150 of the new water meters have been installed with a

goal to replace approximately 400 to 500 meters each year.

S PR IN G /S U M M ER L AWN IR R IG ATI O N G U ID E Month

Irrigation Minutes per Week

May

45 minutes/week

June

60 minutes/week

July

60 minutes/week

August

60 minutes/week

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UTI LITI E S D E PARTM E NT 879 Morro Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

G eneral Plan Update: JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL EVENT THE SLO LAND USE & CIRCULATION UPDATE The City of San Luis Obispo will meet in June at the City/County Library

Saturday, June 1, 1 - 4 p.m.

San Luis Obispo City/County Library 995 Palm St., San Luis Obispo, CA

to talk about potential areas of change to shape San Luis Obispo’s future, including: • Infill sites • Future of downtown • Circulation for bicycles, pedestrians and vehicles • Where future growth should occur

Join us on June 1 from 1 to 4 p.m. to share your ideas and learn more about the General Plan Update.

WE WANT YO U R INPUT ONLINE SU RVE Y AVAIL ABLE We need your valuable input. You are our customers and it’s important for us to reach out and get feedback from you. Please fill out a short online survey to help us better under-

stand your views on the City’s water and sewer services and how we can better communicate important information regarding upcoming projects.

Take the survey online at www.slowater.org.

EM ERG EN CY N U M B ER S We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year Water and Sewer Problems 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(805) 781-7220 After Hours and Weekends (805) 781-7312

J OIN THE CONVER SATIO N : LIKE U S O N FAC EB OO K Are you on Facebook? So are we! Like us at www.facebook.com/ SLOUtilitiesDepartment to get news about the latest water projects, money-saving tips, interesting facts about your water and sewer utility, and much more.

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