THE WATER J O U R NE Y:
WHERE D OES IT COME FROM AND WHERE D OES IT GO? This is the seventh in a series of articles intended to inform you, the
The City of San Luis Obispo’s Water Reclamation Facility is
water and sewer customer, about the journey water takes to reach
responsible for treating all of the wastewater (sewage) within
homes and businesses, and what happens to it when it goes down
the City, Cal Poly and the county airport. The facility treats
the drain or toilet. Along the way, we have highlighted some of the
4.5 million gallons of wastewater daily, 24 hours a day, 365
various activities in the Utilities Department. So far, we’ve learned
days a year. Operators, laboratory analysts and maintenance
about where your water comes from, the water treatment process,
technicians ensure that the facility is operated and maintained
how water is transported to your home or business, the customer
in the most efficient manner possible and complies with federal
assistance programs the Utilities Conservation section offers,
state and local discharge requirements.
and the importance of the Environmental Compliance section in protecting the wastewater system and the wastewater collection
The Water Reclamation Facility has very stringent discharge
operations. Now, we’ll move on to the Water Reclamation Facility.
requirements and produces high-quality recycled water that surpasses drinking water standards. Some of the water is
New Water Wise Businesses
used to irrigate parks, median strips, landscape and other appropriate uses. In our next Resource, the water journey will end when we look at the Water Recycling Program.
The following sites are now using recycled water for their landscape irrigation:
• Prefumo Creek Commons • Olive Garden • Hampton Inn & Suites We thank you for your commitment to the wise use of San Luis Obispo’s water resources!
The City of San Luis Obispo has a long history of treating wastewater. During the 1920s, the City constructed one of the first sewage treatment plants in the state and has continued to improve the facility over the years by increasing capacity and improving the quality of the water that is discharged into San Luis Obispo Creek. The City is committed to improving water quality in the most efficient and effective manner possible.
HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE:
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Working Around the House Water Rate Structure Study New Sewer Cap Improved Utility Billing | Rainy Season is Coming
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Summer 2012 Volume 16, Issue 3
Here are some handy tips to keep pollution out of gutters,
Remember These Tips When Working Around the House While you are busy crossing those important home projects off the list this summer, remember that proper cleanup and disposal of the waste is just as important.
storm drains and creeks:
• Service companies, such as carpet or upholstery cleaners, should empty wastewater into a clean-out or other connection to the sewer at the property where they are working, not in a storm drain! • Landscapers should properly dispose of any yard waste or debris cleaned up. Yard waste and dirt should not be washed off into the gutter. • When painting, dispose of water used to clean equipment with latex paint into the sewer. Oil-based paints and solvents should never be disposed of in the sewer or storm drains. Excess latex or oil based paints can be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center at Cold Canyon Landfill free of charge. • Extra garden chemicals like fertilizers or herbicides and any other household hazardous waste should be properly stored or can be taken to Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center at Cold Canyon Landfill free of charge. Go to iwma.com for more information on how to appropriately dispose of household hazardous waste.
Remember: Anything that finds its way into our gutters ends up in our creeks and flows untreated to the ocean.
MAKE THE NEIGHBORS HAPPY! All of us want to keep San Luis Obispo beautiful. That means we all need to do our part in keeping the streets clear of trash cans and recycle containers, except on collection day. The City’s Municipal Code actually prohibits storing waste containers on the sidewalks or streets of residential areas, placing them out for collection for more than 24 hours before pickup time, or leaving them out longer than
• Everything you want collected must be placed within (not outside of) the container. • Container lids must be fully closed or the container may not be picked up.
12 hours following pickup. Additionally, the containers must be
If you are unable to follow
stored out of the public view in between collection days.
these guidelines due to
It’s also good to know the following guidelines so that you can be
physical limitations or other
certain your trash and recycling will be picked up:
similar reasons, contact the San Luis Garbage
• Place your containers so that the hinged portion of the lid faces the curb.
Company at (805) 543-0875
• Make sure there is space between your containers so the automated truck arm can operate properly.
more information.
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for assistance and
Water Rate Structure Study IS UNDERWAY
City of San Luis Obispo's Water Reclamation Facility
UNDERSTANDING YOUR WATER AND SEWER BILLING
UPCOMING SESSIONS:
SEPT 18TH OCT 16TH
In each edition of the Resource, we try to answer some of the more frequently asked questions we hear. One such question is
“Why do the number of days in my billing cycle vary slightly from month to month?” First, your meter is read and you are billed 12 times a year. However, your meter is not read on the same day each month for several reasons. The most obvious is that we do not read meters on weekends, so this can change the schedule by either adding or subtracting the number of days in the billing cycle. Additionally, meters are read Monday through Thursday, which allows our Customer Service Representatives a dedicated day to work on other maintenance needs in the system each week. Again, this contributes to the number of days in the cycle. In order to have 12 monthly bills each year, you will notice that some cycles are less than 30 days while others are more; over the course of a year it all evens out.
By the time this issue of the Resource is delivered to your home, the City Council will have had two study sessions regarding how the City charges for water to ensure that the community’s goals, objectives and expectations are being met. The first session on July 10 explained the basic fundamentals of water rate structure design. During the second session on August 7, the City Council discussed its goals and objectives, and prioritized the top five goals for use in developing conceptual rate structure designs. It is important to note that this study is analyzing the way in which the City structures water rates, NOT to determine the cost of water.
THE RE A RE THRE E MORE ME E TING S PL A NNE D, WITH THE NE X T ME E TING TE NTATI V E LY SCHE DULE D FOR S E P TE MBE R 18 . At this session, the council-recommended rate structure goals will be presented to the community and open for
Second, your bill is calculated and mailed the week after your
discussion. Based on the prioritization, up to 10 conceptual
meter is read and is due upon presentation. It becomes delinquent
water rate designs will be presented at this meeting. Note: No
if not paid by the Monday of the week of your next bill. If you are
actual water rates will be discussed; only rate structures will
interested in knowing your meter-read schedule, or if you have
be discussed.
any general questions, feel free to contact the Utility Billing Office at (805) 781-7133.
For more information and to review the topics and dates of future meetings, visit slowater.org or receive updates from
Send questions that might be of interest to others in the
the Utilities Department’s Facebook page at facebook.com/
community to Ron Munds at rmunds@slocity.org.
SLOUtilitiesDepartment.
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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID GOLETA, CA PERMIT NO. 1215
U TI LITI E S D E PARTM E NT 879 Morro Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
CIT Y ’ S WATER SUPPLY IN GREAT SHAPE Multi-sour ce water supply p olicy cr edited to success
With strong leadership from the City Council and investment
The dry weather and water shortages troubling many other
Water Project pipeline, recycled water and limited groundwater
communities statewide are not threatening San Luis Obispo. Even
production. Combined, these sources add a level of water
if the worst-case drought conditions were to return to the county,
supply reliability not seen by other communities.
the City’s water supply would last well into 2024.
Today, our community has a unique balance of water efficiency and water supply, which is the exception in California.
by the community, the City has five different water sources that include Salinas Reservoir, Whale Rock Reservoir, Nacimiento
For more information regarding the City’s water supply, view the 2012 Water Resources Status Report at www.slocity.org/ utilities, or call (805) 781-7215 for more information.
Whale Rock Reservoir
Like Us on Facebook!
NEW SEWER CAPS IN PLACE Your water and sewer bill in August will reflect the new sewer cap you established last December, January and
Our number of Facebook fans keeps growing! Launched back
February during your “Average Winter Water Use” period.
in May, the Utilities Depar tment’s Facebook page of fers the
The volume-based sewer rate structure implemented in 2007
most up-to-date information and money-saving tips about your
went from a flat-rate billing system, in which everyone paid
water and sewer utilities. Get news about the latest projects
the same no matter how much sewage they generated, to a
that are planned or under way, ways to save money on your
much more equitable system based on actual use.
water bill, interesting facts about the water and sewer utility and much more. So like us on Facebook and join the conver-
For more information on how your sewer bill is calculated, go
sation at facebook.com/SLOUtilitiesDepar tment.
to the Utilities Department website at slocity.org/utilities and click on “How to Calculate Your Water and Sewer Bill.”
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