May Update

Dear Member:

A comfortable May is now behind us with a bit of rain and high temperatures which averaged about 6 degrees cooler than last year.  We know hot weather is just around the corner and the dreaded 100+ degree days will be here soon.

Our water usage so far this year is down 16% from last year.  Governor Brown's target of an 28% reduction from 2013 is difficult to reach.  We are 8% over the target year to date while May's usage was 8% better than the target.  We are making very good progress.  It is getting warmer and our lawns will be asking for more water, but 60 minutes (20 minutes, 3 times) per week is more than enough to keep our lawns reasonably green.  We will be invstigating and sharing water usage tips on the Belmont Water blog which will feed directly into the BWC website.

In the middle of May, Kelly and Mike checked the well depth again.  The water depth dropped 2 feet to 74 feet from February to May, but was the same depth as last October.

We plan on checking and reporting the water level every quarter.

The board has scheduled June 27 for a main shut off valve search.  Our goal is to locate every property owner's incoming water valve.  Not only will it aid the board in planning for the future, you may need to find your valve to shut off water at the street to make repairs to your water lines.  Ernie Valdovinos purchased a valve wrench which he has donated to BWC.  It is now kept in the well compound and is available to anyone in need. Contact any of your board members for access.  Board member contact information can be found on the contact page of BWC website.

Speaking of the BWC web site.  It has been completely redesigned from top to bottom and is located on its own site, not on WIX.  It now also works on IPads and iPhones.  Check it out.  Let us know how you like it by sending your comments via the contact page.

There were complaints made a couple of months ago about the country club watering often while BWC members are asked to save water.  Belmont Country Club is working on managing the golf course with reduced water usage.  The incident that sparked the complaint was grounds crew testing lines and removing accumulated sand in those lines which deceases the efficiency of the watering.  They have adopted a drought contingency plan, turned water off in certain areas, hired an expert to assist in planning, and have contacted the City of Fresno to solicit access to gray water.  As a business, they are doing their part to save as much water as possible while maintaining a playable golf course.

We have new neighbors again, Jessica and Ryan Montag are moving into their, new to them, home on the 7th fairway. David and Maryann Callahan will be moving into their completely remodeled home also located on the 7th fairway in June.  Welcome to the neighborhood.

As we welcome new neighbors, we mourn the passing of others as Katherine Mobley lost her mother last month.  Our thoughts are with you.

Thank you for your continued support,
Board of Directors

How to cut your water use in half

Click here for video

Consumer Reports

As the saying goes, you can’t squeeze water from a stone. But that’s what California residents have been trying to do as the state’s drought stretches into its fourth year. With hot weather approaching and water scarce in many parts of the country, there are lots of water-saving ideas floating around, but frankly, we admit that some of them seem downright silly.

Picking up an ice cube that’s fallen on the floor and putting it on a plant won’t provide much moisture. Throwing your dog’s leftover water on the garden won’t help much, either, unless you have a really big dog. And you could give all your kids a bath at the same time, but they might object.

California isn’t the only place facing a dry spell. Water managers in 40 states say that even if water conditions remain normal, they expect shortages in some part of their state over the next decade. That’s according to WaterSense, the water conservation partner of the Environmental Protection Agency. That means we all could benefit from California’s efforts to get “more pop per drop,” as a state water authority put it.
The two best ways to save water are by replacing water-wasting appliances and fixtures, and changing your lifestyle and habits. Neither is easy. The first requires an up-front expense and the second a long-term commitment. But do both and you can cut your usage in half or better. That’s good for the earth and your budget.
Outdoor watering accounts for almost 30 percent of water use, according to an analysis published by Environment Magazine. But toilets (19 percent), washing machines (15 percent), showers (12 percent), and faucets (11 percent) also use substantial amounts. Then there’s the 10 percent of water lost to leaks that are not always easy to detect.
In addition to plugging leaks, five of the most effective ways to save water indoors, says Environment Magazine, are to install low-flow toilets, use a high-efficiency washer, reduce shower time to five minutes, wash only full loads of laundry, and reduce toilet flushes by 25 percent. Buying a more efficient dishwasher and installing low-flow showerheads also help.
Despite good intentions, switching appliances and fixtures can sometimes have unintended consequences. Folks who install a low-flow shower may take longer showers, and those with low-flow toilets may flush more often thinking that they aren’t getting the oomph they once did. That’s where Consumer Reports can help. In our tests of those and other products, we measure not only efficiency but performance. For example, nine low-flow toilets made our list of top toilet picks because all were very good to excellent at removing solid waste.
Water-saving bathroom and kitchen fixtures that meet federal WaterSense standards carry that label, and appliances that meet federal water and energy standards earn the blue Energy Star. Both agencies encourage their partners to reward energy and water-saving behavior with rebates, as do many utilities.
Following are some meaningful ways to save water around the house and yard as well as top-performing water misers from our tests of washing machines, dishwashers, toilets, and showerheads.

Water Wisdom – from the Growing California video series

CDFA Office of Public Affairs

The latest segment in the Growing California video series, a partnership with California Grown, is “Water Wisdom,” a profile of Central California farmer Don Cameron and his innovative water management to lessen the pain of the drought.