February 2019 Update

Dear Member:

Annual Membership Meeting - Important Reminder

The Belmont Water Corporation Annual Membership Meeting will be held at 6:00 PM on March 12, 2019 at Belmont Country Club, 8253 East Belmont Ave, Fresno, California 93737. Appetizers and a hosted bar will be provided with the meeting beginning at 6:30 PM. This may be the most important meeting in the history of Belmont Water Corporation. 

Please click here to signify your attendance or authorize your proxy.

February Weather

February weather was wet and cold like most of the country. High temps were 5 degrees below normal.  With 3.26 inches of rain, the total for the year is now above normal.  Reports from the state indicate that snow accumulations in the San Joaquin watershed range from 116 to 199% of the normal amount for April 1.  It looks to be a good year for farmers in the valley.

Watering Rules

Please water only three days per week, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Change your sprinkler controller seasonal setting to 20%.  

Water Conservation

Water usage for the month was seasonably down from January to 8,400 gallons per household. It was 57% better than the target and 71% better than last year. Usage was the second lowest month since the meter installation in 2011.  Click here for a larger view.  

1,2,3-TCP Mitigation

We have still no news on a trust agreement with Belmont Country Club on the transfer of the settlement funds to a trust account. 

We will be discussing an alternative to a large system at the annual meeting.

If you have any questions, please call Nic Pope or Mike Emigh.

January 2019 Update

Dear Member:

Annual Membership Meeting

The Belmont Water Corporation Annual Membership Meeting will be held at 6:00 PM on March 12, 2019 at Belmont Country Club, 8253 East Belmont Ave, Fresno, California 93737. Appetizers and a hosted bar will be provided with the meeting beginning at 6:30 PM. This may be the most important meeting in the history of Belmont Water Corporation. 

Please plan on attending this important neighborhood event. Topics for the meeting are annual assessments and a third possibility for 1,2,3-TCP mitigation, which, if approved by the state, could substantially reduce the up-front capital costs.  Point of Entry (POE) treatment has not yet been used for removal of 1,2,3-TCP.  A pilot program will be developed and presented to the SWRCB for approval. The SWRCB is aware of these systems in use for other water treatment and look forward to seeing the results of a pilot program.  The engineering firm we commissioned to investigate POE includes the cost of the pilot program study.  A representative of the firm will be attending the meeting to answer questions. We have also met with a local water company interested in this treatment method.

The full meeting agenda will be mailed prior to the meeting.  Please plan on attending the meeting.  It is very important to have all input as we move forward with plans.

January Weather

Unlike most of the country, January continued the trend from November and December with beautiful days, not much fog, and temperatures again 3 degrees higher than normal. We only received about 2.23" of rain and we are just over 1" behind normal.  the Sierra snow pack which supplies California with 80% of water used throughout the year is at or above normal in most locations. 

Watering Rules

Please water only three days per week, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Change your sprinkler controller seasonal setting to 10%.  

Water Conservation

Water usage for the month was seasonably down from November to 11,000 gallons per household. It was 38% better than the target and 61% better than last year. Usage was the second lowest since the meter installation in 2011.  Click here for a larger view.  

1,2,3-TCP Mitigation

We have still no news on a trust agreement with Belmont Country Club on the transfer of the settlement funds to a trust account.

If you have any questions, please call Nic Pope or Mike Emigh.

December 2018 Update

Dear Member:

Designed by Freepik

Best wishes for a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year

New Neighbors

Dean Rhodus and his daughter Naomi have purchased Doc Buchanan's former home after Woody and Stephanie Salkin moved to be within walking distance of their sons' school.  Welcome to the neighborhood, Dean and Naomi.  Best of luck Woody and Stephanie.  We hope you all enjoy your new homes and neighborhoods.

December Weather

December was beautiful for a December with high temperatures at normal for the month. Lows were 6 degrees above normal which made the days seem much warmer and kept the fog away. We only received about .5" of rain and seasonably we are just over 1.5" behind normal.

Watering Rules

Please water only three days per week, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Change your sprinkler controller seasonal setting to 10%.  

Water Conservation

Water usage for the month was seasonably down from November to just under 15,000 gallons per household. It was 23% better than the target and 57% better than last year. Usage was the third lowest recorded since the meter installation in 2011. We ended the year with total water usage 24,600,000 gallons, 9% above the target of 22,600,000 gallons than the target and 1% above last year's usage of 24,400,000 gallons. Click here for a larger view.  

1,2,3-TCP Mitigation

We have still no news on an agreement with Belmont Country Club on the transfer of the settlement funds to a trust account.  We are meeting with them on January 2, 2019.
The board of directors will be reviewing the engineering study on point of entry treatment and deciding next steps at an upcoming board meeting.

If you have any questions, please call Nic Pope or Mike Emigh.

November 2018 Update

Dear Member:

Seasons Greetings

New Neighbors

Bruce and Michele Loewen purchased the home of Jerry and Penny Murray as they downsized and moved to a smaller footprint. Welcome to the neighborhood Bruce and Michele.  I'm sure you love your new view of the 7th hole.  Memberships in Belmont Country Club are being offered at a 25% discount until the end of December.  Hope to see you out on the links.

Veterans Day Bike Parade

The first ever Veterans Day Bike Parade was held November 10.  I think there were 3 trips around the circle.  That's when the parent helpers called it a day.

November Weather

November again was a beautiful month with temperatures about 2 degrees above normal. The rain at the end of the month not only cleared the skies of smoke from the forest fires, but put us over the normal amount of rain for the year.  Ski resorts opened early and it looks to be a pretty good rain and snow year coming up.

Watering Rules

Please water only three days per week, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Change your sprinkler controller seasonal setting to 10%.  If you have a Rachio controller, the seasonal shift was made for you automatically.  Rachio also has a function called rain skip. If it is raining or rain is in the forecast, Rachio will skip the watering cycle.  November's planned usage was 10 hours and 54 minutes. The actual watering time was 6 hours and 10 minutes due to rain skips. 

Water Conservation

Water usage for the month was seasonably down from October to just over 38,000 gallons per household. It was 18% worse than the target but 10% better than last year. Year to date, we are 10% worse than the target and 5% worse than last year. Click here for a larger view.  

1,2,3-TCP Mitigation

We have yet to come to an agreement with Belmont Country Club on the transfer of the settlement funds to a trust account.  
The board of directors approved another engineering study on different method of treatment.  The study was completed at the end of November and we now have another option for treatment.

If you have any questions, please call Nic Pope or Mike Emigh.

October 2018 Update

Dear Member:

October Weather

October was a beautiful month with Chamber of Commerce weather. Both highs and lows were at the seasonal normal.  The only rain, .06", was received early and the balance of the month was nearly cloudless except for the harvest dust hanging in the air.

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/sports/golf/article133241264.html#storylink=cpy

Halloween Potluck

The Halloween potluck at Megan and Trevor Barbeau's was great. It's nice to see some many children back in the neighborhood.  We look forward to next year's. Thank you.

Watering Rules

Please water only three days per week, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Change your sprinkler controller seasonal setting to 30%.  Really, our lawns don't need much water this time of the year. If you have a Rachio controller, the seasonal shift was made for you automatically.

Water Conservation

Water usage for the month was seasonably down from September to just over 57,000 gallons per household. It was 1% worse than the target but 17% better than last year. Year to date, we are 10% worse than the target and 6% worse than last year. Click here for a larger view.  

1,2,3-TCP Mitigation

No meetings were held with Belmont Country Club.

Another water sample was collected and the level of 1,2,3-TCP remains as before.  A notice was sent to everyone and posted on the website at mid-month.

If you have any questions, please call Nic Pope or Mike Emigh.

September 2018 Update

Dear Member:

September Weather

Although we received a brief respite from the searing summer temperatures of June, July and August, September was again 2 degrees above normal highs.  We finished the rain year 4.57 inches behind normal and a full 3 degrees hotter than normal.  Not a good combination. Let's hope for a better weather this coming year.

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/sports/golf/article133241264.html#storylink=cpy

Halloween Potluck

How about a Halloween potluck! Megan and Trevor Barbeau invite you to their home from 5-6:30 on Halloween, Wednesday, October 31. Costume parade at 5, pumpkin carving contest (bring finished pumpkin), food and then Trick or Treating. Megan will make two soups, rolls and cornbread. Let her know if you can come and what you can bring.  You can RSVP Megan at meggymutt@gmail.com or text or call 559.288.8323.

Welcome to the Neighborhood

We again have new neighbors.  Bill and Amy Grigsby purchased the home of Mike and Ingrid Gerosa and moved in at the end of September.  They are members of Belmont Country Club and now have a continual view of the course from the 5th tee.  Welcome to the neighborhood.

Watering Rules

Please water only three days per week, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Change your sprinkler controller seasonal setting to 40%.  If you have a Rachio controller, the seasonal shift was made for you this morning automatically.
Check your controllers after a power outage and reset.  It may reset itself to a default program and water on different days and times. 
It is also best to water during the non-daylight hours because less water is lost to evaporation.

Water Operator

Good news.  Mike Gerosa is coming back to Belmont Country Club and has agreed to return to his D1 Water Distribution Operator position in charge of maintenance of the well and distribution system, sampling, and reporting.  
Mike reminds everyone of the importance to report water line breaks to him immediately to prevent system contamination and costly sampling and treatment.

Water Conservation

Water usage for the month was seasonably down from August to just over 72,000 gallons per household. It was 5% worse than the target but 2% better than last year.  Year to date, we are 11% worse than the target and 9% worse than last year. Click here for a larger view.  
On average, we use about 50,000 gallons per home per month throughout the year.  We estimate that about 20,000 gallons is for household use and 30,000 gallons is used for irrigation.

1,2,3-TCP Mitigation

No meetings were held with Belmont Country Club to discuss the mitigation settlement. A revised draft proposal of a trust agreement has been sent to Belmont Country Club.  The trust will be used to open a bank trust account.  The settlement funds are now being held in the attorney's bank account and earning no interest.

At the last Belmont Water Corporation board of directors meeting, we agreed to engage an engineering firm to study the potential of point of entry (POE) filtration for the mitigation of the contaminant.  Capital costs could be reduced, but POE may prove difficult operationally.  We will keep you posted.

If you have any questions, please call Nic Pope or Mike Emigh.

August 2018 Update

Dear Member:

August Weather

The last few days of August were quite nice especially after the scorching July and early August.  It felt like Autumn was in the air.  The fires still burning at month's end added beautiful sunsets.

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/sports/golf/article133241264.html#storylink=cpy

Belmont Country Club

The Belmont Country Club Annual Proprietary Member Meeting will be held on Thursday, September 6, 2018. A buffet dinner will be served at 6:00PM with the meeting beginning at 6:30PM.  If you are a proprietary member, please attend.  Decisions made by club effect all in the neighborhood.

Watering Rules

Please water only three days per week, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Change your sprinkler controller seasonal setting to 80%.  If you have a Rachio controller, the seasonal shift was made for you this morning automatically.
Check your controllers after a power outage and reset.  It may reset itself to a default program and water on different days and times. Several homes were noted to be watering on non-water days.  
It is also best to water during the non-daylight hours.  Less water is lost to evaporation.

New Neighbor

Andrew Jacob Breckenridge was born to Chris and Belina Breckenridge this month.  Andrew joins his two older brothers in the Breckenridge household.  Welcome to the neighborhood.

Water Operator

Mike and Ingrid Gerosa have sold their home on the 5th Tee and will be moving near the end of September.  Although we will miss them, we wish them the best.
Mike recently served as President of Belmont Water Corporation.  He has also been serving as the class D1 Water Distribution Operator in charge of maintenance of the well and distribution system, sampling, and reporting.  
If you are interested in taking his place, please click here for a description of the position.  Chuck Blanks was the previous operator.  The position takes a few hours per month to perform the necessary tasks.  If not filled by a member, a professional will need to engaged at a cost to the corporation and the members.

Water Conservation

Water usage for the month was slightly down from July at nearly 88,000 gallons per household. It was 9% worse than the target but 2% better than last year.  Year to date, we are 12% worse than the target and 11% worse than last year. Click here for a larger view.  

Well Depth

The depth of the water in our well was checked again this month.  At seventy six feet, the water level is down three feet from January and one foot from last August.  It seems we are holding very steady.

A peach orchard just to the west of us has been removed and is slated to be replanted with almonds.  Fortunately, our well should not be impacted because both crops use about 3 acre feet of water per year.

1,2,3-TCP Mitigation

No meetings were held with Belmont Country Club to discuss the mitigation settlement.  We will continue to attempt to meet and discuss an agreement. At the settlement in February 2018, the funds were placed in an account of Robins Borghei LLP and earn no interest.

We submitted our respond to the SWRCB non-compliance citation on August 15, 2018 with a corrective action plan for the mitigation of the contamination.  We met with the Senior Engineer and staff shortly after the submission to discuss our plans.  They were satisfied with the proposal and the timeline which calls for completion by March 2021.  They also suggested that Belmont Water Corporation become familiar with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and attend meetings of the North Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA).

If you have any questions, please call Nic Pope or Mike Emigh.