New Director Appointed from Bartonville

Bartonville WSC would like to welcome Mr. Thomas Greaves of Bartonville as the newest member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Greaves was appointed to the Board to fill the vacancy when Carla Anderson resigned. We look forward to Mr. Greaves' contributions to the Board.

BWSC Happenings

BWSC is currently in the planning stages of installing a 12" or possibly 16" water main along Hilltop Road. When this is completed, it will not only supply much needed water resources to persons in that area, but will also complete a "loop" in the water system, allowing for a continuous flow of water, thereby eliminating 2 "dead ends" in the system and equalizing pressure. The proposed length of water main will be approximately 7,000+' of pipe and run north/south from FM407/Hilltop Road and connect back into our system south of Hickory Hill Road on Hilltop Road.

Also, you may have noticed the new construction on FM 407 by Saddlebrook Estates. Under construction is The Bartonville Town Center, set to open in 2003. The half-acre size buildings will accommodate shops, restaurants, and business office type establishments. This area will be similar to Parker Square in Flower Mound.

Another development in progress is Barrington Hills. Barrington Hills is located between Porter, McMakin, and Broome Roads. The proposed development consists of residential lots ranging in size from 2 to 12 acres.

Don't let the cold weather catch you unprepared.

Here are some tips to help.

• Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses.
• Drain irrigation systems.
• Insulate pipes or faucets in unheated areas or above ground, especially those outdoors with northern exposure.
• Place a strip of insulating material inside your meter box, positioning it to cover the meter itself. Make sure to replace your lid securely. If your meter box lid is missing, please call the office.
• Seal off access doors, air vents, and cracks.
• Find the master water shut off. Every home should have a master shut off other than the Corporation's shutoff. If yours does not, install one as soon as possible!
• When leaving for the Holidays, check the extended forecast. If extremely cold temperatures are predicted, have a neighbor check your home occasionally for possible problems. In case of emergency, know where your water shut-off is located and have it accessible. It is recommended to find the meter shut-off and explain to all responsible household residents the process of shutting the water off in case of an emergency. Of course, making sure your water utility has the correct contact information to speed up notification of emergencies is always a great idea.

What if it's too late?

• Do you have a plumber's telephone number handy?
• If you think your know where the freeze up occurred and want to try thawing it yourself, the easiest tool is probably a hair dryer with a low setting.
• Pouring hot water over a frozen pipe works, but it is messy.

Why Conserve?

Although water covers nearly two-thirds of the Earth's surface, fresh water is still considered an endangered resource. This is due to the fact that only one percent (1%) of the Earth's water can be used to sustain human life. Unfortunately even that one percent is not all for human consumption. The fresh water supplies are shared for industrial, agricultural, and residential use. This does not include the amount of fresh water that is polluted every day.

The water supplies today are as abundant but, unfortunately, no greater than they were during ancient civilization. This is due to the hydrologic cycle (the process of moving water from earth to the air and back again). The water shortage crisis is due to the explosion of the Earth's population and industrialization since that time. In the last decade alone the population has tripled from about 1.6 billion to 5.4 billion and is continuing to grow. As the population expands, so do industrial and agricultural business, thus creating an even greater demand for water. As the world advances and water demand increases, we are using water faster than it can be replenished by nature. Water supplies have become such an area of concern that Texas, like numerous other states' water utilities, is required to enforce serious water conservation measures for consumers. In fact, the term "water police" is no longer a joking matter but a reality.

The diminishing water supply should be a concern for everybody. The fresh water supplies can be preserved if each individual will get involved. Conservation is a simple solution and it does not mean a dormant lawn every summer. It does, however, require education and involvement to make it work.

The BWSC office has several conservation tips and we can also put you in touch with your local County Extension Agent for more detailed information concerning proper watering techniques for conservation and your landscape.

General Information

Board Meetings

The Board of Directors meets once a month at the BWSC office. If you would like to appear before the Board, please submit your request in writing 10 days before the date of the meeting. Please call the office for the next meeting date.

Mail Delivery Problems

We are receiving a number of customer complaints regarding the failure of the postal service to deliver Bartonville Water Supply Corporation's water bills or the receipt of customer's water payments in a timely manner.

Bartonville Water Supply Corporation mails its water bills directly from the Argyle Post Office regularly each month between the 14th and 20th. If you do not receive a bill by the first of any month, it is your responsibility to notify the BWSC office since we can only assume that your water bill has been delivered by the Post Office.

All bills are due on the 8th of each month. Any payment not received on or before the 8th, is charged a penalty.

For your convenience, Bartonville Water Supply Corporation offers monthly bank draft and preauthorized credit card payments. Please call or stop by the office for these forms.

On line Bank Payments

For those of our members that utilize an on-line bill paying service to pay their monthly bill, please be aware that these services actually generate a paper check that is mailed to BWSC. These payments are not received electronically. Please allow plenty of time for your particular service to generate a check and mail it to BWSC. All payments received after the due date of the 8th will be assessed a 5% penalty. Remember BWSC offers electronic bank draft at no charge. A Member's monthly bill will be drafted from their bank account on the due date every month ensuring that payments are never late! If you are interested in bank draft, please contact the office.

Water Trivia

1. How much does a gallon of water weigh?
2. How much water does it take to process a quarter pound of hamburger?
3. What is the total amount of water used in manufacturing a new car, including tires?
4. How much water is used in the average five (5) minute shower?
5. How much water does the average national residence use during one year?
6. How much water does an individual use daily?
7. It is possible to drink water that was part of the dinosaur era?
8. Water is the only substance found on the earth naturally in three forms? T or F
9. How long can a person live without food?
10. How long can a person live without water?

Answers:
1. 8.33 lbs at 20 degrees Celsius.
2. Approximately 1 gallon.
3. 39,090 gallons per car.
4. 12.5 - 50 gallons.
5. 107,000 gallons
6. 123 gallons (national)
7. Yes
8. True; sold, liquid and gas.
9. More than a month.
10. Approximately 1 week, depending on conditions.

The Argyle Volunteer Fire District & Double Oak Volunteer Fire Dept. are in need of additional volunteers.

Please use extreme care in outdoor burning due to the dry conditions. For more information and explanations, please call:
Fire Chief: James Price (817) 430-1116 AVFD
Fire Hall: (817) 430-0013 DOVFD

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