Director Vacancy on the Board

Carla Anderson, from the Town of Bartonville, resigned effective September 9, 2002. Carla has resigned to assume her position with the Town Council of Bartonville. The Board and staff wish Carla success in her future endeavors and thank her for her years of service and commitment to the Board. Carla's resignation creates a vacancy for a three-year term on the Board of Directors. If you are interested in serving as a Director or nominating someone as a Director, please contact the office for literature on serving as a Director of a Non-Profit Corporation. After a review of this information, you will need to submit a resume to the Board and be available for an interview by the Board.

THE ROLE OF THE BWSC DIRECTOR

For those considering running, or nominating someone for a Board of Directors position, here are some items for consideration as stated in The Water Board Guide by Ellen G. Miller and Elmer Ronnebaum:

A Director is someone with an "ATTITUDE OF SERVICE." Some aspects of board members are:

• Commitment: to mastering complex issues, to putting in long hours.
• Understanding: why you're on the board and what being a public figure means.
• Experience: jobs, working with and listening to people.
• Tolerance: of different points of view (sometimes vividly or angrily expressed), and of people who are different from you.
• Responsibility: for making sound financial and legal decisions that affect the direction of the Corporation.

The above is an overview of the role of a Director. If you would like additional information, please contact the office.

Capital Projects Update

BWSC is currently updating its Master Plan and has acquired additional property for a future pumping / well / ground storage tank site. The site consists of approximately 4+ acres and is located in a densely treed, naturally screened area within the town limits of Bartonville. The new site is also located adjacent to the proposed Upper Trinity Regional Water District (UTRWD) Southwest service zone surface water transmission main. As a result, BWSC will not only have access to ground water by having the capability of drilling a new water well at this site but also the ability to establish a second point of surface water delivery with the UTRWD should the need arise. Although construction of the facilities will be a number of years off, prudent planning by the Board of Directors prompted site securement at this time.

Once constructed, the new facilities will benefit all BWSC members but will greatly enhance existing/future service capabilities in the western (Bartonville) portion of our service area.

BWSC would like to thank the Town of Bartonville's mayor, council, staff and citizens for consideration/granting of our request for site approval for this system wide benefit.

CUSTOMER CUT-OFF VALVES

BWSC is urging all members to have their own cut-off valve for the service line located on their property. According to Chapter 291.86 (B) of the Texas Administrative Code, "The customer's responsibility begins at the discharge side of the meter…" This valve should be installed between your house and BWSC's meter set, preferably in a separate box. Customers should not use the Corporation's cut-off located in the Corporation's meter box as a means to turn water off. Improper operation of Corporation property can cause expensive damage and result in a water outage for a large number of our customers. Should damage due to tampering, occur to Corporation property, the customer will be invoiced for the repairs. Only BWSC personnel are authorized to operate Corporation equipment in the meter box. Remember, such an installation is fairly inexpensive and is invaluable when needed in an emergency.

Freezing temperatures are around the corner and we would like to remind our customers to insulate their exposed pipes and outside household hydrants or those on outbuildings. Irrigation systems can be drained to prevent damage. It is much easier to accomplish these maintenance tasks now in the sunshine than in the cold later.

  DID YOU KNOW THAT…

• A healthy adult needs 2 quarts of water a day. Most people drink less than this.
• Tomatoes are 95% water.
• The overall amount of water on our planet has remained the same for two billion years.
• One gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds.
• About 6,800 gallons of water are required to grow a day's food for a family of four.
• If all the water in the Great Lakes was spread evenly across the continental U.S., the ground would be covered with almost 10 feet of water.
• About 39,000 gallons of water are needed to make an automobile.
• The human brain is composed of 95% water; blood is 82% water; and the lungs are nearly 90% water.
• 4,000 glasses of tap water can be purchased for the same price as a six pack of soda.
• The first water pipes in the U.S. were made from hollowed out logs.
• The forerunner of Chase Manhattan Bank began as a water company.

SOURCE: Castaic Lake Water Agency

CONSERVATION TIPS

Though we have had a relatively mild summer, only one recorded 100 degree day, it is still important to practice water conservation. Here are some water conservation practices and information you should find helpful.

If you are doing any landscaping this fall try planting drought resistant grasses such as Bermuda, Korean, Rye, or Zoysia and keep the lawns cut high (3" blade level) when growing season starts to improve root penetration and increase the water gathering power of the lawn. For bahiagrass lawns, stop irrigating and allow the grass to go dormant. Bahiagrass will turn brown, but it recovers well when irrigation resumes. Thin out dense beds of plants to reduce competition among plants and don't forget to mulch. Mulch is the unsung hero of preserving moisture in flowerbeds.

For homes:

The average home faucet uses from 0-5 gallons per minute while running. At this rate, washing hands may use 2-5 gallons; brushing teeth, 5-10 gallons; and shaving, 10-40 gallons! Repair dripping faucets by replacing washers because a faucet dripping at the rate of one drop per second can waste 2,700 gallons per year which will add to the cost of water and sewer utilities, or strain your septic system.

Washing machines may use between 38 and 69 gallons per full cycle. This use averages 40-45 gallons for a 12-16 pound load of clothes. Operate automatic dishwashers and clothes washers only when they are fully loaded and properly set the water level for the size of load you are using.

In the kitchen, you can save water by storing drinking water instead of running the tap every time you want a cool glass of water. Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods, instead try defrosting food overnight by placing it in the refrigerator or by using the defrost function of the microwave. Also, try insulating your water pipes so hot water gets to you faster and you will avoid wasting water as well. After you get to the hot water, adjust the temperature by decreasing the flow of the hot or cold water. Kitchen faucets use 0-5 gallons per minute so use wisely. Bathroom water usage is significantly increased when leaks are present in the toilet system. Toilet system water leaks make up 90% of the leaks in the home and can easily waste 100-200 gallons per day. Check to see if your toilets leaking by adding food coloring to the toilet's tank and see if it appears in the bowl after a few minutes.

SOURCE: Castaic Lake Water Agency/www.clwa.org/conserv.htm
Dr. Bill Bushing/ www.calinas.net/seer/educ/misc/watrcons.htm
www.impulse.net
Bartonville Water Supply Corporation Door Hanger

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