from Jim Leggieri, General Manager
Bartonville Water Supply Corporation is urging all members to have their own cut-off valve for their 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 Bartonville Water Supply Corporation'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 Bartonville Water Supply Corporation 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 I 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.
We would like to remind our members of payment options involving Credit Cards and Bank Drafting. Please visit our website under index to retrieve the applicable forms or call the office.
Bartonville Water Supply Corporation is finally on the Internet. You can find all the forms that we used to fax or mail to you on our website at http://surf.to/bwsc. Please check out our website for the latest information relating to water conservation, water conservation stage levels, Board Meeting information and other notifications. Don't forget to bookmark the site to give yourself easy access to important information relating to your water needs. Give us feedback and help us further meet your needs using the information highway. Surfs up!!!
Conservation Tips
Though we have had weather reminiscent of the "Great Heat Wave of '80", we are hopefully out of the woods on this summer's heat. However, 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
Bartonville Water Supply Corporation Door Hanger
Joe Graves President
Scott Kilpatrick Vice- President
Larry Kaufman Secretary-Treasurer
Kevin Alberts Director
Phillip Block Director
Jan Loeckle Director
SOURCE: Castaic Lake Water Agency
We are still receiving a number of customer complaints regarding the failure of the postal service to deliver Bartonville Water Supply Corporation’s water bills. Again, Bartonville Water Supply Corporation mails its water bills directly from the Lewisville Post Office regularly each month between the 20th and 24th. If you do not receive a bill by the first of any month, it is your responsibility to notify the Corporation office since we can only assume that your water bill has been delivered by the Post Office.
There is currently a position open on the Board of Directors. At this time the position is available to any member. Please call the office for a copy of the policy concerning appointment and information on this great opportunity to take part in the direction of your community.
The Bartonville Water Supply Corporation Board of Directors recently awarded Gracon Const., Inc. of Dallas, TX a contract for installation of the remaining piping, electrical controls, Telemetry system and three large capacity 300 h.p. booster pumps. The majority of this construction will take place at our Copper Hill pump station site. This site is also where a new 2 Million Gallon ground storage tank is now under construction and scheduled for completion in November of this year. This new tank will be the main reservoir for water received from the Upper Trinity Regional Water District. In addition, upgrades at all remaining pump stations are now underway. All of the above projects are scheduled for completion in late 1998 or early 1999.
In addition, fencing of the pump station/above ground storage tank site property at the intersection of FM 407/Simmons Rd. will be undertaken and completed in the very near future.
Water bills have been piling up since the first day of spring with only scattered showers since March. Many people are wondering if the drought will ever break. You can be sure it will break and we'll have another one.
Few landscapes have escaped the drought. As we enter fall you may want to evaluate your irrigation practices and decide ways to improve your efficiencies and lower future water bills.
One of the most effective ways to improve irrigation efficiencies is to establish irrigation zones based on plant requirements. It is impractical to water each plant in the landscape separately but grouping plants in zones according to how often they are watered is both practical and effective.
The "frequent" watering zone would include color beds of flowering annuals along with container plantings and hanging baskets. This zone will typically be watered several times a week to keep the plants fresh.
The "regular" watering zone would include the lawn areas. During the summer months turfgrass should generally be watered on the order of once a week in the absence of rain.
The "occasional" water zone would include perennial flowers and tender woody shrubs, vines, and groundcovers. These plants would be watered on the order of once every few weeks in the absence of rain.
The "natural" watering zone would include drought-tolerant trees, shrubs, vines and groundcovers. These would not be irrigated but would rely solely on natural rainfall. It should be noted that during exceptionally dry years, even the "natural" zone might need the benefit of an occasional deep watering.
The one area of concern we have left out is foundation watering. The soil around the foundation should be watered on the order of once a week with a drip system.
We would have included this in the regular turf zone but turf cannot be reliably watered with drip irrigation. Drip irrigation can and should be used everywhere except in the turf to reduce losses to evaporation.
Many people will be doing renovations on their landscape this fall because of the drought. To help you come up with the best possible plan a Home Landscape School sponsored by the The Denton County office of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service and the Parks and Leisure Services Department of the City of Lewisville will be held in four consective Thursday night sessions from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on October 8, 15, 22 and 29 in Lewisville.
Students will receive instruction in landscape design, installation and maintenance. Emphasis will be placed on design principles and plant materials which create an attractive and functional landscape with low maintenance requirements. Energy and water conservation will be fully addressed, as well as yard waste reduction and wildlife conservation.
To register for the Home Landscape School contact the Denton County office of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service at (940)565-5536 or metro (972)434-2052. A $35.00 registration fee will be charged per family to cover handouts. Pre-registration is required and seating is limited so register ASAP.
The Argyle Volunteer Fire District is in desperate need of additional Volunteers. For more information and explanations please call:
Fire Chief: Ed Klir (940) 464-7102
Asst. Chief: James Price (817) 430-1116