New Sewer Cap | Improved Utility Billing | Rainy Season is Coming

What you can do to help prevent this…• INSPECT your rain gutters, downspouts, and yard drains to

see if they are connected to your sanitary sewer lateral. Such connections are illegal.

• CHECK your sewer clean out (call a plumber if you are not sure where yours is). Make sure the cap to the clean out pipe is on and has not been damaged. Replace missing caps; other-wise, rain can get into the sewer line.

• AVOID planting trees and shrubs, which can cause damage to your lateral, above or near the sewer lateral that runs from your home to the street.

• REPLACE your sewer lateral if you have persistent problem with root intrusion or frequent blockages.

• Consider having the sewer lateral video inspected when purchasing a home to

avoid surprises in the future.

Winter 2013 Volume 17, Issue 1

HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE:Your Dollars at Work | Great Time To Plant | Winter Stormwater Tips

YOU AND I & I

( INFLOW & INFILTRATION)

There are two problems most people don’t know about until there’s a backup in the sewer system and raw sewage spills into the street, a home or business. Those two problems are called“inflow”and“infiltration.”

Inflowintosewerpipescanoccurthroughrainfallingdirectly into open drains that are connected to the system, or through surface drains, such as rain gutters being illegally connected to the collection system. By comparison, infiltrationoccurswhengroundwaterenters the sanitary sewer pipes through cracks and leaking joints. A vast majorityoftheinfiltrationcontributionisfromfaultyprivatesewer laterals throughout the City.

Sowhyisthisimportant?Theaddedflowthatthesetwo items create can increase the volume of water in the collection system by a whopping 566%. This not only increases costs for treatment because of increased volume ofwaterflowingthroughthesystemtothewastewatertreatmentplant,butitcanalsocausesewageoverflows.Onaverage,about4.5milliongallonsofwaterflowthroughthe collection system every day during the dry season. But inflowandinfiltrationcanincreasethattoabout20milliongallons during a storm event.

What does this mean for you? Aside from the potential for sewage to spill into your business or home, the current and future cost to treat relatively clean water as wastewater is considerable. Planned upgrades to the Water Reclamation Facility include adding capacity to treat this water, which will affect your future sewer rate.

Please call (805) 781-7215 with any questions or for more information.

2

After extensive study, the Utilities Department is moving from a now obsolete software it has used for the past 20 years to a new maintenance and

asset management system that will help manage water distribution, wastewater collections and storm drain infrastructure. Maintaining, replacing and managing these assets is critical to providing excellent service to the community in a fiscally sound and efficient manner.

This CMMS software will tie daily work orders and maintenance to long-range planning and life cycle cost analysis, and aid in the development of sound capital replacement plans.

THE VALUE OF WATER AND SEWER SERVICEThe Utilities Department strives to provide a reliable and high quality water and sewer service at a reasonable cost. To accomplish this goal, the City of San Luis Obispo uses long-range strategic planning to effectively predict what is needed to deliver water and sewer services, and the future investment neededtokeepthemrunningsmoothlyandefficiently.

We believe it is important for our ratepayers to understand the value of these systems and how a well-maintained infrastructure protects the environment, provides a sound foundation for the local economy, and enhances the quality of life of the community.

As water and sewer service costs rise, it is important to remember the value of these essential services.

Water is treated and delivered to your home and then collected, treated and safely released back into the environment 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All of this is done for a combined cost of just over two cents a gallon for both services. Comparing this cost to the cost of other everyday liquid consumer goods, water and sewer service is a bargain.

Ifyouhaveanyquestionsregardingthecostofyourwaterandsewerservice, please call (805) 781-7215.

YOUR DOLLARS AT WORK: GREATER EFFICIENCY &COST SAVINGS

NEW COMPUTERIZED MAINTENANCEAND ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CMMS) - $465,000

Price comparison of widely used consumer goods

Product Average Price/Gallon

Drinking water $0.01

Sewer service $0.01

Gasoline $4.00

Tide detergent $8.50

Importedbeer $12.00

Starbucks Latte $22.00

Evian bottled water $25.00

Vicks cough syrup $100.00

Visine eye drops $750.00

Revlon nail enamel $1,000

Chanel No. 5 perfume $45,000

Source:Maxwell2005;updatedtoreflect2012prices.

3

The San Luis Obispo City Council recently completed an in-depth study on how the City charges for water service. The purpose of the study was to review the current rate structure and explore any alternative rate structures to ensure that the community’s goals, objectives and expectations were being met. The council focused on how to create revenue and rate stability, while charging each customer class in a fair and equitable manner.

The result: A recommended water rate structure modificationtoadda$5fixedfeeandhavetwotiersfor all customer classes (see tables below).

Changing the water rate structure requires voter approval in accordance with California Constitution ArticleXIII(commonlyknownasProposition218)beforefinaladoptioncanoccur.TheProposition218processisscheduledforthespringof2013.Ifapproved, the new rate structure will go into effect July 1, 2013.

For more information, please e-mail Utilities Department Conservation Manager Ron Munds at rmunds@slocity.org.

GREAT TIME TO PLANT GARDENS, REPAIR IRRIGATION Winter offers planting and irrigation maintenance opportunities to bemoreresource-efficientwhilesavingmoney.

During typical winters on the Central Coast, irrigation can be turned off until March or when the ground begins to dry. Since dry winters may require some irrigation, homeowners and business owners should visually check soil-moisture level. They can also scratch down to the roots to see if the soil is dry. Any evidence of moisture indicates that watering probably isn’t necessary.

This is the perfect time of year to evaluate your irrigation system and make repairs or changes for the next season. Taking a little time now to check for broken sprinkler heads and valves can save a lot of money next spring and summer.

The rainy season is also a great time to plant a garden. Winter planting allows the landscape to establish itself using rainwater alone, while planting during the spring or summer tends to produce large water bills as the landscape is established. Check with your local nursery for plants that will do well this time of year.

Current Rate Structure

Residential Commercial

Monthly Fixed Charge $0.00 $0.00

Consumption Charges

1–5 units $6.25 $6.25

6–25 units $7.82 $7.82

26+ units $9.80 $7.82

Proposed Rate Structure

Monthly Fixed Charge $5.00

Consumption Charges

1–8 units $6.10

9+ units $7.63

Month Irrigation Minutes per Week

March 10 minutes/week

April 30 minutes/week

May 45 minutes/week

NEW WATER RATE STRUCTURE STUDY COMPLETED

UTILITIES DEPARTMENT879 Morro StreetSan Luis Obispo, CA 93401

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDGOLETA, CA

PERMIT NO. 1215

Designed by: Verdin Printed on recycled paper4

If you haven't already done so, check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SLOUtilitiesDepartment. You’ll get news about the latest projects, ways to save money on your water and sewer bill, interesting facts about your water and sewer utility, and much more. So like us on Facebook and join the conversation.

NEW STATE STORMWATER REGULATIONS TO TAKE EFFECT

The California State Water Resources Control Board is adopting a new statewide stormwater permit, which will increase the City’s responsibility to monitor, control and regulate water runoff that enters our local creeks. The City currently spends about $800,000 a year to meet the requirements of the existing stormwater permit.

Efforts are already underway to work cooperatively with other local cities and counties to minimize the costs associated with the new permit. City staff is currently assessing the impacts of the new regulations and will make recommendations to the City Council as part of the 2013-2015 Financial Plan regarding any additional resources that will be needed to remain in compliance.

Look for more information about the new stormwater program in coming months.

OUR FACEBOOK COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GROW

WINTER STORMWATER TIPS:• Inspectyourcarforleaksofmateriallikeantifreezeandoil;repairifnecessary.

• Properlyuseandstorehouseholdchemicals,likepaintandpesticides,andtakeany unwantedhouseholdhazardouswastetothefacilityatColdCanyonLandfill.

• Pickupyourpetwasteanddisposeofitinthetrash,notthestormdrainorcreekareas.

• Sweepdriveways,patiosandsidewalksratherthanhosingthemdownintothegutters.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Water & Sewer Problems8 am to 5 pm

(805) 781-7220

After Hours & Weekends(805) 781-7312