Customers Help Fund Water System
Repairs
Power Master Plan is in the
Works
Landscape Classes Offer
Water-saving Advice
Water and Energy
Glossary
Recycled Water Could
Save Millions of Gallons
Water-Wise and
Energy-Efficient
Preventive Maintenance in
Your Home
PWP on the
Web
Noticias en Breve
 n 2003, after a series of public
meetings throughout the community and approval by the City Council, PWP launched
an 18-year, $234 million program to refurbish Pasadena’s aging water system
completely. The plan includes replacing more than 200 miles of pipeline and
making sure our wells and reservoirs can stand up to major earthquakes.
 Since the project began, PWP crews have replaced more than 12 miles of pipeline
including a 117-year-old section of pipe along Colorado Boulevard in front of
the Norton Simon Museum. The new pipes should last another 100 years.
Some of the funding for this vital program comes from the City Council-approved
Capital Improvement Charge (CIC) that appears on all Pasadena water bills. This
past summer the CIC increased to 41¢ per billing unit (100 cubic feet or 748
gallons). An average residential customer who uses 12 billing units each month
will pay just under $5; the CIC totals about $6.3 million per year for badly
needed improvements.
Learn more about Pasadena’s water resources and infrastructure by watching
“Waterways” on 55 KPAS and at www.cityofpasadena.net (click on City News)
Mondays at 4 p.m., Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 3:30 p.m., Saturdays
at 9 p.m. and Sundays at 8 a.m.
NOW
THAT THE POWER MASTER PLAN IS FULLY UNDERWAY, what about Pasadena’s
power distribution system? In the next few months the City Council will consider
plans for determining the state of the community’s power infrastructure,
including vaults, circuit breakers and more, plus how to fund infrastructure
upgrades that will extend the life of the power distribution system for many
years to come. More information will be published in a future edition of
Pasadena In Focus.
YOU DON'T NEED TO USE LOTS OF WATER to
enjoy a beautiful garden. Attend a free, PWP-sponsored class and learn from
experts how to plan, develop and create beautiful residential landscaping using
drought-tolerant and native plants. Meet others and share your ideas, ask an
expert your questions and enjoy free refreshments. You’ll help conserve our
precious water resources and build a legacy for your home’s future.
Four-hour classes will be held at Eaton Canyon Nature Center, 1750 N. Altadena
Dr., on April 8, April 9 and May 21. To reserve your spot call the PWP
AnswerLine.
Biomass – An energy resource derived from organic matter
including wood, agricultural waste, algae and other organic substances.
Geothermal – Heat energy extracted from reservoirs in the earth’s
interior, including geysers, molten rock and steam spouts.
Greenhouse Gases – Heat-trapping gases that increasingly create a warming
of the planet. These include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide,
chlorofluorocarbons and water vapor.
Hydro – Energy produced from the movement of water.
Renewable Energy – Energy derived from sources that cannot be depleted.
SEER – Seasonable Energy Efficiency Ratio, which is a comparison between
the cooling output achieved vs. the energy input necessary.
PASADENA RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN RECYCLING everything
from aluminum cans to newspapers. Pasadena Water and Power is exploring the
possibility of adding water to that list.
Recycled, or reclaimed, water is treated wastewater used for landscape
irrigation, industrial cooling processes, toilet flushing and many other uses.
Because it is never used for drinking, it cannot be distributed through regular
water lines that provide tap water. Instead, recycled water requires a separate
distribution system to get from the original source to residential and
commercial customers who have installed the appropriate piping necessary to have
the recycled water delivered to their properties.
There are a number of important benefits to recycled water, including
conservation of millions of gallons of potable (drinkable) water from
underground and from surface sources such as lakes and rivers; and it provides a
reliable supply for landscape irrigation and other uses during droughts.
The city of Glendale is using reclaimed water for landscape irrigation at parks,
high schools, golf courses, cemeteries and medians. Some customers in Pasadena
have expressed interest in using recycled water for similar purposes.
PWP has hired an engineering firm to study the feasibility of building a
distribution system for recycled water and to gauge customer interest. If the
final report is approved, it would be a few years before infrastructure could be
put in place
in Pasadena.
A pipeline has already been built from a water treatment plant to Scholl Canyon
in northeast Glendale. The decision that must be made is how extensive the
distribution system should be within Pasadena and whether there is enough demand
to
match supply.
More information about efforts to bring recycled water to Pasadena will be
available in future editions of Pasadena In Focus.
Greening Pasadena means saving water and electricity – it all
starts with you!
Water
• Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they’re full to save up to
1,000 gallons a month.
• Purchase a new, high-efficiency clothes washer with a water factor (gallons
per cycle) of 9.0 or less and save up to 9,000 gallons a year. You’ll also
receive a $200 rebate from PWP. If you have an all-electric household, you may
be eligible for an additional $100 rebate.
• Install a new EnergyStar® dishwasher and save more than 800 gallons a year. If
you have an all-electric household, you may be eligible for a $75 rebate.
• Install a new ultra-low-flow or dual-flush toilet and save more than 2,000
gallons a year. You may be eligible for a rebate of up to $80.
• Listen for dripping faucets. Fixing a leak can save 500 gallons a month.
• Turn off water while you shave and save more than 100 gallons a week.
• Turn off water while you shampoo and condition your hair and save more than 50
gallons a week.
Energy
• Your refrigerator accounts for about 15% of your total home electric bill! A
new EnergyStar refrigerator uses 40% less energy than models sold in 2001. Buy
one and receive a rebate of up to $200 from PWP. We’ll even pick up your old
refrigerator, recycle it and give you $50!
• Stay cool this summer with an EnergyStar window air conditioner or a new
central air conditioner (minimum 13 SEER) and receive a rebate up to $750.
• If you have an all-electric household, beat the heat with a new,
energy-efficient heat pump. Buy one with a minimum 12 SEER and receive a rebate
of up to $160 a ton.
• Use the power of the sun to cool your home. Purchase and install a
solar-powered attic fan to pull hot air out of your attic and receive up to $100
in rebates.
• Keep your home bright without using your lights. Skylights and light tubes
bring sunshine into your home without bringing heat. Install new EnergyStar
skylights or light tubes and receive up to $170 in rebates.
• Programmable thermostats save energy by automatically adjusting your
temperature setting while you are asleep or away. Buy an EnergyStar programmable
thermostat and get a rebate of up to $25.
• Dual pane windows keep cool air in and hot air out, reducing the amount of
time your air conditioner runs. Buy EnergyStar dual pane windows and doors and
receive a $1 rebate for every square foot.
• Compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs use 75% less electricity than incandescent
(standard) bulbs and last 10 times longer. You’ll save nearly $50 a year by
replacing five of your incandescent light bulbs with CFLs. In addition, PWP will
reward you with up to $5 a bulb. (Safety note: Not all lamps can take CFL bulbs
safely; see lamp instructions before installing CFLs and take all warnings of
fire hazards seriously.)
BY DOING SIMPLE MAINTENANCE
CHECKS you can
save every dollar possible on your water bill.
Aerators
Most faucets are equipped with aerators that mix air and water for a smoother
flow. Cleaning your aerators once a year removes mineral and debris buildup.
Simply follow these easy steps: First, unscrew the aerator. Then lay the parts
on the counter in the order in which you removed them or make a sketch of their
order so you can put them back correctly. Next, rinse each part with water and
clean all screen holes with a toothbrush or toothpick. To remove hard water
scale, soak the parts in vinegar or lime dissolver, then rinse with water before
putting them back together. If a part is worn, replace it or install a new
aerator.
Toilets
So you think your toilet doesn’t leak? You may have to think again. Try this
simple
test to help detect the most common cause of toilet leaks: Put some food dye in
the tank and then leave for 15 minutes. When you return, look in the toilet
bowl. If the water in the bowl is the same color as the dye, it’s time for a new
flapper. After installing the flapper or calling a plumber to do it for you, run
the dye test again to ensure that your toilet is not still leaking. If the leak
persists, you may have to replace the entire
flush valve.
Refrigerators
Water lines for cold water dispensers and ice makers are usually connected from
under the sink to the back of the refrigerator. They often run behind or under
kitchen cabinets or walls. Because water lines are not in full view, leaks can
go undetected until they become big and expensive, potentially damaging other
appliances, cabinets, walls and floors. So check for leaks or call a plumbing or
refrigeration expert to do this important job for you.
For more information visit www.PWPweb.com or call the PWP AnswerLine at
744-6970.
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