VOTE !!

You should receive this before Election Day, Tuesday, May 6^th.  There are four candidates running for two slots on the Donala Board of Directors.  Eligible voters may cast their ballots at the Donald Wescott Fire Station on Gleneagle Drive from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 pm.

WATER RETURNS PROJECT

We had almost 60 applicants for 9 slots as participants in the Water Returns Landscaping Program.  The residents listed below will be attending workshops through the spring and summer and working on their own xeriscape landscape projects.  They have agreed to counsel and help educate the rest of us as we all do our part to conserve water.  Drive by, look at their lawns and realize how beautiful water-friendly landscaping can be without acres of Kentucky bluegrass, and call or email them for an appointment to talk about your own project.

Donala is also sending one of our operators, Terri Ladouceur, as an observer to the workshops.  She will be available to assist you too – especially the townhome complexes and HOA’s with common areas to manage.

Finally, much of the materials covered in these workshops may be available on line.  We will publish the contacts on our website (www.donalawater.org) and in our next newsletter.

DONALA WATER RETURNS PARTICIPANTS

DIRECT WITHDRAWAL PROGRAM

If you would like to have your payments automatically withdrawn from your checking account, please call us or come to our office at 15850 Holbein Drive to obtain information on the program and to fill out the necessary forms to authorize the withdrawals.  We will need a voided check to be sent with the paperwork to ensure the correct account number is accessed.  All authorized signatories on the account must sign the forms.  We are pleased to offer this program for your convenience.

KEEP YOUR DRAIN DRAINING

The following was published in the Gazette a couple of years ago.  It is good information and can help in avoiding sewer line back ups. 

IN THE KITCHEN:  Avoid pouring fats and cooking oils down drains where it can congeal and cause clogs.  Wipe it into the trash.  Never put such hard-to-grind, stringy, fibrous waste as poultry skin, carrots, celery or banana peels into the garbage disposal.

Run cold water down the drain for about 15 seconds before and after using the disposal to flush waste out of the main line.  Run the dishwasher and washing machine at night or at off times to preserve water pressure for guests.  

IN THE BATHROOM:  Spread out showers and baths throughout the day rather than taking one right after another.  If shower pressure is weak, soak the showerhead in vinegar to loosen mineral deposits.  A strainer in the bathtub drain can catch pipe-clogging soap residue, hair and lotions.  Clean it regularly. 

Only use toilet paper in the toilet.  Facial tissue and sanitary products are made of stronger fibers that don’t dissolve as well.

Provide good trash disposal in the bathroom so the toilet doesn’t become a trash can.  Never keep small objects near the toilet where they can fall in and cause clogs.  Keep an eye on children who may put things in the toilet.

If you do have a back-up, call the District first.  We will check our mains to be sure it’s not our problem that has backed into your house.  Roto-Rooter ^® may be your ultimate solution.

STORM WATER INFILTRATION IS ILLEGAL

Some of you may remember when it really rained last.  In early May 1999, it rained and rained, and the ground quickly became saturated.  Many of your foundations were inundated with groundwater leaks.  Our collection system (sewer pipes) was overwhelmed with infiltration.  Much of it was in the manholes, and some was from leaky pipes.  We spent almost 2 million dollars upgrading the old pipes and tightening up the manholes.  Many times though, we discover houses with sump pumps pumping into the basement drain.  This may be a

tempting way to get rid of this nuisance water, but DON’T DO IT!!  Storm water in our sewer system is illegal because it hydraulically overloads the treatment plant.  It will also wash out the biological process. The result is that the plant does not function properly and we risk putting effluent down the creek that is not properly treated.  The end result of too much infiltration and inflow into the sewer system is that we will be required to expand too soon with too few taxpayers to pay for it.  Do yourselves a favor – don’t pump storm or ground water into the sewer system!!!

DONALA WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT

2008 IRRIGATION RATIONING PROGRAM

Don’t be fooled by the news that the mountain snowpack is at record levels this year and there will be ample water supplies.  Remember, Donala’s water comes from the Denver Basin of aquifers, a depleting supply.  While we search out and obtain a renewable water supply, customers can expect to continue on the irrigation rationing program initiated in 2007.  Below are the procedures for 2008, beginning on Monday, May 26^th, and continuing through Monday, September 1^st.

For odd number addresses – Irrigation allowed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday

For even number addresses – Irrigation allowed on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

No irrigation on Sunday (call for a waiver if you want Sunday vs. Saturday or Monday)

The following is the schedule for commercial and specific irrigation accounts:

Ridge Point Apartments – M, W, F

Sun Mesa Townhomes – T, Th, Sat

Sunrise Townhomes – M,W, F

Gleneagle Square Shopping Center – M, W, F

Shops in the Glen – T, Th, Sat

Peoples National Bank – M, W, F

The Place – T, Th, Sat

Gleneagle Executive Center – M, W, F

Paradise Villas Townhomes – M, W, F

Academy View Storage – T, Th, Sat

Falcon’s Nest III HOA – M, W, F

Struther’s Ranch I HOA – T, Th, Sat

Summer Glen Townhomes – M, W, F

Gleneagle Civic Association – T, Th, Sat

Club Villa Townhomes – M, W, F

Eagle Villas Townhomes – M, W, F

Gleneagle Townhomes – T, Th, Sat

Gleneagle Golf Club and Greens – M, W, F

Eagle Point HOA – T, Th, Sat

Antelope Trails Elementary – M, W, F

Bethesda Executive Office Building (3) – T, Th, Sat

Donald Westcott Fire Department – T, Th, Sat

Ridge at Foxrun HOA – M, W, F

Nichlas Court Patio Homes – T, Th, Sat

Gleneagle North HOA – M. W, F

Irrigation times are between Midnight and 9 AM, and between 6 PM and Midnight.  Hand watering of dry spots or flowers/vegetable gardens is permissible any day between 6 PM and 9 AM.  For new plants, hand “water in” on any single day, any time.  Portable lawn sprinkling devices left on for any period of time are not defined as “hand watering, “ and are limited to the same schedule above.

We issued waivers in 2007 for customers with special circumstances (ET Manager, no automatic system, new lawns, etc.)  The bottom line is everyone gets to water their lawn three days a week.  For a waiver, please call us.  We are very flexible.  However, there will be no “grace period” and courtesy letters this year, except for new Donala customers who were not here last summer.  See www.donalawater.org  Rules & Regulations for penalties.                                                            

The following are some techniques and suggestions for watering:

1.  Water lawn areas for 40 minutes, garden areas for 15-20 minutes.  Note:  If your system is sophisticated enough, you may want to set up two periods of shorter durations on the lawn areas within the allowable time.  This is often touted as the best way to be sure the water gets down to the roots and doesn’t evaporate as much.

2.  Keep grass about 5” long.  Allows the water to hold and doesn’t dry up as much.

3.  Turn system off if it is raining or has recently rained since your last watering.  Program will not change.

4.  If the wind is so strong it is blowing the water off the area to be irrigated, consider turning the system off.  Watering the street, driveway, and/or neighbor’s lawn doesn’t do you much good.

Procedures for setting programs:

Most automatic irrigation systems have either a 14 day or a 30 day program controller.  Most start on Monday.  Therefore, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday irrigators should set their 14 day controllers to operate on Days, 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, and 12.  Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday irrigators should set to operate on Days 2, 4, 6, 9, 11, and 13.  There should be no operation on Days 7 and 14.  Thirty day controllers will be the same and obviously continued on through 30.  If you have trouble setting your program, contact the district for assistance.

Enforcement:

The District Rules and Regulations spell out the penalties for non-compliance with the rationing program.  The first “violation” will incur a Warning Letter.  The second Warning Letter will contain notification of a fine to be assessed for the third violation.  The third offense incurs a $25 penalty.  Fourth offense costs $50 and a disconnect notice if there are any further violations.  The fifth offense will result in termination of water service and applicable “re-connect” fees. 

NOTE:  This program is NOT intended to promote conflicts between neighbors.  We are not asking customers to call in violations.  If you wish to do so anonymously, we will take the information and investigate on our own.  Violations will be verified before penalty fines are assessed. 

Please understand that this program is just one of several conservation measures we are taking in order to maintain our water supply.  It is important for the longevity of our system, and eventually for the value of your property.  We thank you in advance for your cooperation.