SVWD Hosting Free Water Conservation Classes

The Scotts Valley Water District (SVWD) is offering a free public information series regarding water use efficiency in January (for three Wednesdays and one Thursday), from 7:00-8:30 pm at the District office. Speakers will be presenting information on Ocean-Friendly Gardening, Irrigation Design and Efficiency, Inter-District Collaboration, and Rainwater and Graywater Harvesting.

The series is free and a drawing for a free Ivy Rain Barrel and refreshments will be included at each presentation.

“We are happy to have the series back this year,” says Water Resource Committee Board Director Danny Reber. “With the current lack of rainfall, we know the vast majority of water savings will have to come from outdoor water use and landscape efficiencies. This series will introduce our residents to experts from the District, local business and Cabrillo College that will make being water-wise interesting and accessible.”

The Wednesday evening programs are as follows: Wednesday January 8th will feature Ocean-Friendly garden principles inspired by the Surfrider Foundation and presented by Lisa McAndrews of the Cabrillo Horticulture Department. She will show slides of beautiful and innovative landscape design techniques; Wednesday January 15th Chris Elliot of Green Touch Landscaping will demonstrate how to use irrigation in the most efficient way and allow hands-on programming of irrigation controllers; Thursday January 23rd (held after the Scotts Valley Chamber Mixer on site) will feature the SVWD’s new General Manager, Piret Harmon as she discusses interagency water collaboration and other emerging District topics; and the final Wednesday January 29th, will highlight Grey and Rainwater Harvesting techniques and “how-to’s” with a recap of this summer’s regional Greywater Challenge.

The District also supplies customers with information on their website (www.svwd.org) about these topics and encourages everyone to use the “Water Use Forecaster”, an online tool where families can budget and forecast their water usage and the “View Bill” link that shows customers their historic water use so they can see how their use changes throughout the year and over time.

Everyone is welcome to attend inside or outside the District and participants can attend one or all of the stand-alone sessions. See the Scotts Valley Water District’s website at www.svwd.org, call 600-1907 or email lravinale@svwd.org for more information. All programs will be held at the SVWD office at 2 Civic Center Drive in Scotts Valley, CA.

Established in 1961, the Scotts Valley Water District is a nonprofit, local government agency serving a population of 10,000 in a five square mile service area in and around Scotts Valley, CA. The District is dedicated to providing water resource management to deliver a safe and reliable supply of high quality water to meet present and future needs in an environmentally sensitive and economically responsible way.