Sacramento volunteers help spread word on water conservation
Volunteers with a "blue thumb" are leaving their imprint on Sacramento as part of the city's campaign against water waste.
Since June 2010, 33 water conservation ambassadors have signed up to go door-to-door, explaining the city's latest restrictions and offering instant cutback tips.
The ambassadors' point is not to scold the leakiest people in a neighborhood. Instead, they pass along useful information on proper water management to any household or business willing to listen, help residents fill out a survey about their water usage and maybe help consumers correct a violation.
"We look at ourselves as educators, not as some water Gestapo," said Maureen Johnson, one of the ambassadors. "The best enforcement comes with awareness-building."
Newly retired from the insurance business, Johnson has devoted herself to promoting better stewardship of water. As with the other ambassadors, she said a lifelong interest in ecology brought her to the outreach program.
"With all the world's limited resources, I think we're entering an era where we'll need to focus on community cooperation," Johnson said.
Residents have been pretty welcoming during the ambassadors' cold calls, said utilities department spokeswoman Jessica Hess. In exchange for completing a survey and lending a patient ear, they receive a "goodie bucket" containing brochures, water timers, nozzles for unbridled hoses and low-flow shower heads.
"Having your neighbor remind you about the watering rules feels less confrontational than having a city official at your doorstep," Hess said.
In 2009, the city revitalized its water rules. Hess didn't want the reforms to be forgotten like the original regulations, which had been in effect since the early 1990s but largely ignored.
She came up with the ambassador program as a non-threatening supplement to community meetings and the public service announcements on a Twitter account she runs (@SpareSacWater).
(The city on Friday tweeted notice of the year's first Spare the Water Alert, which runs through Tuesday.)
"I'm impressed that Sacramento has volunteers who are motivated to spread the positive message of efficient and wise usage of water," said Rita Schmidt Sudman, executive director of the Water Education Fund.
The mentality has shifted toward efficiency, she said, now that appliances like low-flush toilets have made it "less painful to conserve."
Cheryl Buckwalter is a certified irrigation auditor who helps the Regional Water Authority with its own ambassador program. She said 60 percent of Sacramento's water is sprayed outdoors on lawns – and an estimated 30 percent of that water turns into unabsorbed runoff.
Sacramento County Utilities - News
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New Home Buyer for Sacramento-Set Up Utilities - Sacramento Real ...
Sacramento County Utilities
Home Buyers new to Sacramento or moving from one area of Sacramento County to another, here is a listing of Utilities by City. For your convenience, I have listed the Utility information by City for turning on and off your gas, electric, water, garbage,TV, phone, long distance, police and fire. Websites and an easy link right to the left can accommodate all of your needs on-line for setting up your utilities by simply clicking on the photo. I hope that you enjoy your new home in our Sacramento area. Give me call, if I can be of any help with your Real Estate questions. Let other new homeowners know about this site to help them with their relocation into our area of Sacramento, CA .
Hope you, Home Buyers and those relocating will find this resource for utilities in each of the areas to be helpful during your move to your new home. If you find any changes or links not working, please comment below and let me know. I will make sure to correct and update as necessary. In the meantime, welcome to the Sacramento area and your new home.
Thank you. Had no idea that Colleen knew about it.My Home Buyers need to know this info and sometimes the Seller does not leave these details. As a Listing Realtor, I always leave this information for the Home Buyer.
Now, everyone will have it at their fingertips.
I plan on doing the same thing for the other Counties that I sell and list in, as well.
Sacramento County Utilities - Bookshelf
Meeting water demands in Sacramento County
Examples of this type of district are: East Bay Municipal Utility District, which primarily supplies water and sewer service; and Sacramento Municipal ...The Pacific reporter
Sacramento County the board of supervisors had overruled an objection that it ... There is nothing in the Public Utilities Act, under which the commission ...Public utilities reports
Re Sacramento County, Decision No. 3001, Application No. 1923, Dec. 24, 1915, order establishing a private crossing over the tracks of the Northern Electric ...Public Utilities Reports
The principal ditch, known as the Michigan Bar ditch, located in eastern Sacramento county and western Amador county, was built in the early fifties for use ...Public utilities reports annotated, containing decisions of the Public service commissions and of state and federal courts
portion of Contra Costa county lying generally along the Sacramento river and along the bay shore of San Pablo bay and Suisun bay. ...Daily Note Directory
Sacramento County Utilities
Waste Management & Recycling Division
Providing information about collection services including garbage, green waste, and mixed recycling as well as county waste disposal facilities and programs.
City of Sacramento Department of Utilities - Solid Waste ...
City of Sacramento, Department of Utilities, water, sewer, solid waste, storm collection, storm drainage, and flood control services and facilities.
Utilities & Residential Services, County of Sacramento ...
Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SRCSD) Utilities and Residential Services ... Are you a Sacramento Area Sewer District (SASD) customer? ...
Switch Utilities in Sacramento County
Quick links to switching utilities in Sacramento County. Your Utilities Resource. Sacramento, Carmichael, Citrus Heights, Elk Grove, Elverta, Fair ...