Frequently Asked Questions
- When was the District formed?
- How many people receive water from the District?
- How is the District governed and by whom?
- How much does our water cost?
- Where does our water come from?
- How can I save water?
- Are there any rebates available to purchase conservation devices?
- Can I access my account information from home?
- What’s recycled water?
- Why is the tap water from my faucet sometimes cloudy?
- How can I save water and money on my next bill?
- How can I read my meter to determine if there is a leak?
- What if I do all that and still can’t find the leak?
- How do I contact the District?
- View All
1. When was the District formed?
Formed on July 10, 1952, the Walnut Valley Water District, a California Water District, is located approximately 20 miles east of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Valley, encompassing an area of approximately 29 square miles. The first Board was charged with developing guidelines and direction for the management and operations of the new District as well as adopting the District's own set of bylaws, which included the establishment of the time, place, and conduct of the Board meetings, and the method and manner in which Board elections were to be held. Over the next few years, the Board prepared and implemented the plans and projects for the development and distribution of water supplies to the growing population in this area.
2. How many people receive water from the District?
The District provides water service to over 26,000 residential and business connections, serving a population of nearly 100,000 customers in all of the city of Diamond Bar, portions of the cities of Industry, Pomona, Walnut, and West Covina, and the easterly section of the unincorporated area of Rowland Heights.
3. How is the District governed and by whom?
The District is governed by a five-member Board of Directors who are elected to overlapping four-year terms in odd-numbered years. The Board Members are responsible for setting District policy and establishing long-range goals and direction for the District to ensure that its operations continue to run efficiently and effectively, both today and in the decades to come.
4. How much does our water cost?
Water bills consist of two types of charges – a monthly base rate and a commodity rate. The monthly base rate is determined by the size of a customer's water meter. The commodity charge applies to all water passing through the meter. Water use for residential consumption is $1.75 per 100 cubic feet = 748 gallons of water.
5. Where does our water come from?
District customers are dependent on water imported by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) from the Colorado River and northern California. From these distant sources there are two major conveyance systems that bring water to District customers, the 242-mile long Colorado River Aqueduct and the State Water Project's (SWP) 444-mile long California Aqueduct. The Colorado River Aqueduct begins its journey at Lake Havasu on the California-Arizona border and ends at Lake Mathews near Riverside. Water from Northern California originates in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and is transported to Silverwood Lake in Hesperia. Raw water from these two sources is then treated at two filtration plants.
6. How can I save water?Shorten your shower
Which uses more water, taking a shower or a bath? You can check for yourself by plugging the tub when you shower to see how high the water comes when you're finished. Water your lawn only when it needs it
When you walk on your lawn, do you leave footprints? If it's too dry to spring back when you walk on it, that means the grass needs water. If your grass turns a dull gray-green color, that's another indication it needs a good drink. Run your dishwasher only when it's full
Your dishwasher will use the same amount of water whether you run it for a full load of dishes or just a few. Select the appropriate water level for your laundry
Most clothes washers offer water levels for small, medium, and large loads of laundry.Wash full loads whenever possible. Don't let the hose run when washing your car
Wet the car thoroughly, then turn off the hose while you swab it with soapy water from a bucket. Use the hose again for a final rinse. A trigger nozzle is best because it turns off automatically. Turn off the faucet
Letting the water run in the basin while shaving or brushing your teeth can waste one gallon per minute. Install High Efficiency Flush toilets
If everyone in the United States flushed the toilet just one less time per day, we could save a lake full of water about a mile long, a mile wide, and four feet deep every day. Sweep your driveway
It may be more fun to use water, but just five minutes of hosing will waste some 50 gallons of water. Repair leaks
A single dripping faucet can waste far more water in a day than one person needs for drinking in an entire week. Leaking toilets cause more water waste than any other fixture in the home. Visit www.bewaterwise.com for more conservation tips.
7. Are there any rebates available to purchase conservation devices?Yes. There are a limited number of rebates available each year on clothes washers, toilets, smart irrigation controllers, sprinkler nozzles, and synthetic turf. Please note that funding is limited. Visit www.bewaterwise.com for more information on this program.
8. Can I access my account information from home?
Up-to-date water account information is available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, via the District's automated telephone system. To access the system call (909) 595-7554, press option 4, and then simply follow the instructions. Please remember that you need to know your account number and your personal identification number (PIN) for automated account access. You can find your PIN on the lower portion of your billing statement or you can contact the District's Customer Service Department at (909) 595-7554 Monday – Thursday 7:00am - 5:00pm or Friday 7:00am - 4:00pm.
9. What’s recycled water?
Recycled water is the official name given to waste water which has undergone an extensive treatment process and is available for reuse after being tested and certified by the Department of Health Services to ensure that it is safe for irrigation purposes.
10. Why is the tap water from my faucet sometimes cloudy?
Cloudy tap water is caused by air bubbles in the water. It is completely harmless and does not affect the water’s taste or quality. If the water is allowed to sit for a couple of minutes, the air will dissipate and the water will clear.
11. How can I save water and money on my next bill?
First, be aware that most households use 50 to 60 percent of the water outside on landscaping, washing cars, hosing driveways, and filling pools. Therefore, smarter water management outside the home will have the most significant overall impact on your water use and water bill.
12. How can I read my meter to determine if there is a leak?
It’s easy to determine if you have a leak in your system. First, shut off all water-using fixtures and the irrigation system and look at your water meter. If any dial is moving indicating water use, despite everything being turned off, then there is a leak. Toilet leaks are perhaps the most common leak.
13. What if I do all that and still can’t find the leak?
Call the District for an analysis of your bill based on a two-year history of usage and request that an employee conduct a review.
14. How do I contact the District?District staff members are ready to answer your questions and address any question or concerns you may have Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or Friday 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For assistance, please contact us at (909) 595-7554 Mailing Address:
Walnut Valley Water District
271 S. Brea Canyon Road
Walnut, CA 91789
|
