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< < < Back To Archives Water Conservation Garden Water is a precious commodity in arid San Diego County, which means that every planting and irrigation decision made in your home will effect your finances. More . . . Family Foundation Awards Scholarships & Grants Six Sweetwater District students and seven South Bay community agencies received grants totaling more than $45,000. More . . . Water-Saving Tips Otay Water District is one of 20 water agencies in San Diego County offering discount vouchers for the purchase of ultra-low-flush toilets. More . . . Commentary San Diego has always depended on the Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District for water. So far it has worked out well. More . . . Water Conservation Garden Water is a precious commodity in arid San Diego County, which means that every planting and irrigation decision you make in your home landscaping plans will have a positive or negative effect on your finances. You can learn how to save money by saving water with a visit to the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College in El Cajon. The Water Conservation Garden - a cooperative effort between Otay Municipal Water District and four other governmental agencies - teaches homeowners like yourself how to save water by learning efficient gardening practices and irrigation techniques. By following some simple practices, you can help conserve precious water supplies and increase your home's value by as much as 15 percent. For example, you will learn that grass is the thirstiest component of any landscape, so it is best to use it only where necessary. If you are a rose fancier, here's another tip: Group your roses with other plants that need frequent watering. Then set one irrigation valve to water this area more often than others. In other words, separate the thirstiest plants from more drought-tolerant species. That way, your garden will require less water than before. The Garden is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. To learn more, call (619) 660-0614 or visit their Web site. Bonilla Family Foundation Awards Scholarships and Grants Twenty-seven scholarship applications from students in the Sweetwater High School District were received by the Foundation since the scholarship program was announced earlier this year. Also, twelve community organizations that provide programs for South Bay youth applied for financial support. The recipients were notified by mail earlier this month. Scholarships of $2,000 each were awarded to: Sara Michele Laccone, Castle Park, Brandon Donat, Sweetwater, Julissa Preciado, Montgomery, Carlyn Crisostemo, Southwest, Dayana Ramirez, Mar Vista, and Cristhian Del Valle, Castle Park. All students are attending universities in California. "Education is the key to success," said Bonilla. "It is our hope that scholarships will help make a difference for these students who made the decision to go on to college." Grants totaling 34,000 were given to Border View YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, National City, YMCA of South Bay, South Bay Community Services, the Martin Bayless Charitable Foundation, Able-Disabled Advocacy and YMCA Youth and Family Services. Water-Saving Tips Otay Water District is one of 20 water agencies in San Diego County offering discount vouchers for the purchase of ultra-low-flush toilets, which can save you money and help water conservation efforts. Use of these toilets can save you more than 60 percent every time you flush. The vouchers, or coupons may be applied to the cost of the toilet tank, bowl and sales tax up to a maximum of $75 per fixture. Before you purchase the toilet, call 1-800-986-4538 to request a voucher. Other ways to conserve water: Use low-flow shower heads. They can save up to 2 gallons per minute up to 500 to 800 gallons a month. Add flow restrictors to bathroom and kitchen faucets. These mix air with faucet water to reduce water flow. Remember, the bath-room accounts for 75 percent of the water used inside the home. Use your dishwasher only for full loads. You're going to use 12 gallons of water no matter how many dishes it contains. Consider buying "Horizontal Axis Washers." They are more expensive, but can save up to 3,500 to 6,000 gallons per household each year. Outside, water your lawn only when it needs it. During hot summer months, water every three days. Don't let the hose run while washing your car. Use an automatic shutoff nozzle. Better yet, go to a commercial car wash. Keep sprinkler heads adjusted properly so they're not watering the sidewalk. Consider Xeriscape landscaping to reduce water costs. What is Xeriscape landscaping? Click here to learn more. Commentary San Diego has always depended on the Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District for water. So far it has worked out well. But being dependent has made many San Diegans uneasy and has led to a search for other sources that will make our County more independent. Conservation and buying agricultural water from the Imperial Valley are two ways. With luck, that deal will deliver more water before the next drought or other water emergency. But we need a water policy more reliable than luck. Even if the water deal flies, it only makes us a little less dependent. It's time to take a new look at an old solution. It's time for desalination. It's expensive, but the costs have come down significantly in the past few years. Huntington Beach and Tampa, Florida have projects that prove it. Tampa Bay has a project that will produce 10 percent of the region's water supply. Huntington Beach plans a plant twice that capacity and here, in Carlsbad, city officials are planning an even larger facility that will supply water at a price competitive with our current imported water. We can no longer continue to believe that water from Northern California will always be available. As the price of water rises and desalination technology improves, the prospect of self-reliance through water from the ocean is becoming more real. A new desalination plant may be expensive to build and operate, but just think of how expensive it will be if we ever need it but didn't have the foresight to build it. It's not the money that is standing in our way. It will take vision and willingness to take on large tasks. It is time for us as elected officials to do what it takes to recognize desalination as the most effective way to meet our future water needs. It won't be an easy task, but it will be far safer than depending on the kindness of strangers for water in the future. Sincerely, Jaime Bonilla, Director Otay Water District Division 2