BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jim Haselton, President Matt Disston, Vice President Mike Safranski, Director Ed Mandich, Director Glenn Acosta, Director GENERAL MANAGER Don Chadd

ON TAP

2007 In Review

Calendar year 2007 was an eventful year for Trabuco Canyon Water District. As we transition to the challenges of 2008, it may be interesting to reflect on the accomplishments and challenges of 2007. We will also take a look at what 2008 holds in store for us:

January 2007: The District’s Conservation Encouragement Rate Program (CERP) was implemented for residential customers. This rate structure is consistent with industry standard Best Management Practices. District staff received many good questions, and information, about local efforts by customers to save water and reduce water bills.

February 2007: The District completed its California Friendly Landscape Project at the District Administrative Office. The goal was to have an attractive landscape with foliage that used much less water than traditional plants found in Southern California. It was a learning experience for District staff; some plants sound real good on paper, but don’t live up to expectations when in the ground. All in all, it was a very successful project. We invite you to visit our office to view the colorful “survivors.”

May 2007: The District held its very first Open House and Water Awareness Day. This was a huge success and plans are in the works to do it again this year. The entire District staff was present to explain the many displays about water and wastewater. District equipment was available for young and old to explore and ask questions of staff. Working demonstrations of District equipment was a big hit; the “Mole Digging Demonstration” was a crowd favorite.

Summer of 2007: It was a hot one. The lack of rainfall during the prior winter didn’t help. The District delivered more water to customers than ever before. Many residential customers and the homeowners associations of the District are to be commended for their “wise water use.”

October 2007: The canyon fires reminded us all of the importance of an effective, efficient water supply system. Trabuco Canyon was fortunate to have a strong contingent of professional fire fighting personnel available during the most challenging times of the fire, and as a result, damage was kept to a minimum in Trabuco Canyon. The District received special recognition by Chief Prather of the Orange County Fire Authority for its special efforts during the Santiago Fire.

November 2007: The District completed the Dove Canyon Phase of the Dry Season Water Recovery Project (DSWRP). This project collects all of the dry season, irrigation runoff generated by the residents of Dove Canyon and the Dove Canyon Golf Course, and returns it to Dove Lake. This water is then reintroduced into the District’s Reclaimed Water System for reuse as irrigation water for Reclaimed Water System Customers (HOAs and the golf course). This was a joint project with Santa Margarita Water District and the Audubon Society. Some of this water is shared with Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD), and the installation of the pipeline in Robinson Ranch Road in August was a vital link to SMWD. The DSWRP is expected to reduce the need for imported domestic water for local use by approximately 190 acre feet annually.

November 2007: Believe it or not, the District finally installed a new phone system. It even has “voice mail.” It has been a great improvement. Enough said on this better late than never project.

December 2007: The District experienced a series of unfortunate line breaks on Santiago Canyon Road. The pipeline which failed is an older 8” transmission line which was used to maximum capacity during the October fires. Add a moderate amount of rainfall in November along with a change to colder weather (very cold in the canyon areas), and the weak points of this transmission line failed. The attempts by District water personnel to bypass the line to keep everyone in service met with some success, but ultimately exposed additional weak points in the transmission line.

Many customers, people, horses, and a less than exact number of exotic animals were out of water for one to three days. The District extends many thanks to the numerous understanding customers during the repair of these transmissions lines. Working on Santiago Canyon Road is dangerous on a sunny day. Much of the work performed by District personnel and contract repair crews happened at night and in the rain.

So what do we expect in 2008?

The District expects there to be much attention on the growing statewide water supply problem. Water supply is challenged by continuing development and recent weather patterns. It may soon be that the era of “hosing down one’s driveway” may be a thing of the past due to 1) municipal codes and 2) cost. Much of how the Southern California water industry, and the communities they serve, deal with the pending water supply issues remains to be seen.

On a lighter note, as mentioned earlier, the District expects to have a grand Open House during the Month of May, which is Water Awareness Month. Watch for the date in later On Tap issues and billing insert information flyers.

As it has been mentioned before in earlier issues of On Tap, Trabuco Canyon Water District might be considered a “small” water district by some measurements; but it is a complex District. It performs all the major functions of much larger districts: 1) Water treatment, 2) Water Distribution, 3) Sewage Collection, 4) Sewage Treatment, 5) Reclaimed Water Distribution, and now, a new function, 6) Collection of Dry Season Water Runoff.

The District and its staff look forward to a successful and rewarding 2008.

The Regular Board Meeting is held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the District Office located at 32003 Dove Canyon Drive, Trabuco Canyon. The public is encouraged to attend.

Board Highlights

• December 19, 2007 – Held elections for the Offices of Board President and Vice-President.
• Determined Committee Members and Agency Representative Assignments.
• Adopted a Resolution establishing a Reclaimed Water Allocation Program.
• Received and filed the June 30, 2007 audited financial statements.
• Engaged the services of Leaf & Cole for the preparation of the 2008 audit.
• Adopted a Resolution relating to the State Revolving Fund Loan for the District’s well site.
• Received information relating to the Rose Canyon and Lang Wells Upgrades to Treatment Facilities.
• Received information relating to the Dry Season Water Recovery Project and the Robinson Ranch Road Recycled Water Distribution System Expansion.