Educational programs, increased rebates and updated website make conservation easier than ever
As drought conditions persist across California, Bellflower-Somerset Mutual Water Company is broadening its efforts to help shareholders reduce water use and save money in the process.
A drought emergency continues across the entire state, despite December storms. Earlier this month, Governor Gavin Newsom imposed a mandatory ban on irrigation runoff, washing cars without a shutoff nozzle, hosing down sidewalks and watering grass within 48 hours of rainfall. The order came after Californians failed to meet his call for a voluntary 15 percent reduction in water use from 2020 levels.
“While our groundwater supply is sufficient to continue meeting the needs of our shareholders, conserving will ensure enough water is available for future generations,” said BSMWC General Manager Steve Lenton. “We want to do everything we can as a company to help our shareholders trim their water use.”
BSMWC launched a new website earlier this year to coincide with its 110th anniversary. The site offers more robust information about conservation and rebates. There are programs dedicated to teaching children about the importance of responsible water use, with the Bella the Bee mascot designed to make those messages more relatable to people of all ages.
Through partnerships with Central Basin Municipal Water District and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, BSMWC shareholders are eligible for rebates to help cover the cost of water-saving improvements through the SoCal WaterSmart program. In addition to high-efficiency appliances and irrigation systems, shareholders can receive up to $2 per square foot of grass replaced with water-saving plants. Residential accounts are eligible for up to $10,000 in turf removal rebates and commercial accounts can receive up to $100,000.
Conservation does not always require new devices. Making small changes can add up to significant water savings over time. For example, cutting shower time by one minute each day can save more than 900 gallons of water over the course of a year!
Even the youngest water users can participate in conservation. BSMWC offers free age-appropriate lessons for kindergarten through sixth-grade students at local schools in the Bellflower Unified School District to help children learn about the value of water and how to conserve it. The activities feature BSMWC’s mascot, Bella the Bee, who makes it fun to learn about conservation.
Visit www.BSMWC.com for additional water-saving tips and rebate information. For free, virtual education programs, contact Mikayla Coleman at mikayla@bsmwc.com or (562) 866-9980.