Electric City News

Water-Saving Tips
The City of Anderson and Electric City Utilities offers these water-saving tips:

Use the sprinkler for only for larger areas of grass. Water small patches by hand to avoid waste.
Remember to check your sprinkler system valves periodically for leaks and keep the heads in good shape.
Place an empty tuna can on your lawn to catch and measure the water output of your sprinklers. For lawn watering advice, contact the Clemson University Cooperative Extension or your local landscape professional.
Avoid installing ornamental water features and fountains that spray water into the air. Trickling or cascading fountains lose less water to evaporation.
When you have ice left in your cup from a take-out restaurant, don't throw it in the trash, dump it on a plant.
Plug the bathtub before turning the water on and then adjust the temperature as the tub fills.
Water your plants deeply but less frequently to create healthier and stronger landscapes.
Aerate your lawn. Punch holes in your lawn about six inches apart so water will reach the roots rather than run off the surface.
Leave lower branches on trees and shrubs and allow leaf litter to accumulate on top of the soil. This keeps the soil cooler and reduces evaporation.
Landscape with Xeriscape or native trees, plants and groundcovers. Call the Clemson University Cooperative Extension or your local landscape professional for more information about these water thrifty plants.
Use a hose shut-off nozzle and stop the flow of water while you wash your car and save more than 100 gallons.
Wash your car on the grass. This will water your lawn at the same time.
Divide your watering cycle into shorter periods to reduce runoff and allow for better absorption each time you water.
Set a kitchen timer when watering your lawn or garden with a hose. Use this as a reminder for when to shut off your sprinkler.
Support projects that use reclaimed wastewater for irrigation and other uses.
Next time you add or replace a flower or shrub, choose a low water use plant for year-round landscape color and save up to 550 gallons per plant each year.
Use a screwdriver as a soil probe to test soil moisture. If it goes in easily, don't water. Proper lawn watering can save thousands of gallons of water annually.
Buy a rain gauge to track how much rain or irrigation your yard receives. Call the Clemson University Cooperative Extension or your local landscape professional to see how much rain is needed to skip an irrigation cycle.
Report significant water losses from broken pipes, open hydrants, and errant sprinklers to the property owner or the water department.
Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.
Only water your lawn when needed. You can tell this by simply walking across your lawn. If you leave footprints, it's time to water.
Teach your family how to shut off your automatic watering systems. Turn sprinklers off if the system is malfunctioning or when a storm is approaching.
Plant during the spring or fall when the watering requirements are lower.
While fertilizers promote plant growth, they also increase water consumption. Apply the minimum amount of fertilizer needed.
Minimize evaporation by watering between the hours of 2:00 and 6:00 a.m., when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter.
Don't water your lawn on windy days. After all, sidewalks, roads, and driveways don't need water.
Install a rain shut-off device on your automatic sprinklers to eliminate unnecessary watering.
Use a layer of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation and save hundreds of gallons of water a year.
Soak your pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes. You'll save up to 250 gallons a month per person.
Encourage your school system and government to help develop and promote a water conservation ethic among children and adults.
Use porous materials for walkways and patios to keep water in your yard and prevent wasteful runoff.
Start a compost pile. Using compost when you plant adds water-holding organic matter to the soil.
When you give your pet fresh water, don't throw the old water down the drain. Use it to water your trees or shrubs.
Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Compost instead and save water every time.
Select the proper size pans for cooking. Large pans require more cooking water than may be necessary.
Check your water meter and bill to track your water usage.
Cut back on rinsing if your dishwasher is new. Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones.
Wash your produce in the sink or a pan that is partially filled with water instead of running water from the tap.
Turn the water off while you are soaping up, shampooing, and conditioning your hair and you can save more than 50 gallons a week per person.
While staying in a hotel or even at home, consider reusing your towels.
We're more likely to notice leaky faucets indoors, but don't forget to check outdoor faucets, pipes, and hoses for leaks.
Do one thing each day that will save water. Even if savings are small, every drop counts.
More plants die from over-watering than from under-watering. Be sure to only water plants when necessary.
When you clean your fish tank, use the water you've drained on your plants. The water is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, providing you with a free and effective fertilizer.
Designate one glass for your drinking water each day. This will cut down on the number of times you run your dishwasher.
Turn off the water while you shave and you can save more than 100 gallons a week.
Drop tissues in the trash instead of flushing it down the toilet and save water every time.
Make sure you know where your master water shut-off valve is located. This could save gallons of water and damage to your home if a pipe were to burst.
Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full and you could save 1000 gallons a month.
Install an instant water heater on your kitchen sink so you don't have to let the water run while it heats up. This will also reduce heating costs for your household.
If your toilet was installed prior to 1980, place a toilet dam or bottle filled with water in your toilet tank to cut down on the amount of water used for each flush. Be sure these devices do not interfere with operating parts. Do not use bricks.
When you shop for a new appliance, consider one offering cycle and load size adjustments. They are more water and energy-efficient than older appliances. Look for the Energy Star label.
Teach your children to turn the faucets off tightly after each use.
Choose to have your car washed at a commercial carwash that recycles water.
When doing laundry, match the water level to the size of the load.
Don't use running water to thaw food.
Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and save four gallons a minute. That's 200 gallons a week for a family of four.
Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It's simple, inexpensive, and can save 140 gallons a week.
Insulate hot water pipes so you don't have to run as much water to get hot water to the faucet.
Adjust your watering schedule to the season. Water your summer lawn every third day and your winter lawn every fifth day. For lawn watering advice, contact the Clemson University Cooperative Extension or your local landscape professional.
If you accidentally drop ice cubes when filling your glass from the freezer, don't throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
When replacing your washing machine, purchase a front-loading washing machine. These save water and electricity.
Cook food in as little water as possible. This will also retain more of the nutrients.
Before you lather up, install a low-flow showerhead. They're inexpensive, easy to install, and can save your family more than 500 gallons a week. Plug the tub when you shower to see how much water is just going down the drain.
Bermuda grasses are dormant (brown) in the winter and will only require water once every three to four weeks or less if it rains.
Encourage your friends and neighbors to be part of a water-conscious community.
Winterize outdoor spigots when temperatures dip to 20 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent pipes from bursting or freezing.
Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl, you have a leak. It's easy to fix, and you can save more than 600 gallons a month.
Use a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway or sidewalk and save 80 gallons of water every time.
Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap for cold drinks, so that every drop goes down you, not the drain.

Check back every Monday for more ways to conserve water and possibly save money. For additional information or for a complete list of water conservation tips contact the City of Anderson/Electric City Utilities Water Operations Department at (864) 231-5230.

The City of Anderson Supports Governor Sanford's Request for Voluntary Water Conservation
Governor Mark Sanford has issued a statement encouraging all South Carolinians to voluntarily conserve water as drought conditions deteriorate. The majority of the State's unregulated streams are at or near record low flow levels for this time of year and most lakes are much below normal levels; substantially lower than levels during the 1998-2002 record drought. Unfortunately, the long-range forecast for the remainder of the fall and winter calls for below normal precipitation, therefore, the City of Anderson/Electric City Utilities is encouraging water customers to voluntarily conserve water and offers these tips for water conservation in and around your home:

Conservation of Water Outside the Home

Use drought-tolerant plants and grasses for landscaping and reduce grass-covered areas.
Cut your grass at least three inches high to shade roots, making it more drought-tolerant; keep your mower blade sharp for the healthiest grass.
Water lawns and landscaping wisely. Remember that landscaping is most likely your number one user of water. Your lawns and plants benefit from slow, thorough and infrequent watering. Minimize evaporation by watering in the early morning or evening.
Mulch to retain water. Spread leaves, grass clippings, or landscaping tarps around plants. Mulching also controls weeds that compete with garden plants for water.
Install a drip-irrigation water system (with a timer is even better) for valuable plants.
Try to water only in the evening or very early morning to minimize evaporation.
If you use porous pavement, such as gravel, instead of asphalt for driveways and walkways, the rain can recharge groundwater supplies instead of running off and contributing to erosion.
Use a broom instead of a hose to clean off your driveway or sidewalk.
Wash your car less often or wash it at a carwash where they clean and recycle the water. If you do wash your car at home, use a bucket of soapy water rather than running the hose. Keep a spring-loaded nozzle on the hose.

Conservation of Water Inside the Home

Repair leaky faucets and other water fixtures.
Install a water-efficient showerhead (2.5 gallons or less per minute).
Take shorter showers.
Use less water in the bathtub. Filling the tub uses about 50 gallons of water. Try bathing in about 10 gallons. Plug the tub when you shower to see how much water is going down the drain.
When you buy a new toilet, purchase a low flow model (1.6 gallons or less per flush).
Check your toilet for "silent" leaks by placing a little food coloring in the tank and seeing if it leaks into the bowl after a few minutes. If food coloring is seen in the bowl after a few minutes, make necessary repairs to stop the leak.
Avoid using the toilet as a trash basket for facial tissues and similar items. Each flush can use up to 7 gallons of water.
Turn off water while brushing teeth and shaving.
Reduce the use of garbage disposals, which use as much as 2 gallons of water per minute, by peeling vegetables, eggs, and other foods on newspapers. Wrap the food waste and dispose of it with the trash or use food waste in a garden compost pile.
Keep a gallon of drinking water in the refrigerator rather than running the tap for cold water.
Run your washing machine with a full load of clothes. Match your washer's load selector to each load size. Wash with warm water instead of hot, rinse with cold water instead of warm. Wash with cold water when you can. When possible, hang your wash out to dry.
Buy an energy-saving washing machine. Buy an Energy Star model and save water and electricity.
Use a front-loading washing machine. The newest innovation in washers is the front-loading washing machine. These can save even more water and energy.
Wash only full loads of dishes in the dishwasher. A dishwasher uses about 14 gallons of water per load.
Teach children to turn water faucets off tightly after each use.

New Disinfection System Yields Safer, Better Tasting Water
The Anderson Regional Joint Water System is currently planning a switch to the "MIOX Disinfection System." The switch will take place during the week of October 22, 2007. This new system will be a more efficient and powerful antibacterial disinfectant with less chlorine taste and odor than the current system. The MIOX system (named for the "mixed oxidants" it generates) produces a liquid disinfection product at the Anderson Regional Joint Water System treatment plant which disinfects the drinking water. More...

What does this mean to the City of Anderson and the water consumers of Electric City Utilities? "It means that we will continue to provide the highest quality drinking water with a better taste," said Jeff Caldwell, Electric City Utilities Director. "We will be able to maintain chlorine residuals throughout the system, and possibly reduce the amount of flushing currently performed which will conserve our water supply."

During the switch from chlorine gas to MIOX, there will be a short period of time (estimated to be one-to-two weeks) where all of the current growth in our pipes will be eliminated. Customers may experience a slight discoloration in the water during this time, but the water will be safe to drink and use. This discoloration should clear up quickly by utilizing a short term flushing plan to help alleviate any problems.

This system is much safer to use than chlorine gas. In recent years, chlorine gas has been highly scrutinized due to the fact that it is highly toxic if released in a gaseous form and can be deadly to all forms of life. Chlorine gas is also monitored by the state and federal government due to its potential for use as a weapon of mass destruction. In addition to providing a safer community and environment, MIOX provides a higher water quality and, according to other systems that currently use MIOX, it also provides for a better tasting drinking water. At the same doses and contact times as conventional chlorine gas, mixed oxidants have been shown to achieve a more thorough and more rapid inactivation of a wider range of microorganisms than traditional methods of disinfection.

Mixed oxidants have also been proven very effective against the build-up of biological growth that forms inside of water system distribution pipes that can harbor harmful microorganisms. By eliminating biological growth, mixed oxidants remove a potential shelter for bacteria and other disease causing organisms in the drinking water supply. Overall, mixed oxidants provide the public with a better quality drinking water via superior microorganism inactivation and reduced formation of chlorinated by-products.

For more information about your drinking water, call Electric City Utilities at (864) 231-5230 or download the Consumer Confidence Report.

Water System Upgrade
It's nice to know that when you turn on the kitchen or bathroom faucet, water is there. There is great security in knowing that water will be available from the nearby hydrant in case of a fire. The availability and quality of your water is a deliberate, well-planned service. And just like your car and your house which must be maintained to function properly, the City's water distribution lines are in the midst of an overhaul.

Last month (December, 2006), Electric City Utilities began the construction phase of replacing old, deteriorating water lines to improve water quality and fire hydrant flow. Seventeen and a half miles of old cast iron lines will be replaced during this project. That's the equivalent distance of driving from downtown Anderson to Clemson.

The old lines present reoccurring maintenance concerns such as service interruptions, reduced pressure, and water loss. Equally as important in this project is the replacement of approximately 150 damaged fire hydrants. Two contractors – Payne, McGinn, & Cummins and Buckeye Construction Company – will be working in multiple locations at concurrent times which can result in minor inconveniences with water service and traffic flow.

The water system upgrades will affect the following areas:

Murray Avenue
W. Whitner Street
North and South Towers Streets
Tolly Street
Mimosa Park
C Street
Webb Street
North and South Prevost Streets
Maxwell Street
Monroe Street
I Street
K Street
Brown Street
Sanders Street
W. Franklin Street
Dooley Avenue
Jackson Street
Horseshoe Bend
Hillside Drive
Pearman Dairy Road

City's Water Rate Among Lowest in the State
That's right. It's a fact. The South Carolina Budget and Control Board prepares an annual water and sewer rate survey. The 2004 survey of the 243 municipalities clearly indicates that City of Anderson residents pay less than the state average for water and sewer. These rates are based upon 800 cubic feet as the average monthly consumption or 6,000 gallons). The monthly state average for water and sewer, respectively, is $20.02 and $24.37. Even with the July 2005 rate change, city residents still pay less for water and sewer $19.44 and $24.01 (800 cubic feet) than the 2004 state average.

Backflow Test
Did you know that if you own a residential irrigation meter, you must have your backflow device tested annually?

Why is testing required? The City maintains a Cross Connection Control Program that ensures your water source is protected from contamination with properly installed and operating backflow prevention devices as required by SCDHEC and EPA guidelines. For more info, call (864) 231-5230.

One Call Does it All
If you are provided water or sewer service by Electric City Utilities and need to report an emergency call for service, dial 1-800-925-1043. Once you identify your issue as water or sewer, the operator will ask you for additional information so that your problem can be accurately assessed and the proper personnel can be dispatched. This toll-free number is for after-hours emergencies only.

Water or Sewer Emergency
1-800-925-1043

For nonemergencies, Electric City Utilities can be reached at (864) 260-6347. Dialing the correct numbers greatly improves our ability to respond to your need or problem and ensures that our customers receive service as quickly as possible.