December 2021 News & Updates

Go Green & Paperless!

Enroll today and get the convenience, speed, and security of paperless billing.

The United States Postal Service's recent changes WILL result in slower mail times which can result in a late bill and bill payments. Take them out of the equation and sign up for paperless billing.

It reduces the chance of your bill being late or lost, you can sign up for email notification when your bill is ready, and you can review and schedule payments from your computer or mobile device!

District’s Efforts Yield Many Accomplishments– 2021 Year in Review

Another year is soon coming to a close – already! We’re in the midst of the holiday rush, but as we approach the New Year I want to briefly pause, and take a look back at a very successful 2021 for the Soquel Creek Water District. Together with you – the community – as our partners for a reliable water supply, we can all be very proud about the accomplishments the District has made during the last 12 months. Read More.

Your Meter and House Valve — Essential Tools for Locating Water Leaks

Reading your water meter is essential for locating and monitoring leaks on your property. If you’re not sure where your water meter is located, please take some time to look for it.

In most cases, your water meter will be located near the street facing the front of a home or business. They are usually in a concrete box with a lid that says “Water” or has the District logo on it. When you get a continuous use alert from the WaterSmart Customer Portal or District staff, or suspect your property has a leak, check your meter to see if the leak is active by following the instructions.

If you:

See water in the meter box - Call us first, the leak may be the District’s responsibility.
See that you do NOT have an active leak - Breathe a little easier but keep an eye on your water use via the WaterSmart Customer Portal in the event of a reoccurrence (this can happen with toilet leaks).
See that you do have an active leak - Try and locate it as soon as possible. You can find resources on our website and in WaterSmart.
Need physical assistance - Contact us and we can send a customer service representative out to help you.

Another valuable tool for finding leaks is a house valve or water shut-off valve which can be used to determine if a leak is inside or outside of your home or business. House valves are usually found on the incoming water line at the entry point of the water line going into a home or business. If you suspect or know of a leak, you should immediately close the house valve and check the meter to see if the leak continues. If the meter stops showing usage, you know the leak is probably within your home or business itself. If the usage continues, it is likely located in your irrigation system or at a point in your service line between the house valve and the meter. If you do not have a house valve, it’s a good idea to obtain several quotes from licensed plumbers and have one installed.

Responsibility for Finding & Fixing Leaks

Please remember that locating and fixing leaks in a home or business is the responsibility of the customer. Customers are responsible for the water service lines on their private property that could be for irrigation, fire service, or domestic/business water use. Soquel Creek Water District is responsible for the pipe between the meter and the public supply line (watermain typically in the street) and for the water meter. The District offers numerous online resources with information on where to look for leaks and can come out and do some basic leak troubleshooting if the resources provided have not helped or if you have physical limitations. Please note that District staff cannot enter your home to locate leaks. If you are ultimately not able to locate a leak, you will need to hire a licensed plumber or leak detection specialist. While the District is not allowed to recommend contractors, we do advise you to obtain multiple estimates from licensed professionals.

When checking for leaks, please check the meter box first. If there is water in the meter box, please contact the District immediately (and before hiring a plumber) so our customer service staff can come out and determine who is responsible for making repairs. Leaks on the other side of the meter (i.e. between the meter and the District’s water distribution system) are the District’s responsibility to fix.

Plant of the Month

Black Leaf Aeonium ‘Zwartkop’ is an exotic-looking succulent that can be planted in containers, as an entry specimen or massed with other succulents. In bloom, it has yellow flowers that contrast strikingly with its dark green to purple-colored leaves. It’s semi-dormant in the summer and only needs infrequent watering in the dry season, with active growth during the wet season. Black Leaf Aeonium blooms in summer but has been observed flowering in winter depending on the microclimate. This plant is a favorite in seaside gardens and evokes kelp, with its dark, fleshy, bulbous leaves. Plant in rock gardens with other succulents for a reef-like effect. Soil preferences are forgiving. Potting soil, sandy, clay, or loam soils suit it fine. It will do well in full sun near the coast, but for inland locations some shade is necessary. Black Leaf Aeonium is deer resistant and is hardy to 28F so it may need some protection during winter in the colder microclimates around Monterey Bay. For more information on this and other plants visit our water-wise gardening website

Happy Holidays to You and Your Family

From our family to yours, we wish you a safe and wonderful Holiday Season!

Construction Updates

Follow our Projects in Your Neighborhood webpage to keep up-to-date on all our current projects.

Upcoming events

Visit our calendar for up-to-date information.

Dec. 7: Board Meeting
Dec. 21: Board Meeting
Dec. 23–24: Office Closed for Christmas Holiday

Soquel Creek Water District is 100% dependent on groundwater. Our shared groundwater basin is currently in a state of overdraft, which means more water has historically been extracted than naturally replenished by rainfall. The overdraft condition has led to seawater intrusion at our coastline which, if left unresolved, will eventually move inland and contaminate the groundwater drinking wells. We’re working on long-term solutions to our supply issues and encourage all residents and customers to conserve whenever possible. Contact us to learn how we can help you conserve water.

For more information, please visit our District website at www.soquelcreekwater.org.
Please share these updates with others!