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Post by desertwoman on Aug 9, 2020 14:35:57 GMT -5
emmsmommy , yes, a bird basin. Our renter placed it there. The birds bathe in our pond here at home under the little water fall and on a couple of partially submerged rocks, so I'm not sure why she thought the birds, there, needed the basin but if it helps the birds, that's what matters!
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Aug 9, 2020 16:13:05 GMT -5
desertwoman , thanks for the additional photos. You've really been creative in xeriscaping. I especially like the mammoth lavender (?) bushes. Is the silver bush an artemisia?
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Post by desertwoman on Aug 9, 2020 16:44:39 GMT -5
SpringRain🕊️ , those are Russian Sage which I have since dug out and replaced with Blue Mist Spirea- another great drought tolerant plant. Similar color blooms. If I had it to do over I would never plant another Russian Sage again! The color is beautiful and they rarely, if ever, need watering. But they are invasive and require way more maintenance than I want to give, to keep them under control. The silvery bush is Chamisa or Rabbitbrush. A great Fall bloomer. They never need watering. I have 5 of them going up the property line from the street to create a living fence. The "lawn" is Reiter Thyme- a honey bee magnet. In fact, the very first time I posted at the old OG site was when I was planting those plugs.
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Post by Wheelgarden on Aug 17, 2020 18:04:29 GMT -5
I like co-ops, always have. I'm currently a member of two utility cooperatives, electricity and water service, who both have a monopoly in my area. The electricity folks are good, as was the water service --- good, clean ground-sourced water..."was", until the last couple of years. I got stuck with a unbelievable balance (over $3000 dollars, 780,000 gallons over 20 days --- that's several olympic-sized pools full) on my water account, while thousands of gallons streaming down the roadside off the main have rolled for months and years at a time, unrepaired in spite of my own and my neighbors' constant notification. We had a tiny leak at the outdoor faucet, which we quickly repaired. Had our side of the supply line from the meter to our house checked, no other leaks. Dag-nabbit, the water line doesn't even carry that volume, wide open, in that short time. But alas, I seem to have no recourse. In my state, a co-op cannot be taken to court over issues like this. The board refuses to back down, while their main water lines leak up and down the street. My Emersonian patience only goes so far. Had to rant, sorry. Dag-flippin' nabbit.
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Post by gardendmpls on Aug 17, 2020 19:12:29 GMT -5
Is the board elected? If so, I'd be getting out the vote for new board members.
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Post by desertwoman on Aug 17, 2020 22:44:31 GMT -5
Geez Wheelgarden, Really?! I'm having a hard time absorbing that. It's horrible. Can you refuse to pay the flipping' 3000? Or will they shut off your water? This is just not right.
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Aug 18, 2020 12:25:02 GMT -5
Wheelgarden , I had to read your post a few times - I just couldn't conceive of a $3K water bill. Something is definitely amiss! If the board can't be sued based on the descriptions you've offered, are there other routes of legal recourse? Allowing water to leak extensively could be considered poor management, and contrary to good use of water. There might be some clauses that allow for removal of board members b/c of negligence and irresponsible management. It's also contrary to good management of a resource that someday will become scarce. Frittering away resources isn't acceptable. It might be worth it to have a municipal attorney review the situation and determine if a class action suit might be appropriate. If you want help in identifying potential attorneys, I'd be glad to help. I've worked at enough law firms to know what to look for in selecting a firm. Just thinking....does this company manage any other areas' water? If so, are the grievances similar or the same? What kind of history does it have? Are any of the members also serving in other capacities in communities, i.e., is there a possibility of conflict of interest?
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Post by Wheelgarden on Aug 18, 2020 14:32:32 GMT -5
gardendmpls , the board is elected, but only in person at their office, which is problematic for me. desertwoman , I cannot refuse to pay without my service being cut off. I've made arrangements to pay my regular water bill plus 10 dollars in the meantime, until this can be somehow resolved. I'm arranging another meeting with the board to discuss it. Again. SpringRain🕊️ , this particular little co-op has had a good history in years past, but as local development has increased, it seems they can't (or won't) keep up with maintenance. Outside of my own woes, the wasting of this precious resource infuriates me. I've discussed this with attorneys and levels of government from local to county to state attorney general to state representative, but in my low-regulation state there is no legal solution. I will certainly keep your offer of help in mind.
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Post by shadetree on Aug 18, 2020 15:39:55 GMT -5
I pay 16.80 a month up to 4,000 gallons. I collect rain water in 5 gallon buckets and often use that for watering.
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Post by pondgardener on Aug 18, 2020 19:59:22 GMT -5
Wheelgarden, has your meter been tested or replaced? Their method of calculating usage sounds amiss if there are no obvious leaks...
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Post by binnylou on Aug 28, 2020 12:45:55 GMT -5
Our water bill arrived today. For all the watering I have been doing, our bill was for only 4,000 gallon. I guess that counting must do some good. Also, some things that are being watered are out of reach of the garden hose, so I use containers and that definitely controls water use.
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Post by pondgardener on Aug 31, 2020 19:13:57 GMT -5
binnylou, I got August's water bill today and it was for another 25000 gallons. Up until couple of days ago, we had only .06" for the month and then we got a downpour of about an eighth of an inch...very dry here. Hopefully more fires are not the result ...
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Post by desertwoman on Aug 31, 2020 20:59:53 GMT -5
wow binnylou,- 4000 gallons is closer to what our winter usage is. During these peak summer months it around 12,000 gallons/month for the house in town. We have a well here at home so I don't know for sure but comparing it to what I have in town I'm thinking its closer to pondgardener, usage with the trees that need water. Maybe 20,000 gallons. We do have surface water rights that we bring in through the acequia (ditch) system that we water trees with April- June. July if it was a good winter with plentiful snow melt-off. It's rare that we have a summer month with usage below 10,000 gallons/month
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Post by binnylou on Aug 31, 2020 22:21:00 GMT -5
I wonder if Iowa soil compared to New Mexico soil would make a difference in watering needs. Perhaps my plants are really thirsty and I don't realize it.
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Post by Mumsey on Sept 1, 2020 4:19:44 GMT -5
binnylou, Is your water meter read monthly? As I recall when we lived in the country ours was estimated, then actually read every 3 months. Maybe things are different now. I'll have to call the utility company to figure out how to decipher the bill as it's not listed as gallons.
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