Page 14 - Sun Rays_December 2015

CA NEWS

Water Matters – A brief history

Submitted by Carlton M. Mathis, Sun City Texas Water Management

The Water Matters created as a partnership with the City (NRO), we were able to bring our message
Team is a Sun City of Georgetown to disseminate the city’s to a much larger audience, broadening
Community volunteer watering restrictions and to assist our recruitment base. The NRO presents
group committed to residents in setting up their controllers. all new residents with a welcome packet
water conservation. This remains at the core of our purpose, that includes an invitation from the Water
It humbly began some and we aim to have at least one Water Matters Team to familiarize themselves
years ago when the Ambassador in every neighborhood. with their new irrigation system and
City of Georgetown approached residents contact us with any questions they may
of Sun City to see what could be done Although water conservation had always have. Slowly, we were starting to get
about better managing irrigation water been a motivating factor, it wasn’t until ahead of the challenge.
usage during the week. The problem they the last severe drought moved through
were having was that the majority of the state that we challenged ourselves to Still shy of every neighborhood having an
systems were coming on simultaneously, revisit the Water Ambassador program’s ambassador, we began training a small
nearly depleting their reservoirs. This is current structure. The City was imposing group of our volunteers as Evaluators.
when the ‘watering days’ program, along stronger water restrictions and fewer than The Evaluators are a mobile group of
with the recommended start times, began. half of Sun City neighborhoods had an ambassadors cross trained on all of
ambassador. By pairing our efforts with the originally installed controllers in
The Water Ambassador program was the Neighborhood Rep Organization Sun City. A Water Matters Evaluator
begins their visit by going over the city
Deck them homes, y’all – all you want! water bill and discussing the city’s water
awareness programs, such as Aqua
Submitted by Ginny Wagner, Community Standards Supervisor Alert and GUARD. They then walk the
resident through their irrigation system,
Many of us already have our outdoor to December poinsettias. You may have zone by zone, identifying any problems
decorations and lights on our homes, other seasonal foliage or flower arrange- found, and helping them to set a program
which is permissible from November 15 ments to display for this holiday season. based on their observations. The visit is
until January 15. This is the time of year summarized electronically in a report
that we needn’t worry about whether Most importantly, please err on the side which is emailed to the resident for future
the statue of Santa in the front yard ex- of caution. If you don’t have a regular reference.
ceeds the normally allowed 36”, nor be service to install and remove your holi-
concerned about seasonally colored light day lights from roof and/or trees, check The Water Matters Team continues to
bulbs that aren’t shielded. in the Sun Rays or online at our website work closely with the city in all water
for a contractor willing to provide that efficiency items. I am very proud of this
Although at any other time of the year service. Above all, let’s make this a safe group of volunteers and their dedication.
only two items may be attached to our holiday season. From the entire Com- If you know someone who would be
outside walls, during these two months, munity Standards department: Season’s interested in having their system
we can put up as many wreaths, hang as Greetings and a Happy New Year! evaluated, or helping to evaluate other
many angels and string as many lights systems, please have them contact the
as we want. Ginny Wagner can be reached at Water Matters Team (watermatters@
512-948-7462 or email sctexas.org).
The floral arrangements displayed on the
porch and patio have changed with the [email protected]
season from November chrysanthemums

IN THE EVENT OF
INCLEMENT WEATHER
go to www.sctexas.org or our facebook
page, www.facebook.com/SunCity
TexasCommunityAssociation for up-
to-the-minute information on CA fa-
cility closures or delayed openings.

12 | SUNRAYS DECEMBER 2015 ONLINE: SCTEXAS.ORG