WaterSmart Meter Project – Advanced Metering Infrastructure to support our Drought Response

Cloverdale is committed to increasing the City’s resiliency to cope with and respond to drought conditions. As part of the City’s continued drought response efforts, the City of Cloverdale was awarded a $3,005,000 grant from the State Department of Water Resources (DWR) in September as part of the Urban and Multi-benefit Drought Relief Grant Program to help fund water supply and distribution system projects across the city.

The DWR grant agreement included funding for the following three projects:

1. Advanced Metering Infrastructure Upgrades

2. Supervisorial Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Expansion

3. Well Replacement and Rehabilitation

The City is beginning its first project funded under the Grant, which will replace and upgrade approximately 3,300 existing water meters throughout Cloverdale to an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system. This innovative “WaterSmart Meter” technology is part of the City’s continuing efforts to conserve water, enhance customer service, replace aging infrastructure, and be more efficient.

Currently, City staff manually read customer’s water meters once a month to record water use readings. The Smart Meters will provide safe and secure remote updates to the City’s customer portal in near real time.

The WaterSmart Meter upgrades will allow the City to:

• detect leaks within its water system in near real time so that repairs can happen quickly

• provide customers increased billing transparency

• streamline staff time allotted to meter reading and inputting data for more efficient customer service

• replace aging infrastructure

• reduce fuel consumption and costs associated with driving

• conserve over 10 million gallons of water each year

In addition to conserving resources, the WaterSmart Meter upgrades will save water customers money by allowing residents to manage and monitor their water consumption through an online web portal. Customers will be able to:

• review near real-time water use

• recognize potential water leaks and respond to needed repairs quickly

• avoid unintentional high water consumption by adjusting irrigation activities and systems to maximize conservation

• Improve water efficiency

The existing meters will be replaced with cutting edge Neptune MACH 10 Ultrasonic Water Meters. These new meters will provide:

• high resolution measurements and sustained accuracy

• lead-free and corrosion resistant long-term use

• meet or exceed American Water Works Association standards

• Made in the USA

Water use data will be sent wirelessly from the WaterSmart Meter using an encrypted, low powered radio signal for less than one minute every day. Water customers will be able to login to the City’s WaterSmart Portal to review water use and pay water bills.

Here’s when you can get a refund for your nonrefundable ticket:

• If an airline cancels your flight, you are entitled to a refund for the unused transportation.

• If there’s a significant schedule change by the airline, you may be entitled to a full refund

• The contract of carriage sometimes called the conditions of carriage — is the legal agreement between you and the airline so be sure to read yours carefully. It may contain a clause that gives you a full refund.

• If you feel the airline hasn’t offered you the product it promised, you might be able to dispute the charge on your credit card

• Your rights to dispute a credit card charge are spelled out in the Fair Credit Billing Act.

• In the case of a death, there is a long-standing industry courtesy. There’s no rule or regulation that says an airline must refund a dead passenger’s fare. If, however, the promise is contained in the contract of carriage, then the airline must honor it.

• If your travel companion dies, some airlines will refund tickets as a goodwill gesture when your travel companion dies or if the person you were traveling to visit dies. If you need to request this type of refund, you will also need to provide written evidence of your companion’s death.

• If your military orders change or you have jury duty

• If you have extenuating personal circumstances

• Airlines review these refund requests on a case-by-case basis. Share your dilemma with them succinctly and with a minimum of drama.

At the beginning of 2022, the new state law Short-Lived Climate Pollutants, (Senate Bill – SB 1383) went into effect. The law is a statewide effort to reduce the amount of organic materials such as food, paper products, and plant trimmings discarded into landfills. The law requires all residents and commercial businesses to subscribe to regular collection of organic materials (green bin service) in addition to recycling and garbage. All organic materials, including spoiled left-over foods, fruit and vegetable scraps, meat, bones, dairy products, food-soiled napkins should be placed in the green bin which is sent to composting facilities.

The average U.S. household wastes 31.9% of what they purchase annually. This may take the form of forgotten leftovers in the back of the fridge, spoiled produce, bread gone moldy on the counter, or meat products purchased during a sale but now have freezer burn.

Here are suggestions for reducing food waste at home:

• Shop with a list and avoid purchasing perishable foods in bulk.

• Cook only as much as you can eat to avoid leftovers.
• Eat and use all parts of the plant or animal. For example, cauliflower leaves, kale stems, and cilantro stems are full of flavor and tender after cooking.

• Store foods properly to extend shelf lives

• Eat the most perishable foods first

• Get online inspiration and have a few go-to recipes that are flexible with the ingredients. Chili/soup, casseroles, rice bowls, omelets, fried rice, chilaquiles, and curry are some examples.

• The combined efforts of making small lifestyle changes like composting, recycling, and reducing the amount of food wasted can make a big difference in the face of a climate crisis.

This article was authored by Xinci Tan, Organics Program Manager with Zero Waste Sonoma, for RRWA, an association of local public agencies in the Russian River Watershed that have come together to coordinate regional programs for clean water, habitat restoration, and watershed enhancement.

by David Maciel
Sponsored by Ray’s Food Place, Furber Plaza

The holidays can be hectic & on Christmas morning I like to make things easy in the kitchen. This casserole is a great way to feed the family. It can be served warm or is tasty cold. It can be prepared a day ahead of time to save time on Christmas morning.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds bulk pork sausage
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 cups cooked rice
• 3 cups crisp rice cereal
• 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 6 large eggs
• 2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) condensed cream of celery soup, undiluted
• 1/2 cup whole milk

Directions

In a skillet, cook sausage and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Place in a lightly greased 13×9-in. baking dish. Layer with the rice, cereal and cheddar cheese. In a bowl, beat the eggs, soup and milk. Spread over top. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting. Refrigerate any leftovers.​

Santa Claus is roaring into town and he’s checking to see who’s been naughty or nice by reading Cloverdale Connect.

Don’t be on the naughty list!