A bit of winter watering is needed

It’s been a dry one, Mr. Grinch, and those trees are feeling it. Colorado has not received it's typical winter moisture so it's time to drag out that hose and give those trees and shrubs a little drink, especially if they were recently planted. Trees typically need about 10 gallons per inch in diameter of the tree trunk, once or twice a month. (Hoses usually deliver 17 gallons per minute). Water only when air temperatures are above 40 and apply water during the warmth of mid-day. Occasional winter watering during prolong dry and warm periods can prevent root damage that affects the health of the entire plant. Find more tips at CSU-Extension.

Healthy plants = water efficiency.

Winter conservation can help your annual water charges

Castle Rock Water looks at your actual water usage during the winter to calculate your annual water budget. Indoor water use, Tier 1 of your water budget, is determined by your Average Winter Monthly Consumption (AWMC). Conserving water right now will keep this low. And, you want your Tier 1 budget low because this is also what determines your wastewater charge. (What comes in, must go out.) Your wastewater charge is readjusted in the spring but is fixed throughout the year. It is not variable like Tier 1 or Tier 2. Having a low wastewater charge can reduce the overall annual amount you pay. Even if you happen to exceed your water budget a little bit, the lower monthly wastewater charge will most likely be more financial beneficial for you.

Find a career in the water industry

The call comes in. There’s a leak on Front Street, and the Field Operations staff mobilizes. Detecting the leak, digging for the leak, and engineering the proper solution for the leak, are each of their duties. Field Ops also tests pressure valves and fire hydrants to ensure reliable water daily and in emergencies. Field Ops cleans and repairs pipes to keep water flowing to all 26,000 connections. Field Ops is checking the manholes, stormwater channels and hundreds of miles of pipes ensuring water outages or backups are never an option.

The close-knit group of about 50 employees in the field staff division are looking for a few more to join their team. Castle Rock Water has several open positions in the collections and water distribution teams, starting at $24-30 per hour. While experience is always a plus, on-the-job training is how a true water professional is built. If you are looking for a career that truly impacts your community, like working with your hands and are a bit mechanically inclined, then check out the jobs at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/castlerock. We offer an amazing culture to work in, great pay and benefits and the ability to make this your last career stop.

Got a question about water?

An informed community is an engaged one, and we'd like to get you in the know about your H20! Feel free to email us with questions about long term water, reuse water, conservation, water quality or other topics. We'll either respond directly or include your question in our monthly email newsletter.