Page 2 April 22, 2021 EL SEGUNDO HERALD
How to save water, money, and the Earth
or area residents looking for ways to reduce their cost of
living and increase their quality of life during these
challenging times, sustainable home improvement projects can
save water and money.
One useful resource for budget-friendly and eco-friendlier ways
to improve water use efficiency at home is your local water
district and/or utility.
Harold C. Williams, MSCE, P.E., President of the West Basin
Municipal Water District, which provides drinking water to cities
and county areas in the coastal Los Angeles area, notes how water
saving programs available to residents provide an opportunity to
become environmental stewards. “By saving water, not only are
you saving money, but you are protecting your community and
the Earth,” he said. “Using less water takes practice, until
conservation becomes a habit. Sometimes you just need a little
help to keep going, which is where we come in.”
Here are a few tips to help you kick off and keep up efforts to take
better care of our earth’s water resources.
First, become more familiar with your water providers. You
probably know who sends you your water bill, but do you know
where they get their water? There are municipal and regional
water entities, like West Basin, that offer their own rebate
programs and partner with other utilities to provide conservation
resources for the community.
Second, remember businesses are community members too. Even
though outdoor residential water use is a major area of focus,
there are also programs to help reduce water usage in the
commercial and industrial sector.
Third, take action today! For example: visit the West Basin
website; view a list of water-saving devices qualified for rebates;
check if you are eligible for free devices or rebates by taking a
survey; sign up for a class; or email a representative to ask a
question. Getting started with one of these actions could lead
to hundreds of dollars of savings on a high-efficiency washing
machine, a free rain barrel valued at approximately $100,
incentives to replace grass and invaluable
educational opportunities.
Which West Basin programs can save you money?
Residential
Free Rain Barrels
Reduce your water bill by reusing captured
rain water to irrigate your landscape and/or
garden with a free rain barrel delivered directly
to your home.
westbasin.org/rain-barrels
Money and Water-Saving Rebates
Residents may qualify to receive a rebate to
replace your grass lawns with beautiful native
landscapes. Also available, a $500 rebate for
a high-efficiency clothes washer.
westbasin.org/conservation
Free Workshops
Virtual workshops about grass removal, garden
design, firescaping, recycled water tours and
more are available at no cost.
westbasin.org/water-lab
Commercial / Business
Free Kitchen Appliances and Rebates
Restaurants, hotels, schools and other
commercial kitchens can save money by
saving water with
appliance rebates of up to $6,000.
westbasin.org/c4k
Water Bottle Filling Station Grants
Grants of up to $2,000 are available for cities,
schools and other public entities for the installation
of filling stations that provide public
access to drinking water.
westbasin.org/fillingstations
Partner Rebates
Check with West Basin partners Metropolitan,
California Water Service, Golden State Water
Company and your city for additional rebates
and resources.
socalwatersmart.com
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Learn more about West Basin’s conservation programs by visiting: www.westbasin.org @WestBasin
F
The West Basin Municipal Water District
West Basin is governed by an elected Board of Directors, who
oversee the District and the programs that provide safe,
reliable water.
Gloria D. Gray
Immediate
Past President
Harold C.
Williams
President
Desi
Alvarez
Secretary
Scott
Houston
Treasurer
Donald L.
Dear
Vice President
Herald in Alaska
Mayor Drew Boyles holds the Herald at Majestic Heli Ski in Alaska!
Bee Question Lands
Before Council
By Rob McCarthy
A proposal to take garden-variety honey
bees off the nuisance list created some buzz
at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. After
a back-and-forth discussion about relaxing
the current prohibition on non-commercial
beekeeping in El Segundo backyards, the
council members remained open to the idea.
Keeping beehives on properties zoned R-1
isn’t currently allowed in El Segundo, so the
council would need to agree to change El
Segundo’s zoning laws. The Planning Commission
gave the environmentally-friendly
proposal a thumbs-up earlier this year before
sending it to the council.
Tuesday night’s public hearing and discussion
centered primarily on how backyard
beekeeping would be regulated and enforced
if neighbors complained about bees coming
from an adjacent property. The suggested
change requires any property owner keeping
beehives to keep no more than three hives and
to place them in the backyard. El Segundo
apiarists must register their hives and follow
the state’s guidelines.
By de-listing honeybees from the nuisance
list, El Segundo would join the cities of Santa
Monica, Long Beach, and Los Angeles who’ve
made it possible in recent years for urban
dwellers to do something about the declining
bee population. Three-fourths of the world’s
flowering plants depend on pollinators, such
as bees and birds, to reproduce, according to
the National Resources Conservation Service
within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It
also notes on its website that bees are dying
off at an alarming rate.
Councilman Scot Nicol sought assurances
that any complaints from residents would
be addressed by city employees first before
being referred to the county. Councilwoman
Carol Pirsztuk wanted to know more about
the county’s beekeeping regulations before
the issue comes up for a final vote at the
next council meeting.
Any aggressive or defensive behavior by
honeybees kept on El Segundo R-1 zoned
properties would trigger a call to Los Angeles
County inspectors. The change in its zoning
laws leaves it up to beehive hobbyists to follow
best practices, and it doesn’t micromanage
the activity, Public Works Director Elias Sassoon
explained. As currently written, beehives
could not be kept in side yards, rooftops, or
in apartment buildings or condominiums.
Urban beekeeping is gaining popularity,
and several organizations and clubs exist to
provide training in the identification of bee
species and best practices. Notably, the Los
Angeles County Beekeepers Association posts
information on its website. So does the Los
Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner’s
Office, which encourages the practice of urban
beekeeping. It notes that a bee colony is a
“complex” insect community that requires
continual maintenance to remain safe and
free of disease and invaders.
Because El Segundo’s zoning code is a
permissive document, any activity not specifically
mentioned being legal is automatically
forbidden within city limits. No city-issued
permit or license will be required for backyard
hives if the change is made.
California is home to 1,500 species of
bees, with the European honeybee being
most common, according to the county agricultural
commissioner. A national strategy
to promote pollinator health - created in
2015 - is behind the increased interest in
the insects and making habitats for bees
in urban settings. According to the experts,
European honeybees are gentle creatures and
only sting if they are threatened, attacked or
get stepped on.
While saying maybe to urban beekeeping,
the City Council signaled its willingness
to issue pension-obligation bonds to pay
down what El Segundo owes the state.
The council agreed to hire J.P. Morgan and
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company to underwrite
the sale of the bonds, a move that addresses
the City Council’s chief financial concern.
See City Council, page 4