S AV E H 2 O
To d a y 4 To m o r r o w
Remember the 3R’s
H ESPERIA E ARTH WATCH
Your Guide to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Save Water
Environmental e-Newsletter
Winter 2009
Welcome!
In an effort to provide City of Hesperia residents and businesses with environmental information about solid waste and water
saving tips, we welcome you to our online newsletter. This e-newsletter will give you a few examples of ways you can be part
of a solution to protect our environment. When we work together, simple changes can affect the world, or at the very least
the City of Hesperia. We ask you to act locally, but think globally!
Think Green in 2009
These days, everyone is going green. We recycle plastic,
paper, metal and electronics, just to name a few. We
conserve energy and we save water whenever possible.
We drive hybrid vehicles and we drive less, which helps
improve air quality. But did you ever think about recycling
water? It may be a surprise to find out that the color
purple is also the new green.
The trendiest definition of being “green” means
sustainable or environmentally-friendly. The word
green, in the traditional sense, also means lush
landscapes filled with soft grass and leafy plants.
Putting greens. Green parks. You get the idea.
we use. As residents of the High Desert, we are fortunate to
enjoy countless days of sunshine and a desert landscape.
Unfortunately, the lack of rain means groundwater supplies
need to be managed carefully to ensure adequate water
supplies for future generations.
Recycled water is drought-proof, which helps protect local
investments in parks, golf courses and other landscape
areas. Recycling water is the same concept as recycling
paper, bottles or cans. This valuable resource can
be used again rather than being disposed of.
Today, in many areas, including the High
Desert, purple pipe is being installed to
help protect the environment by reducing
the amount of wastewater discharge while
providing an alternative water supply for things like
green grass and landscaping. This purple pipe, brightly
colored to avoid confusion with drinking water pipes,
carries treated recycled water for use in irrigation, parks
and golf courses.
But don’t forget, in addition to recycling garbage
and waste, we need to do our part to save
water and keep water clean. If everyone
keeps pollutants like pesticides, used motor
oil and litter out of our water supplies, we’ll
protect the quality of our water into the future.
One easy way to avoid polluting our water supplies is
to not pour waste such as motor oil and other polluting
substances down street drains or on the ground. 2009 is
the year to clean-up the environment and “Think Green
when you see purple.”
You might notice the purple pipe as you drive down
Escondido or drive into the parking lot of City Hall. Purple
pipe is popping up everywhere as the City of Hesperia is
preparing for new subregional wastewater reclamation
facilities to be built in order to accommodate expected
growth in the near future.
So, by definition, recycling means to recover useful
materials from garbage or waste or to extract and reuse.
The City of Hesperia has many programs and services that
guide and encourage residents, businesses and citizens to
Think Green in 2009. For more information, please visit the
City’s website at www.cityofhesperia.us.
Using recycled water for non-drinking purposes such as
landscape irrigation, will help the amount of groundwater
Earth Watch 01
Water
Knowing Your Water Meter
There are several reasons why you’d want to be able to
locate and read your water meter. First, you might be
interested in just how much water you use in a day. By
reading your meter at the beginning and the end of the
day you can compare the two totals and tell how much
water you and your family used. The second reason is to
check for leaks. If you turn off all the taps in your house,
look at your meter and if it is still turning, chances are
you have a leak somewhere. Here are some hints to
help you find your water meter.
STEP 1: Locate Your Meter
Your water meter is enclosed inside a water meter
box outside your home. These boxes can be concrete,
polymer or green or black plastic. You can find them in
one of these locations:
 In the sidewalk in front of your home.
 Alley ways behind or at the back of your home.
 In the lawn or flower bed area in front of your
home.
 In rural areas with dirt roads, some meter boxes are
located in the street at the front of the property or on
the next street behind the property.
Step 2: Accessing your Water Meter
 Carefully remove the lid by using a tool such as a
large screwdriver or pliers.
 Visually examine the area around the meter to make
sure there are no harmful insects or other animals.
 Wear gloves when removing the lid to prevent
smashing fingers.
STEP 3: Locate the Main Water Supply Shut Off
 Inside the meter box there will either be a wheel
handle (gate valve) or a straight handle (ball valve).
The wheel valve can be turned clock-wise to shut
water off. The ball valve should be turned at a right
angle to the water line to shut off water.
 Outside the meter box the shut off valve, for the
customer’s use, can be seen in a small plastic can
just outside the meter box and toward the house.
Another location could be near the front of the house
in a box, which also houses the pressure regulator.
Rebates and Incentives
Hesperia Water District customers who would like to
take an active role in reducing their water consumption
can receive vouchers, rebates and other incentives
by installing water conservation products. For more
information visit the program website at www.
highdesertsaveswater.org.
Water Awareness
Most of us never give a second thought as to where our
water comes from. We just expect water to flow freely
when we turn on the tap. Did you know that the glass
of water from your tap may have been the same water
Cleopatra viewed in the Nile or water Napoleon drank
after a battle? The water may even have been sipped
from a stream by a dinosaur. The water we have on
Earth now is the same water that was on Earth millions
of years ago.
Consider these water facts the next time you use
water.
 The human body is about 66% water.
 Everyday in the United States, we drink about 110
million gallons of water.
 Showering and bathing is one of the largest uses of
water in the home.
 Less than 2% of the Earth’s water supply is fresh
water.
 The average American uses about 140-170 gallons
of water per day.
 One flush of a toilet can use up to 6.5 gallons of
water.
 An average family of four uses 881 gallons of water
per week just flushing the toilet.
 An average bath requires 37 gallons of water.
 An average 5-minute shower takes about 20 gallons
of water.
 Leaving the water running while brushing your teeth
uses about 5 gallons of water.
 Watering your grass and trees more heavily and less
often, saves water and builds stronger roots.
 Each person needs to drink about 2.5 quarts (80)
ounces of water everyday.
Prevent water run-off! Water only between 9am & 3pm during the winter.
Earth Watch 02
Recycle
Cans 4 Cash
The City of Hesperia recently completed the
nationwide City recycling challenge, competing with
other cities of similar size, to receive a cash award for
collecting the highest total tonnage of recyclable
aluminum cans.
The Cans for Cash City Recycling Challenge ran
during the month of October 2008. And by the looks
of it, the City of Hesperia residents, businesses, civic
groups and students recycled 110,950.70 pounds, or
55.48 tons, of aluminum cans. The City won’t know until January 2009 whether or not we won the contest, but either
way we are winners.
According to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the aluminum can is the country’s most recycled beverage container and
has been for more than 20 years. In 2006, U.S. recyclers recovered nearly 52% of the more than 100 billion aluminum
beverage cans produced in the country. Still more than a billion dollars worth of aluminum cans were unrecovered;
highlighting the importance of programs such as Cans for Cash to raise awareness of recycling’s benefits.
The City of Hesperia was a proud winner of the 2004 competition and has benefited in many ways never imagined
when we first decided to participate. With the award monies previously received, the City purchased recycling banners
for display at the Park Districts, new baseball diamonds, recycled content park benches and ClearStream special event
recycling collection containers. As a rapidly growing City of over 80,000 residents in a 74 square mile area, the City has
limited funds for our recycling programs. This program was implemented with great thought and few resources but
reaped large dividends whatever the result of the competition.
Recycling Rates
Have you ever wondered if the City of Hesperia and Advance Disposal recycle? The answer is yes!
Advance Disposal has been recycling since the mid-1960’s. While the City and Advance Disposal do not offer separate
containers for curbside recycling, plastic, glass, metal, wood, yard waste, concrete, paper, aluminum, and tin are hand
sorted for recycling at the Advance Disposal Material Recovery Facility (MRF) every week! Once trash is delivered to the
MRF, it goes through a number of screens, shakers and conveyor belts where employees of Advance Disposal Company
pull out recyclables to be diverted from the landfill.
While this means that Hesperia residents are not required to source separate items at the curb, residents are still
encouraged to bundle their green waste separately, as well as their paper items, which are unusable if contaminated by
liquids or food items. Of course, residents are always encouraged to reduce the amount of waste generated to begin
with.
Since the adoption of the State’s 50% recycling requirement (AB 939), Advance Disposal and the City have worked
diligently to implement programs and provide public education to the community. The City continues to remain in the
top 15 for cities in San Bernardino County to exceed the 50% diversion rate, currently holding at 53%. The next step is
to work towards the State’s next recycling requirement of 75%.
Join the Adopt-a-Street Program today! Visit the City’s website.
Earth Watch 03
Pollution Solution
Use Environmentally Safe Products
Many pesticides have safe, chemically-free organic alternatives. By
using non-toxic methods, you reduce the amount of dangerous
chemicals that flows off of lawns and into storm drains or groundwater.
Recycle Your Used Motor Oil and Filters
Used motor oil is extremely toxic to the environment if disposed
improperly and there are literally hundreds of collection centers
located throughout the city.
Compost Yard Trimmings
Dispose of yard clippings and waste in a compost bin or in your City
issued green container.
Report Illegal dumping
Illegal dumping of trash, paint products, motor oil and other chemicals into storm drains is against the law! Call (760) 947-1343 to report
incidents of illegal dumping.
Citywide Clean-up Day,
April 11, 2009
How do you say it?
 One’s man trash is another man’s
treasure.
 When it rains it pours.
 We’ll cross that bridge when we get
to it.
 A friend in need is a friend indeed.
 A penny for your thoughts
 Better late than never.
 Honesty is the best policy.
Pick up After Your Pets
Animal waste that runs off of lawns and sidewalks sends harmful
bacteria into the storm drain system and ground water.
 Keep a green tree in your heart and
perhaps a singing bird will come.
Dispose of Trash Properly
Separate items into plastics, glass and paper products and place in
the tan waste wheeler. Separating items will prevent contamination
and provide better recyclables.
 Never put off till tomorrow what may
be done today.
Use Water Based Paints
Oil based paints are extremely toxic and much more problematic in
disposing of than water based paint. Oil based paints are also not
allowed to be disposed of in the City’s sewer system and dumping it
into storm drains is ILLEGAL. Water based paints cover the same area
just as well as oil based, and it is strongly encouraged that you buy
the water based brand.
 Tomorrow is a new day.
Recycle Everything You Can!
Landfill space (where all our trash goes) is rapidly filling up and we
can greatly reduce the need for having to find precious, open land
for additional capacity. Open land can be better suited for parks or
natural habitat for wildlife and much of what we throw away can easily be recycled.
Did you remember to recycle your Christmas Tree! You have until
January 16, 2009 to recycle your tree.
 Look before you leap.
 No time like the present.
 Practice makes perfect.
 Every picture tells a story.
 History repeats itself.
 A penny saved is a penny earned.
 Old habits are hard to break.
 The best is yet to come.
 There is no time like the present.
C it y o f Hesperia
9700 Seventh Avenue
Hesperia, CA 92345
www.cityofhesperia.us
or call
Recycling: (760) 947-1589
Water Conservation: (760) 947-1412
Main Number: (760) 947-1000
Earth Watch 04