As the irrigation season kicks into high gear, remembering these basic tips will help you keep your water use low.

• Don't overwater. Overwatering is the #1 cause of plant problems and wastes water. Symptoms of overwatering include algae, moss, and mushroom growth; yellow lower leaves that fall off; and wilted young shoots. Try cutting back your watering times 2 minutes for every 10 you normally water, or use our weekly watering schedule as a guide.  
• Water while you sleep. Water in the early morning or at night when less is lost to evaporation.
• Mulch. A 3-inch layer of mulch throughout planting beds reduces water loss from evaporation and helps keep down weeds.
• Get smart. Replace your standard irrigation controller with a smart one and get a rebate from MMWD. 

Additional conservation information is available on MMWD's website. 

MMWD's 2014 Annual Water Quality Report shows, once again, that the water provided by the district continues to meet or surpass all state and federal health regulations. The report summarizes the results of thousands of water quality analyses conducted by MMWD from January-December 2013. Printed copies, in both English and Spanish, can be requested from the district's Water Quality Lab, 415-945-1550.

MMWD takes numerous steps to ensure that the drinking water delivered to customers is of high quality, from managing and protecting watershed lands, to employing proven treatment methods, to vigilant monitoring. Each year MMWD conducts more than 120,000 water quality tests from watershed to faucet, including process control testing at the treatment plants as well as laboratory testing.

MMWD 2014 Board President Armando Quintero was recently appointed to the California Water Commission by Governor Brown. The commission provides a public forum for discussing water issues, advises the California Department of Water Resources, and takes appropriate statutory actions to further the development of policies that support integrated and sustainable water resource management and a healthy environment. Among the statutory duties is monitoring and reporting on the construction and operation of the State Water Project. MMWD does not receive any water from the State Water Project.

Quintero has represented central San Rafael on the MMWD Board of Directors since 2009. He is the director of development at the University of California, Merced Sierra Nevada Research. Previously he held multiple positions in the U.S. National Park Service in various locations throughout California.