As drought conditions persist across California, Bellflower-Somerset Mutual Water Company announced that it is broadening its efforts to help shareholders reduce water use and save money in the process.
BSMWC launched a new website earlier this year to coincide with its 110th anniversary. The site offers more robust information about conservation and rebates. There are programs dedicated to teaching children about the importance of responsible water use, with the Bella the Bee mascot designed to make those messages more relatable to people of all ages.
“While our groundwater supply is sufficient to continue meeting the needs of our shareholders, conserving will ensure enough water is available for future generations,” said BSMWC General Manager Steve Lenton. “We want to do everything we can as a company to help our shareholders trim their water use.”
Through partnerships with Central Basin Municipal Water District and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, BSMWC shareholders are also eligible for rebates to help cover the cost of water-saving improvements through the SoCal WaterSmart program. In addition to high-efficiency appliances and irrigation systems, shareholders can receive up to $2 per square foot of grass replaced with water-saving plants. Residential accounts are eligible for up to $10,000 in turf removal rebates and commercial accounts can receive up to $100,000.
Even the youngest water users can participate in conservation. BSMWC offers free age-appropriate lessons for kindergarten through sixth-grade students at local schools in the Bellflower Unified School District to help children learn about the value of water and how to conserve it. The activities feature BSMWC’s mascot, Bella the Bee.
