In Your Bill

The City of Allen uses the Utility Bill as a communication tool to reach out to our citizens by including information in the monthly mailing. The following links show all the monthly fliers and information included in the utility bills over the past 12 months.

May 2011

Water Quality Report

WATER CONSERVATION IS A TOP PRIORITY! THE CITY OF ALLEN HAS ANNOUNCED ENTERING STAGE ONE OF THE DROUGHT CONTINGENCY AND EMERGENCY WATER RESPONSE PLAN AS OF APRIL 19, 2011! Irrigation systems with spray and/or rotor heads are prohibited to be on between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily. Hand watering (hand-held hose) or drip irrigation is allowed. We urge the public to repair leaks in or out of the home, have irrigation systems checked and repair any leak or break, and water your lawn and landscape NO MORE than 2 days per week. Please prepare your landscape now for potential mandatory water restrictions that may come this summer! Deep, infrequent watering is the best preparation. Cycle/soak (irrigate for a few minutes in each zone, wait 30 minutes and apply more - may repeat to complete the amount of water necessary) your lawn/landscape to penetrate one inch of water 6-8 inches deep and allow the soil to completely dry out before you water - this could be 2 to 6 days later depending on the weather. Be sure to account for rainfall - if an inch falls, turn sprinklers off and wait for soil to dry before applying irrigation water. If you are in need of a rain gauge, please call 214-509-4553 to obtain a free one from our Water Conservation Division. For more information on water restrictions see our website: http://www.cityofallen.org/departments/community_svcs/water_conservation.

DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS! Spring in Texas brings wildflowers, plenty of sunshine and high winds! High winds bring out litter from multiple sources. Litter catches in the wildflowers, lines our landscaping and highways, clogs our storm sewers and pollutes our lakes. Please do your part to prevent litter by:

• bagging your household trash before placing it in the trash cart;
• carrying a litter bag in your car and using it; litter often blows out when you open vehicle doors or windows;
• taking a bag with you and picking up litter on your daily walk;
• putting litter in its place after picnics, snacks on the go, or cleaning up outside the house.

With over 24 million people in Texas, 827 million pieces of litter accumulate on Texas roadways each year. If every person in Texas picked up just six pieces of litter each month, Texas would be litter-free. Help create a clean city by choosing not to litter.

April 2011

Great American Cleanup flier

Utility Bill Back

Proper mowing and fertilizing conserves water! First, lawns do not have to be scalped in the spring! Second, lawns should never be fertilized until the dormant warm season grass has fully turned green and is growing! This usually occurs after the soil temperatures have warmed past 65 degrees. Once you have mowed two times (the grass, not the weeds), then fertilizer can be applied.

Fertilize the lawn once in the late spring and again in the fall (while still green) to produce a beautiful turf without excessive growth (which demands frequent watering) by using a slow-release form of nitrogen in the spring application and a quick-release form in the fall.

Mowing heights: St. Augustine grass and buffalo grass at 3 inches; Bermudagrass at 1 inch; Centipedegrass and Zoysiagrass at 2 inches.

For more information on landscape and lawn care, please attend our Sustainable Landscape Series. Information can be found at http://www.cityofallen.org/departments/community_svcs/water_conservation

Swing into Spring and spruce up your landscape! The City of Allen has several options to handle residential yard trimmings, brush, and leaves. CWD provides weekly tied and bundled brush collection as well as brown-bagged leaf collection. Residents can call CWD for once-a-month collection of large amounts of loose brush (not to exceed 3 cubic yards). Residents can also access the Custer Road Wood Grinding Facility twice per month at no charge. Please check for important details about these options at http://www.cityofallen.org/departments/community_svcs/trash_recycling/yard_waste.htm. In addition, the Great American Cleanup will be held on Saturday, April 30 at Bossy Boots Drive from 8 am until 1 pm for Allen residents. Loads of brush, limbs, and leaves will be accepted. Volunteers on site will help with the unloading!

City of Allen's residential yard trimmings are recycled into compost. One Cubic yard of free compost per month is available to Allen residents at the Jupiter Road free compost site on weekends on a first-come, first-served basis. Compost from Allen's curbside collection is also available from Texas Pure Products. For more information about compost, go to: www.texaspureproducts.com.

March 2011

Live Green Expo flier

Utility Bill Back

The Sustainable Landscape Series is Back!!!! Come learn the best methods for landscape and lawn care in Allen! Classes are on Saturday mornings from 10 am to 12 noon with different topics each time. Check out our website for complete information, dates, topics and registration. http://www.cityofallen.org/departments/community_svcs/water_conservation

**FIX A LEAK WEEK IS MARCH 14-19. LEARN MORE BY VISITING WEBPAGE ABOVE!

**COME VISIT OUR WATER CONSERVATION BOOTH AT THE GARDEN SHOW Presented by the Collin County Master Gardeners March 26-27 in McKinney. For more information visit: http://www.ccmgatx.org/thegardenshow Allen residents receive a free rain gauge and can register for a water conserving prize! (need not be present at drawing)

The coming month of April celebrates all things ENVIRONMENTAL. Keep Allen Beautiful and the City of Allen celebrate April by promoting several not-to-be-missed events!

• Sat, April 2nd: EarthFest, 10 am - 3 pm, hosted by Watters Creek at Montgomery Farm
• Sat, April 16th: Live Green Expo, 9 am - 6 pm, Plano Centre, 2000 E. Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano
• Fri, April 22nd: Earth Day
• Sat, April 30th: Annual Great American Cleanup, 8 am - 1 pm at (*correction from water bill back) *Bossy Boots west of US 75 and City Hall parking lot, 305 Century Pkwy to shred documents as well as medication disposal collection (medication disposal also at Lowery Freshman Center)
• Reuse-a-Shoe Contest which runs from March 28th until April 15th in AISD schools and City of Allen facilities
• Curbside Household Hazardous Waste program is available all year long by calling 214-509-4500 or registering at http://cityofallen.publisharea.net/forms/household-hazardous-waste-collection-request.htm

For more information about these events, visit www.cityofallen.org/departments/community_svcs/keep_allen_beautiful/public_education.htm

February 2011

No inserts this month

Utility Bill Back

Happy Valentine's Day!

City of Allen Solid Waste Division would like to send a special Valentine's Day "Thank You" to all Allen residents and businesses for their support of the City's recycling program. Through your participation, the City recycled the following in 2010:

• Curbside Recycling - 9416 tons
• Residential Yard Waste - 5283 tons
• Household Hazardous Waste - 38 tons
• Apartment Recycling - 154 tons
• Great American Cleanup - 15 tons
• Allen Recycles Day - 39 tons
• Quarterly Electronics Collections - 60 tons
• AISD Recycling - 271 tons
• Commercial Cardboard - 1339 tons
• Construction & Demolition Recycling - 937 tons

This extreme show of support has reduced the amount of waste Allen sends to the landfill by 25%!

Saving water indoors is a matter of changing a few habits! It takes one month of doing these things to make them a routine in your life. These simple changes help conserve our water and insure adequate supply for the future!

• Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving. Most faucets run at 2 gallons per minute - you can save 10 gallons in 5 minutes!
• Take shorter showers with low-flow showerhead instead of a tub bath. A 10-minute shower typically uses 25 gallons, whereas a full tub can use 50 or more gallons.
• Washing Dishes: Only run dishwasher with full load. Newer dishwashers typically use 7 gallons per load. Scrape dishes instead of rinsing in the sink if they are being washed in the dishwasher. When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink with soapy water and one with rinse water instead of letting the water run continuously.

The Sustainable Landscape Series is Back!!!! Classes begin January 29 and continue to May 21! Check http://www.cityofallen.org/departments/community_svcs/water_conservation for more information!

January 2011

2011 Trash and Recycling Collection Schedule

Utility Bill Back

REduce, REuse, & REcycle Resolutions for the New Year!

'Tis the season to celebrate and REnew. Resolve to make small changes in your lifestyle to reduce your carbon footprint in 2011:

REduce & REuse

• Use reusable cloth shopping bags...keep them in the front seat of your car so they'll always be handy!
• Use a reusable coffee cup at work and at home.
• Use fabric cleaning cloths instead of paper towels.
• Compost food waste in a home composter.
• Reduce the use of pesticides and other hazardous household chemicals by using safer substitutes instead.
• Use biodegradable laundry soap rather than petroleum-based detergents.

REcycle

• Recycle everything you can in Allen's single stream program! Plastic and glass bottles, metal cans, junk mail, newspaper, office paper, and cardboard.
• Buy products made from recycled materials.

For more information about waste reduction and to find out if you're a "waste-wise wannabe" or a "waste-wise warrior," check out the "Use Less Stuff" website at http://www.use-less-stuff.com/ULSDAY/42ways.html.

Need a new washing machine? Replace that old one with a more water-efficient model and save both water and money! Water-efficient clothes washers use only 18-25 gallons of water per load. Traditional washers use about 40 gallons per load. With savings of 15-22 gallons per load, the average family can easily save over 6,000 gallons of water each year! Efficient washers also use much less energy than traditional washers because less water needs to be heated. They also have faster spin cycles than traditional machines, thus driving more moisture from the clothes before you put them in the dryer. This results in additional energy savings through much shorter drying times. The City of Allen has a rebate up to $125.00 available for qualifying washing machines. Visit our website for application and information: www.cityofallen.org.

December 2010

Trees for Allen/Arbor Day flier

Utility Bill Back

Electronics Recycling Collection Coming Up!

Will the holidays be bringing you a new computer, Ipod, or cell phone? Choose to "Be Green" and recycle your old equipment at the City of Allen's Electronics Recycling Day on Saturday, January 15, 2011. Collection will begin in City Hall's parking lot at 8:00 am and will end promptly at 1:00 pm or when the trucks are full. Accepted items include computers, monitors, printers, ink cartridges, scanners, fax machines, answering machines, all phones, digital cameras, and small electric appliances. No televisions will be accepted. Participants must show their driver's license and current water utility bill to prove Allen residency. Take advantage of this service jointly sponsored by the City of Allen and Keep Allen Beautiful and start the New Year with a "green" habit - recycling!

Keep Irrigation Controllers OFF during winter and only use manual when needed!

Warm season turfgrasses such as Bermuda and St. Augustine go dormant after the first frost and may only require water once a month when conditions are extremely dry. Check soil moisture levels before applying water. Check the weather forecast to insure temperatures will remain above freezing levels before turning your system to run. By watering only when absolutely needed, you will save thousands of gallons during the winter months.

November 2010

Suicide Prevention flier

Bank Draft Authorization form

Utility Bill Back

Be Green! Recycle your fall leaves and holiday trees

Leaves: Bag in paper lawn bags and place at least two feet away from polycarts on your trash day. This service is offered year-round.

Trees: Remove all stands, lights, and decorations and place at least two feet away from polycarts on your trash day from Dec. 27 - Jan. 7. Flocked trees cannot be accepted in this program.

Can't wait for pickup? Take it to the Custer Road Transfer Station and Wood Grinding Facility

• 9901 Custer Road, Plano, TX 75025; Phone: 972.727.6341
• Open Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
• Current driver's license and water bill required
• Up to 2 drop-offs available monthly at both the Transfer Station and Wood Grinding Facility

For more information visit www.cityofallen.org/departments/community_svcs/trash_recycling/ or call 214.509.4551.

All yard trimmings and clean wood collected curb-side or dropped off at the Custer Road Facility is used to produce compost, topdressing, soil blend, and mulch. Visit www.texaspureproducts.com to learn more.

Don't let the Grease Menace* get in the sewer!

Avoid placing fats, oils and grease down the drain or toilet. Even when flushed with hot water, it eventually cools and clings to the sides of your sewer pipes causing clogs and backups. Repairs can be costly to the homeowner! Use plastic or other containers with lids to properly dispose of cooled fats, oils and grease in your trash cart.

*Grease Menace artwork courtesy of City of Bismarck, ND

October 2010

Allen Recycles Day flier

Utility Bill Back

Fall is the time to ready landscapes for winter! October is the time for the last turf fertilization of 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet, using a quick release fertilizer. This will insure food for the root system for the winter. Once this fertilizer has been watered in and mowed once, gradually reduce watering for winter and keep your automatic sprinkler controllers in the OFF position. Only use manual settings from now until April when the landscape needs supplemental watering. Most years we receive adequate amounts of rainfall to sustain the landscape during November-April and by keeping the controller in the OFF position, it will help to curb water waste.

***Community Awareness Day for the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center - Saturday, October 9, 9-4. Education and Research Preview of the Wetland Project for North Texas Municipal Water District, open to the public! See our website for map: www.cityofallen.org, search water conservation.

***Make a Rain Barrel Class!!! Thursday, October 28, at Texas AgriLife Center - Dallas. Cost $40.00. Contact Tamaron Hunt at 972-952-9671 for more information.

STORMY WEATHER Trash & Recycling Tips

Be smart and plan ahead! Prepare your trash and recycling carts for the inevitable North Texas stormy weather by legibly printing your street address on all carts in heavy black permanent marker or spray paint. It's much easier to correctly identify a lost cart if the address is legibly printed on it. Residents are financially responsible for cart replacement if they are lost, stolen, or missing. Weather reports give ample forewarning of high winds and rising water. Cart collection may be delayed by extreme weather, so immediately after servicing, secure your carts by rolling them inside a protected area.

Once a month, residents with large amounts of loose brush (windstorm damaged materials) not exceeding 3 cubic yards (size of a VW beetle) may call CWD at 972-392-9300, option 2, for an extra pick-up. Please remember, if a contractor trims the trees/brush for your residence, the contractor must dispose of it properly at the Custer Road Transfer Station or another composting facility.

September 2010

Storm Water Protection

Utility Bill Back

Rainwater harvesting for use in the landscape is a great way to conserve our water supply! What is rainwater harvesting?

Rainwater harvesting (also called roofwater harvesting) involves the collection, storage, and distribution of rainwater from the roof for use inside and outside the home or business. For centuries, people have relied on rainwater harvesting to supply water for household, landscape, livestock, and agricultural uses. A renewed interest in this time-honored approach of collecting water has emerged in Texas and elsewhere because of escalating environmental and economic costs of providing water by centralized water systems or by well drilling. The health benefits of rainwater, and potential cost savings associated with rainwater collection systems, have further spurred this interest. The City of Allen offers rebates for rain barrels to be used for rainwater harvesting. Information and applications available on our website: www.cityofallen.org.

****REMINDER: Overseeding with rye grass or other cool season grasses is now prohibited in our water conservation plan ordinance!

Average Utility Billing Program

Utility Bill Back

One of the best-kept secrets in Allen is the annual Educator Expo for community and civic education leaders and school educators! Mark your calendars now for Thursday, September 23rd from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. at the AISD Administration Building, 612 East Bethany. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about the FREE resources and programs available through the City of Allen and other agencies. The Educator Expo will also include light refreshments and terrific door prizes! Register online or call 214-509-4551 to reserve your spot!

Keeping the pool covered when not in use helps conserve water! By using a pool cover, you can save 90 to 95% of the water that would otherwise be lost to evaporation. An uncovered standard-sized (16 ft. x 32 ft.) pool loses approximately an inch of water each week to evaporation. Modern pool covers are available in a variety of styles and materials, including automated models. The covers may also provide a safety barrier for children and pets, keep debris and wildlife out, and extend the life of the chemicals in the pool (check with manufacturer for details).

Other Pool Conservation Measures:

• Refrain from high water levels to minimize losses from splashing.
• Do routine maintenance. Check for leaks regularly and test and maintain the water quality.

**REMINDER: Overseeding with rye grass or other cool season grasses is now prohibited in our water conservation plan ordinance!

July 2010

2010 Trash and Recycling Guidelines

Boards and Commissions Volunteer Recruitment

Utility Bill Back

Electronics Recycling Collection Coming Up!

Cleaning out your closets? Here's your chance to recycle your old electronic equipment at the City of Allen's Electronics Recycling Day on Saturday, August 7, 2010. Collection will begin in City Hall's parking lot at 8:00 a.m. and will end promptly at 1:00 p.m. or when the trucks are full. Accepted items include computers, monitors, printers, ink cartridges, scanners, fax machines, answering machines, all phones, digital cameras, and small electric appliances. No televisions will be accepted. Participants must show their driver's license and current water utility bill to prove Allen residency. Take advantage of this service jointly sponsored by the City of Allen and Keep Allen Beautiful and choose to "Be Green!"

Want to save thousands of gallons per month using your automatic sprinkler system? Change your irrigation equipment to more efficient nozzles, install soil moisture sensors, use flow controlled valves, and/or consider a SMART controller. The City of Allen offers rebates up to $125.00 for upgrades to a system that conserves water. See our website: www.cityofallen.org or call 214-509-4559 for more information.

 June 2010

No inserts this month

Utility Bill Back

Safe Household Hazardous Waste (Chemical) Disposal

Protect your drinking water source! Let the City of Allen pick up your household chemical waste (Household Hazardous Waste or HHW) instead of putting it in your trash or pouring it down the sink or storm drain! Remember...anything that goes down the storm drain ends up in the lake - the source of your drinking water. Some chemicals cannot be removed from water in normal wastewater processing. Chemicals in the trash can cause truck fires or, when compacted in the truck, can leak out onto the street and into the storm drain. Proper disposal is essential.

Did you know that since 2004 when the program began, the City of Allen has collected over 75,652 pounds of chemical waste? Just in the last year, 10,991 pounds of chemicals have been reused instead of being disposed.

To schedule your HHW pickup in allen or find more information, find us online at http://www.cityofallen.org/departments/community_svcs/trash_recycling/hhw_collection.htm or call 214-509-4500.

Proper irrigation scheduling saves $$! Cycle-Soak Method: This method of irrigation applies water slowly so the soil can actually absorb all that is applied. Instead of running each sprinkler zone for 15 or 20 minutes each, run each zone only the amount of time that the soil can absorb the water (which means it is not running off onto the sidewalk or street). Depending on the slope of the yard, this could vary widely from zone to zone. Each landscape owner will have to test their zone run times to see when the water begins to run off.

Once you have determined the maximum amount of water each zone can take before runoff, split the total irrigation time into two or three parts. This involves irrigating the zone, shutting it off to allow time for the water to soak in, and then irrigating the remainder of the time. Schedule the run times about one hour apart until the soil is moistened to a depth of 4-6 inches. The plants' root systems will reach for this deep moisture and will be well protected from the summer heat. By using this method, irrigation should not be necessary again for at least 3-5 days, depending on weather conditions.