CAL FIRE South Bay – Station 15 and Los Osos Community Services District wants to advise Los Osos Residents and property owners that the Annual Fire Hazard Abatement Deadline is May 1st. 

All properties within the District boundaries containing hazardous vegetation and other flammable materials, that constitute a public nuisance, shall be abated as per Los Osos CSD Fire Code, Health and Safety Code and Public Resources Code. Hazardous weeds are defined by the California Health and Safety Code Section 14875, as dry grass, brush, poison oak, litter, or other flammable material that created a fire hazard.

The acceptable methods of fire hazard reductions are:

• To mow grasses and small shrubs to a height of not more than 4 inches;
• To cut dead brush and thin brush patches and remove it by hauling or chipping over a scattered area;
• To haul other flammable debris, and trash to a landfill.

After a rainy season there is a lot of new hazardous growth. Inspections begin MAY 1st, so be sure to abate to help protect our community from a wild fire.

Living in Los Osos we take our approach to water seriously.  We rely completely on groundwater and we know we need to conserve.   Sometimes we need to be gently reminded that water should be conserved.

Here are some water conservation tips for indoors and out:

• Water outdoor vegetation only between the hours of dusk and dawn
• If you spill ice cubes on the floor, pick them up and put them in a houseplant
• Soak your dirty dishes in a sink full of water instead of running the water while washing
• If your toilet flapper doesn’t close properly after flushing, replace it
• Look at your water meter, there is a leak indicator that will move if water is passing through it
• Turn off the water when brushing your teeth, it can save 10 gallons per person per day
• Plant California native plants and use less water
• Always run a full load of laundry and save 15 to 45 gallons per load
• Reuse your cooking water by watering a plant
• Wash your vehicle at a carwash, they recycle the water
• Fix leaky faucets around your house
• Every drop counts, use water wisely

The LOCSD website has a whole page dedicated to water conservation with all sorts of links and related information.  Take a look to see some of these tips and other ways you can save water.  You can find it by clicking on this link  https://www.losososcsd.org/water-conservation

Thank you for doing your best to conserve water.

Proposed Water rate increase: At the April 3rd  Board of Director’s meeting, the Board tentatively approved a proposed water rate increase. The proposed rates were developed by a working group of community members and advisory groups that provide input to the District; the Financial Advisory Committee and Utilities Advisory Committee. LOCSD is proposing to phase in the proposed rate increases over three years to help minimize the annual impact on customers.

With the tentative approval of the rate increase, the Board directed staff to issue the appropriate public notice in accordance with Proposition 218 and set the hearing date for adoption at the June 5, 2025 Board of Director’s meeting.

Proposed Three-Year Water Rates:

From our friends at IWMA

They are made of a special thermal paper, which is coated with chemicals (commonly BPA or BPS). Printing receipts doesn’t use ink like conventional printing, instead, when heat is applied, the thermal paper reacts to the heat and prints your receipt.

These chemicals are a dangerous contaminant in the paper recycling process. So please, even though they look like paper, put receipts in the trash

When you have the choice the best bet is to refuse a receipt, or ask for a digital copy, rather than printing one that’s just going to end up in the landfill!

LOCSD is also continuing with their regularly scheduled Board, Utilities Advisory Committee, Finance Advisory Committee, Emergency Services Advisory Committee and Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meetings. 

Information for each meeting and how to get connected will be available on the Agenda for each meeting. Agendas can be found on the LOCSD Website (losososcsd.org) which is posted a minimum of 72 hours before the meeting time.

Our upcoming meetings are: 

• Board of Directors Meeting Open Session - May 1, 2025 @ 6PM
• Emergency Services Advisory Committee Meeting - May 15, 2025 @5:30PM
• Utilities Advisory Committee Meeting - May 21, 2025 @5:30PM 
• Finance Advisory Committee Meeting - June 2, 2025 @ 5:30PM
• Board of Directors Meeting Open Session - June 5, 2025 @ 6PM

For more information about the upcoming meetings for LOCSD, please go to our website, or click here.