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City’s
Supply of Free Water Brooms Being Swept-up
Local businesses
take advantage of water-, cost-saving devices
By
Allison Jean Eaton
Bulletin
Editor
COMPTON – The
city has an answer for businesses and churches looking to save money
on their monthly water bills and conserve water during one of the
worst droughts in decades: For the past several weeks, the Compton
Municipal Water Department has distributed free water brooms.
Water brooms use water- and labor-saving technology to provide many
advantages over a hose or nozzle attachment when cleaning, according to
city water officials.
Earlier this summer, the city obtained grants totaling nearly $140,000
from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) and Water Replenishment District
(WRD). MWD provided roughly $100,000, and WRD provided $40,000, said water
department Director Kambiz Shoghi.
With that money, the department purchased 606 Watermiser® water brooms.
As of last week, it had distributed 515 to local businesses and churches.
The devices, which look like large push brooms on wheels, are lightweight,
have rubber hand grips and come equipped with a row of tiny air and water
jets that clean a floor with less effort and energy than sweeping or using
a hose.
Shoghi said letters were sent to all area businesses in late June
notifying them of the freebie.
On Aug. 8 and 15, representatives from those businesses and churches
visited the city yard to pick up their free water brooms, which come complete
with “Birthing a New Compton” decals.
The distribution is part of the department’s water conservation and
stewardship program. In the spirit of the mayor’s rebirthing campaign,
the brooms serve as an incentive to keep Compton clean.
“It’s a way of saving water, and it cleans better, especially
oily substances,” Shoghi said. “You have more control. It’s
very efficient compared to a water hose, and it’s easy to move around.”
Considering the fact that the city intends to raise water rates in
the near future, the offer becomes all the more attractive.
Compton’s current water rates are some of the lowest in the county.
“For the last 20 years we haven’t had any rate increases,” Shoghi
said. “Because our pipeline and underground facilities are really
antiquated, and also to be in line with the mayor’s wishes of birthing
a new Compton, we have to raise prices.”
The city has roughly 160 miles of underground pipeline in its water
system. Forty percent needs to be replaced as soon as possible, Shoghi
said.
Additionally, most of the city’s wells are 60 to 70 years old and
working overtime to meet increased demand.
“We are lucky that a major event hasn’t happened,” he
said. “The
infrastructure is in very bad shape.”
The exact amount of the increase has yet to be determined, but the
matter will come before the City Council once a consultant completes a
rate study.
The department is currently seeking a grant to help fund the water-main
replacement, Shoghi said.
Those interested in obtaining a water broom are urged to call the
water department at (310) 605-5690 or (310) 605-5595. There are fewer
than 100 water brooms left. Recipients must furnish a copy of a valid business
license issued by the city.
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