Over the next four to six weeks, the Town's Water Division staff will conduct State- required annual dead-end flushing on the potable water system. Flushing helps clear any mineral deposits from the water main and ensures delivery of the highest quality water throughout the distribution system.

During flushing events, if you see Town staff on your street, it’s best to wait until the flushing crew has passed before turning on your water tap. That’s because there is a slight chance that it may contain a little sediment. During flushing, you will see dechlorinated water flowing down roadside gutters and ditches. Flushing will be performed Monday – Thursday between the hours of 9 AM - 3 PM throughout Windsor.

Please Turn Off Your Irrigation

Saving water continues to be a top priority in the ongoing drought. The best way to do that right now is by turning off your irrigation since it’s not needed in the colder and more rainy winter months.

Turning off your irrigation doesn’t just conserve water; it will also save you money. Here’s how: The Town of Windsor averages your wastewater use from December to March to determine your wastewater bill. Greater water savings in these months may result in paying lower wastewater rates in the next fiscal year (July 2023 – June 2024).

Lear more by visiting https://www.townofwindsor.com/781/Winter-Average-Sewer-Cap. And for more water-saving tips, go to: https://www.townofwindsor.com/100/Water-Conservation.

Nov. 25: Santa’s Mailbox Comes to the Town Green 

Grab your paper, pencils, and crayons and tell Santa what you have been up to this year! Parents and helpers: Please include your child's name in the letter and a self-addressed and stamped return envelope to receive a reply from the North Pole.

We want to thank our elves at the Parks & Recreation Department for helping Santa get all the children’s letters again this year. Santa’s Mailbox will remain open through December but the deadline to "mail" your letter to the North Pole for a reply is Thursday, December 15. 
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Dec. 1: Windsor Police Annual Toy Drive

The Windsor Police Department will hold its annual toy drive by packing a patrol car at the Windsor holiday celebration and tree lighting on Dec. 1 from 5-8 PM.

Please donate a new, unwrapped toy for a child in need in Windsor! Look for the Windsor police car at the event. If you can’t attend, the Windsor Police Department will collect toys at the office from Nov. 28 – Dec. 16. Thank you.

By the Numbers: Summer Nights on the Green 2022

The Town of Windsor hosted the 20th season of Summer Nights on the Green in June – September following a shortened season in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2022 season included 14 Thursday Night Concerts, 14 Thursday Night Farmers Market, and nine Family Movies on the Green.

An average of 3,000 people attended each concert over the course of the fourteen-week series. Both the bike valet and concert shuttles saw steady use throughout the season. An average of 57 users per event took advantage of the bike valet for a total of 808 users. The total riders for the two shuttles over the course of the season was 1,200 - an average of 85 riders per night from the two locations combined.

In addition, the Town once again partnered with the community group Waste Less to reduce waste by diverting more materials into recycling or compost bins and away from landfills. As a result, an average of 71.8% diversion was reported at the end of the 2022 season. This is an increase of 2.5% from the previous year. The Town provided $3,000 to Waste Less Windsor to help implement their initiatives and to cover a portion of the expenses associated with the concerts.

Looking forward to the 2023 season, the Town will offer 13 summer concerts and one fall concert and eight summer movies and one fall weekend movie.

Be Kind to the Pipes

Calling all cooks! With Thanksgiving around the corner, we want to remind you: Please don’t dump fats, oils, and grease (FOG) down the drain or garbage disposal. It can ruin your home's plumbing system and block pipes in municipal sewer systems. FOG includes olive oil, vegetable oil, canola oil, fats from meat (bacon, burgers, etc.), sauces, salad dressing, butter and margarine, and greasy food scraps.

What to do instead: For residual grease and oil on plates and pans, wipe them down with a paper towel before washing up. Then put the greasy paper towels, napkins, and food scraps into your green organics bin for composting.

If the amount of oil is too much to be wiped up with a paper towel but is under 2 cups (equivalent to a pint or 16 fluid ounces), let the oil cool before discarding it in your garbage. Place the oil into a rigid, screw-top container or any container that will allow the rest of the garbage to soak it up. Please make sure your garbage is properly bagged to avoid a mess.

If you have more than two cups of oil, such as from a deep fryer, transfer the oil to a sturdy container and transport it to one of the local restaurants listed here: https://zerowastesonoma.gov/materials/oil-cooking-grease?locale=en .The oil will then be recycled into biodiesel for use in cars and trucks. Please note that only cooking oils are accepted for recycling, and it must be strained and free from water or food scraps (please compost scraps).

For more information about FOG and how it can clog sewer systems, visit https://www.rrwatershed.org/get-the-fog-outa-here/

Rainwater Harvesting Rebate

Rainwater can be a great resource for irrigating landscapes, managing storm water, and preparing for emergency situations. Windsor community members and other residents of Sonoma County can take advantage of rebates for installing rainwater harvesting systems. Residents can receive $0.50 per gallon on systems up to 5,000 gallons, as well as technical support on installations.

You can also attend a workshop on Sunday, Nov. 20, in Healdsburg on how to install rainwater catchment systems. This rebate has been made available via a partnership with Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District (GRRCD), Sonoma Resource Conservation District (Sonoma RCD), Daily Acts, County of Sonoma and the California Department of Water Resources.

Remember: Every drop counts! For more information, please visit https://www.savingwaterpartnership.org/programs_list/sonoma-county-rainwater-harvesting/ or email Daily Acts at moreinfo@dailyacts.org .

Put a Freeze on Winter Fires this Holiday Season

A message from the Sonoma County Fire District:

• Half of all home heating fires occur in December, January and February.
• Keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet from heat sources like fireplaces, wood stoves, or space heaters.
• Keep portable generators outside, away from windows, and as far away from your home as possible
• Have a qualified professional clean and inspect your chimney every year.
• Install and test smoke & carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month.
• Plug only 1 heat making appliance (like a space heater) directly into an outlet at a time.
• Store ashes in a tightly covered metal container and keep it outside at least 10 feet from your home.