This afternoon it’s rainy and a little chilly outside, not unusual for March by any means. In fact, I’m glad to see the rain because we’ve had so little of it this season. Back in the mid-70’s we had a drought here in Northern California and learned how to ration our water use. Lawns died, cars got dirty, we were encouraged to shower with a friend, and to flush only when completely necessary. It’s shaping up to be a drought year again, starting now, even with all this rain.
A couple years ago, after much searching, we installed a gadget on our shower that allows a momentary water shut-off for soaping up without having to readjust the temperature every time. All winter I forget it’s there and, honestly, I’m not going to turn off that lovely warm water when it’s chilly in the house. But come summer, I’ll put that valve to use. It’s a gallon or two saved, a good start, but not enough.
What I’d really like to install is a grey water system. Watching the amount of water that runs down the drain makes me think there’s got to be a better way to use this expensive resource. We talk about it when the water bill comes in, or when we’re at the local farm supply store looking at giant water tanks, which makes me also wonder about capturing run-off from the roof during the rainy season. I think about that every time I hear water pouring through the downspouts.
We live in a modern, suburban house with a concrete pad foundation; moving and rearranging pipes isn’t an option. And our neighbors probably wouldn’t be happy to see a storage tank of any size adorning our yard. But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen someday. We’ll need to be creative about it, possibly setting up several small barrels to catch both grey and rain water and tucking them into the landscaping plan.
These days my incentive for turning off the tap and taking shorter showers is more complex than hearing my father yell about it. It’s my pocket the water bill gets paid out of, and a greater awareness of resource management propels creative and thoughtful use of household utilities. Drought or not, it’s worth considering alternatives.
Great post! I've done a little research about the world water crises. I once had a blog that addressed it. We don't hear a lot about water in the U.S. unless we live in an area that has shortages, but it is the next "oil."
ReplyDeleteUnbelievably, many people don't even realize there are already shortages in the U.S. We always hear about oil, but we need water to get oil out of the ground. It's a little scary. The water barrels are an excellent idea. Believe me, eventually your neighbors will come to love them. Making them part of the landscape is a great idea. You'll be a trendsetter and a good example. People will be copying you soon.
Thanks, Bella. Grey water systems are starting to take off in this area; people who garden are especially aware of conserving.
DeleteThe biggest drawback for us is in figuring out how to get the water out of the house at all. Newer houses just aren't built to accomodate alternative solutions.