California Drought - Doing Your Part

The unprecedented drought throughout the West Coast is making many Californians think twice before watering their gardens or washing their cars this winter. Right now, California is in its third year of drought and it is not expected to end anytime soon. According to paleoclimatologists at the University of Berkeley, this drought may be part of a longer trend that could last for decades or even centuries!

As of January 21, state water averages are unnerving: precipitation was only 20 percent of average, snow water equivalent was at 15 percent of average and water storage in reservoirs at 65 percent of average.

Here are some water-conserving practices you can adopt as you fight the drought:

1.     Conserve your kitchen water. Before you start washing fruits and vegetables for dinner, fill your sink with warm, filtered water. Use this water to rinse fruit or peel vegetables. Then, once dishes have piled up from dinner you can use this same water to rinse dishes clean instead of running the tap. If you don’t use soap, this water can go in a bucket and out to the garden.

2.     Conserve your bathroom water. Simply turning the off the tap when you’re brushing your teeth can save up to five liters a minute, and plugging your sink while shaving to rinse your razor can save up to 300 gallons a month!

3.     Harvest rainwater. When the rain DOES come, get your buckets ready; it’s like money falling from the sky! The best part is, the collection system is right over your head: the gutter. Placing a bucket below the gutter spout guarantees garden water, and if you want it filtered it is easy to install a screen.

4.     Check for leaks. Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it creeps into the bowl without flushing, there’s a leak. Fix it to start saving gallons.

5.     Mulch and aerate everywhere. Use a layer of organic mulch on the surface of your planting beds to minimize weed growth that competes for water. Mulch also reduces evaporation and can be placed anywhere plants are, including grass.  It’s also helpful to aerate your lawn by placing holes every six inches, which allow water to reach the roots, rather than run off the surface.

To learn more about water, it's affect on the environment and your health, attend one of our free educational webinars!

Sources:

http://www.redcross.org.uk/What-we-do/Preparing-for-disasters/How-to-prepare-for-emergencies/Drought-and-water-saving-tips

http://www.gardengatemagazine.com/52droughttolerant/

http://wateruseitwisely.com/tips/category/outdoor-tips/page/3/