Go Green - Living Smart

Ecological landscaping saves time, money, and resources.

Communities across Rockland County have been debating United Water's proposed desalination plant for several years.   Luckily, the public's strong outcry against using the Hudson River as a source of tap water  has led the New York State Public Service Commission to re-examine the proposal.    This plant may not only result in a 30%  increase in water rates for Rockland residents, but it may also impact our health and the environment in which we live.  The concerns are over tritium in the water leaked by Indian Point,  increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to the plant's operation, and disruption to the fragile ecosystem of Haverstraw Bay.

Do we need a desalination plant?

Rockland County has an average annual rainfall level of 40 inches.  The U.S. average is 37 inches.  Since our county is water rich, why is desalination even being considered?  It is because the projected growth of one of Rockland's communities and the increasing water needs of Northern New Jersey will eventually strain United Water's ability to meet user demand.  However, rather than live with all of the the negatives that accompany the projected plant, couldn't we just make better use of our rainfall and reduce the amount of water that we waste? And wouldn't that result in cost savings for all of us?  You bet it would!  It would be easy to do, too!  All we have to do is "live smart."

What does "living smart" mean?

 

"Living smart" means that we adopt eco-landscaping practices.  These include the following:

• collecting rainfall in rain barrels that are attached to gutter downspouts for landscape watering, 
• using permeable hardscapes in driveways and sidewalks to avoid rainwater runoff, 
• planting native plants that do fine without any extra watering, and 
• replacing today's lawns with seed mixes that are slow growing and drought tolerant. 

We can all live smart.  By doing so, we will save time, money, and critical resources like water.  Just think of the savings that you would enjoy with a lawn that requires mowing only once a month and that needs 75% LESS water than the lawn that you currently have!  Considering that the average U.S. lawn requires 10,000 gallons of water per year over and above the rainfall that it receives (EPA, Water-Efficient Landscaping brochure), the widespread adoption of drought-tolerant grasses alone in Rockland would greatly reduce water consumption.  This water savings, combined with better utilization of rainfall, could put an end to idea of desalination in the Lower Hudson Valley.

"Living smart" is easy and cost effective.  Look for more tips on eco-landscaping in the next edition of Go Green.