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According to reports, "California teeters on the edge of the worst drought in the state's history." Which is nothing new those those of you born and raised in California. It seems we're always in the middle of the Worst Drought Ever. But this year the warnings are particularly ominous. Take, for example, January's rainfall, which was a delicate sprinkle here and there punctuated by summertime-like weather. What's worse, the "Sierra Nevada snowpack - the backbone of the state's water supply - is only 61 percent of normal. " And you know what this means -- water rationing. In Sonoma County, "water managers are expected to take a bold step Monday - telling residents to prepare for severe rationing within weeks." And there are good tips for conserving water. Some ideas we can get behind (watering plants less often, fixing leaks), some we simply cannot (turning off the water in between lathering and rinsing in the shower). Know any good water rationing tips? Let us know in the comments.
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Forget the "take back the tap" and all those twee aluminum bottles. Pellegrino, baby! Fiji!
Think about graywater.
Weather related: have other people noticed California Golden Poppies are blooming already? I saw some beautiful ones this morning by Showplace Square but it seems odd since it's winter. Maybe it has happened in years past and this is the first time I've noticed.
I guess the difference between ideas we can and cannot get behind is that the latter actually takes some degree of effort or (heaven forbid) sacrifice.
The reservoirs may run dry, but the font of our entitlement springs eternal.
If I had to cut back my water usage I don't think I could do it. I only run the dishwasher when it's packed. Only do laundry every two weeks and only do full loads. If it's yellow I let it mellow. I don't have a lawn and only have one plant. I grew up in California so I NEVER run the water when I'm brushing my teeth. I only take one, brief shower a day unlike a friend of mine who takes four or five.
This isn't the first time I've run into this problem. If you already use barely any water to begin with, what do you cut back?
you should be able to sell your leftover 'water credits' to the people who insist on having big lawns, swimming pools, and weekly car washes.
That's one of the catch 22's of water conservation in California, especially for homeowners. If you already conserve, you can get saddled with draconian reduction mandates and fines because they're formulaic based upon average usage. Consequently, the system is setup to encourage waste.
@megang - you shower? Profligate water waster!
Here's how you can take it to the next level (tongue firmly planted in cheek...)
Every time you go out to eat, ask the owner if they recycle their dishwater for greywater in the commodes. If not - boycott! (And make sure you put in a scathing yelp review!)
piss in the shower.
If you are a resident of a medium-/high-density, mutlifamily dwelling, generally speaking, there is little you can (or should be expected) to do. Unless you are doing your laundry in your bathtub or taking hour long showers, you most likely are already using a reasonably minimal amount of water. The problem, generally, is not apartment dwellers in big cities.
Its owners of single family homes, with grass lawns, swimming pools, cars to wash, etc. Its golf course owners. Its inefficient agricultural users. Etc.
Which is why the way most water districts approach the problem - EVERYBODY CUT BACK 40%. STAT - is just assinine and inequitable. Mr. and Mrs. Jones in their 3,000 SF manse in the burbs with their Kentucky bluegrass lawn, SUVs they wash every week and backyard pool are the problem. They are the ones using too much water already and also the one who can most easily cut back.
If you live in the City, take the Muni, and pretty much only use water to take a shower once a day with a low-flow showerhead and wash your dishes with a low-flow spigot head, there ain't any real uses you can cut back on enough.
Share your shower ;]
Doesn't necessarily save water, if your per person usage goes up.
Whatever. There are too many people in this state. All non-natives who are annoying must be deported back to their square states. They can take that trashy lady who pooped out eight kids on top of the six she has already with them. She's a bad influence and undoubtedly a waster of water.
Thank you! Why the hell would someone with six kids need fertility treatment? Also, why in 2008 would you have 8 embryos implanted?! That was so 1992!!
The yellow mellow, brown flush it down nonsense is good in theory.
When does it work? When an apartment's occupants are solely male. Why? They stand to pee.
When doesn't it work? When an apartment's occupants are female. Sometimes, if you let it out with a bit too much force, there's splashback. And that's just far too foul to deal with.
Helpful tip of the day from the chick living with two hippie boys.
we could just do like the third world does. in latin america some areas don't have water for up to 8 hours of the day. you only get one flush (so use it wisely) or you have to store it in buckets or personal water towers. "man this bucket shower is freezing!" "yeah, just throw some boiling water in there and mix them to warm it all up"
I also let it mellow and have never had any "splashback."
Switching to a low-flow showerhead (that has an output under the mandated 2.5 gpm) is another tip. This one even has a pause button that reduces the water to a trickle while you soap up.
And for the savvy DIYers out there, there are kits that you can get to switch your existing toilet to a dual flush.