14 replies to this topic

[out_of_the_ordinary]

With the lack of rain (but not heat!), are you doing anything different with water?


We are watering less by watering the garden only and not the shrubs and flowers. We have a dehumidifier that runs in the basement. We're now emptying the dehumidifier into a bucket and using that to water the garden with. It's not much, but at least it's a gallon or 2 we're not drawing from the well.

I grew up with "city water" (city water= water bill), so I know the basics about shutting the water off when brushing your teeth, only running full loads in the washer and not taking long showers.

[TurtleMama]

We're trying to take shorter showers, fill up the tubs with less water when the kids take baths, and once our garden started wilting past reasonable repair, we pulled it up and stopped watering alltogether -- except our herb pots.

We have no grass so no worries about sprinklers.

[mi_familia]

I might be one of the rare ones since we don't pay for water (it's included in our lot rent), but things don't change for me because of the drought. I already recycle as much water as I possibly could all year round - pet water bowls get used for watering plants, wash water gets used for watering too, we watch how long our showers already are, we don't flush unless we have to, etc. It took a few years of threatening to to my husband to get him into the swing of that though.

[Nichole]

There are towns nearby that are on mandatory water conservation orders. First offense is a verbal warning, second is $100 fine, and third is they shut off your water. No one is allowed to water gardens or anything.

I am not really doing anything different, although I have thought about it a lot more. I'm probably using more water just trying to keep the garden alive. (we're not under the water conservation order)

[Amishway Homesteaders]

Having to water the garden with Town Water ($$$) is not fun but without rain I don't want to lose what is planted. We do have a spring about 1 mile away that runs all the time out of a pipe in the side of a hill that we take empty kitty litter totes to fill whenever we go by there to water with. Also rain barrels help but again with no rain they are getting empty.
When watering with the hose I do try and water the base of each plant and not the whole garden area (like with a sprinkler), that seems to help use less water and also cut down on the weeds in the pathways.

Inside the home we have always tried to save on water so nothing new there.

[Annarchy]

MIL in TX has rationing. No watering on Mondays, then odd/even street #'s get every other day, 6am - 10am & 6pm - 10pm only. Any water running down the street is a $500. fine and anyone caught watering on the wrong day is $500. +

I guess here in the desert where we are, they expect us to conserve all the time regardless. Most of the town lawns are converted to rock or weeds, and quite a few have completely given up on their gardens.

I time and slow/trickle water my plants every other day. If they survive the 115 degree+ heat, great, if not, oh well, I tried. We received 2 days of rain last week, (Thank you Lord for the rain.) I caught as much as I could, 5 gallons, and poured it on the garden plants today.

Summer water bill....

[ScrubbieLady]

Back in the early 80's or late 70's, there was a severe drought in South Texas. I know that is nothing unusual but, they had water rationing in Corpus Christi. There was a woman that had beautiful flower beds that she didn't want to lose. So, she set up a camp shower and used it to shower and moved it every day. If I remember correctly, they got really po'd but she wasn't breaking the law. No rules about where you take your showers.

[Poohbear]

Another way to conserve is to catch the cold water you run in the shower while waiting for the warm water to start coming thru. That's clean, fresh water that goes straight down the drain. What a waste! You can use it to water plants or your animals or even dump it in the washing machine when doing laundry.

[Mt_Rider]

Exactly the 'water catchment' that has always been allowed in Colorado's weird water laws, Pooh. Also, when you run water to get it cold for a drink.

Will things like this become our 'new normal'.....

MtRider

[themartianchick]

To keep from running water down the drain while waiting for it to get cold, we just keep a jug of water in the fridge. Sicne we are on city water, the water has chlorine in it. Allowing it to sit allows the chlorine to evaporate, making it healthier.

[Amishway Homesteaders]

starting to hear of some wells in area going dry, also a fire ban for any outdoor fires.

[Amishway Homesteaders]

I don't want to say the grass is dry, brown and dead but.........................
When I went to get something out of cellar and as I walked on grass on side of the house I heard a crunching sound until I realized that it was my feet walking on the grass!

[Mt_Rider]

Out here in the arrid West....we crunch at various times each year. But this is realllly bad that you humid Eastern folks are 'crunching', isn't it?

Yes! be oh-so-careful of fire!!!!

MtRider

Edited by Mt_Rider, 20 July 2012 - 12:54 AM.

[CrabGrassAcres]

Back in the early 80's or late 70's, there was a severe drought in South Texas. I know that is nothing unusual but, they had water rationing in Corpus Christi. There was a woman that had beautiful flower beds that she didn't want to lose. So, she set up a camp shower and used it to shower and moved it every day. If I remember correctly, they got really po'd but she wasn't breaking the law. No rules about where you take your showers.

I was there in early 80s drought. I ran the washer into a surge tank (trash can with garden hose attached at the bottom) and let that run into the front yard. It kept that grass nice. Back yard was a dust bowl.

[themartianchick]

That is what makes it so crazy... It is wickedly humid and yet we aren't getting any real rain to make a difference. I woke up this morning to dark oppressive clouds and lots of humidity. Now it appears that the clouds are breaking up. Not a sprinkle has fallen.