A Drought Emergency
Last week, when driving back and forth to Palm Springs, the HOTY and I could not get over how dry everything was. When I say dry, I mean D.R.Y. It was staggering, actually. Just as we were discussing it, we heard on the news that Governor Brown declared the state of California to be in a Drought Emergency. 2013 was actually the driest in history (history!) and 2014 is following a similar path.
In fact, the drought is bordering on unprecedented in some areas. According to Christopher Burt, weather historian at Weather Underground, the City of San Francisco has received only 2.12 inches of water so far in this water year. The driest water year on record was from 1850-1851, at 7.42 inches. So as of now, San Francisco is below half of the all-time record low (below half!).
Technically, a Drought Emergency is:
a concentrated management phase designed to marshal all available resources to respond to actual emergency conditions, to avoid depletion of water sources, to assure at least minimum water supplies to protect public health and safety, to support essential and high priority water uses and to avoid unnecessary economic dislocations. During this phase, mandatory restrictions are imposed on nonessential water uses. The objective of water use restrictions and other conservation measures during this phase is to reduce consumptive water use in the affected area by at least 15 percent, and to reduce total use to the extent necessary to preserve public water system supplies, to avoid or mitigate local or area shortages, and to assure equitable sharing of limited supplies. During a drought emergency, public water suppliers are authorized to institute water rationing, if mandatory restrictions prove insufficient to protect supplies and if approved by the Commonwealth Drought Coordinator.
Droughts are bad. Really bad. And dangerous. After all, we can’t live without water, of course. And plants can’t live without water, thereby sorely impacting the farming industry & our food supply. As if these aren’t bad enough, the thing that scares me to my core is the increased – emergent – threat of wildfires. We saw a fire on our way to/from Palm Springs and it was bad. Really bad. The drought that we are in is setting the stage for a devastating fire season.
I remember when I first moved to California from Chicago. I was the typical Midwestern who thought that the natural disasters to worry about were earthquakes. Yes, they are a concern, but the REAL natural disaster that California faces is wildfires. We have been evacuated twice since buying our home here nearly 10 years ago…and let me tell you, it’s awful. Being evacuated makes it hard to think clearly and my whole body shakes.
The Silver Lining of this threat is that it makes me appreciate each and every day (just in the same way that FBC did). Life can change in an instant. I know this all too well.
Another Silver Lining is that each and every one of us can help this situation. In fact, we can all do our part. It is time to rethink the way we use our water – every. single. day.
Below are some great suggestions from Save Our Water to jumpstart water conservation actions.
Inside the Home
Laundry Room
- Use the washing machine for full loads only to save water and energy
- Install a water-efficient clothes washer Save: 16 Gallons/Load
- Washing dark clothes in cold water saves water and energy, and helps your clothes retain their color.
Kitchen
- Run the dishwasher only when full to save water and energy.
- Install a water- and energy-efficient dishwasher. Save: 3 to 8 Gallons/Load.
- Install aerators on the kitchen faucet to reduce flows to less than 1 gallon per minute.
- When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run. Fill one basin with wash water and the other with rinse water.
- Dishwashers typically use less water than washing dishes by hand.
- If your dishwasher is new, cut back on rinsing. Newer models clean more thoroughly than older ones.
- Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
- Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Instead, compost vegetable food waste and save gallons every time.
- Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap.
- Don’t use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator.
- Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap.
- Cook food in as little water as possible. This also helps it retain more nutrients.
- Select the proper pan size for cooking. Large pans may require more cooking water than necessary.
- If you accidentally drop ice cubes, don’t throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
- Collect the water you use while rinsing fruit and vegetables. Use it to water house plants.
Bathroom
- Install low-flow shower heads. Save: 2.5 Gallons
- Take five minute showers instead of 10 minute showers. Save: 12.5 gallons with a low flow showerhead, 25 gallons with a standard 5.0 gallon per minute showerhead.
- Fill the bathtub halfway or less. Save: 12 Gallons
- When running a bath, plug the bathtub before turning on the water. Adjust the temperature as the tub fills.
- Install aerators on bathroom faucets. Save: 1.2 Gallons Per Person/Day
- Turn water off when brushing teeth or shaving. Save: Approximately 10 Gallons/Day
- Install a high-efficiency toilet. Save: 19 Gallons Per Person/Day
- Don’t use the toilet as a wastebasket.
- Be sure to test your toilet for leaks at least once a year.
- Put food coloring in your toilet tank. If it seeps into the bowl without flushing, there’s a leak. Fix it and start saving gallons.
- Consider buying a dual-flush toilet. It has two flush options: a half-flush for liquid waste and a full-flush for solid waste.
- Plug the sink instead of running the water to rinse your razor and save up to 300 gallons a month.
- Turn off the water while washing your hair and save up to 150 gallons a month.
- When washing your hands, turn the water off while you lather.
- Take a (short) shower instead of a bath. A bathtub can use up to 70 gallons of water.
Outdoors
Most Californians think that they use more water indoors than outdoors. Typically, the opposite is true. In some areas, 50% or more of the water we use daily goes on lawns and outdoor landscaping. There are lots of ways to save water at home, but reducing the water you use outdoors can make the biggest difference of all. Here are a few easy ways to change the way you use water outside your home.
- Water early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler. Save: 25 gallons/each time you water
- Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street. Save: 15-12 gallons/each time you water
- Choose a water-efficient irrigation system such as drip irrigation for your trees, shrubs, and flowers. Save: 15 gallons/each time you water.
- Water deeply but less frequently to create healthier and stronger landscapes.
- Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants to reduce evaporation and keep the soil cool. Organic mulch also improves the soil and prevents weeds. Save: 20-30 gallons/each time you water/1,000 sq. ft.
- Plant drought-resistant trees and plants. Save: 30- 60 gallons/each time you water/1,000 sq. ft
Here are some additional resources:
State Government Drought Resources
- DWR Drought Portal
- Daily Reservoir Storage Summary
- California Reservoir Conditions
- California Weather Data
Federal Government Drought Resources
So there we go. We will do our part. How about you?
Amazing homework on this Hollye , and so helpful . Thank you so much for this information . Today and everyday ! Blessings , A
My pleasure, Adrienne! Always. xx
Remember, many people in the world have never known clean water. Unclean water can result in acute and chronic illness, decreased energy and ability to be happy and productive. Not to mention death. I think it helps us be more modest in our demands on the environment if we can realize that we are not apart, but just a PART of the world's population of plants, animals, people. We will be happier when we get a better perspective on our place in the world. We will be happier wen we do not think we can use just anything we want. We will be happier when we really understand sharing.
Beautifully said, Ann. Thank you so much for the enlightened thinking!
Dear Hollye,
I certainly feel the"water" pain. Our home on the Monterey Peninsula has been severely
hit with water rationing over the years. The water bills in the winter can be a few hundred dollars and when you start having to water the gardens it climbs into the thousands. We all love our green lawns but I have decided to pull out the lawn and
re landscape with gravel paths and boxwood knot gardens. The sections that still call for a bit of lawn we are using fake lawn. They have so many new synthetic turfs now it is really hard to tell the difference !!! They are also make pet friendly ones ! The water savings will be immense :-))) On a lighter side, 30 years ago our neighbors let their lawn die, and sprayed it green … their little West Highland Terrier also turned green
from playing in the yard … not a good idea.
Thanks for all your wonderful water research ideas … every drop counts.
Hearts Love,
Joanie
Good for you, Joan. What a great decision.
Oh my goodness what a funny story about your neighbors. Cracked me up!
Thanks, as always!