Water Woes

Probably goes without saying, but we've adopted the, "If it's yellow, let it mellow.  If it's brown, flush it down" method.

Some notes from some weekend trials.


While waiting for the shower water to warm up, I collect about 2-3 gallons.  This is enough for about 2 "flushes" of the toilet.  I measured the performance of my supposedly low flow shower head.  It puts out 2.5 gallons per minute.  That actually seems like more water flow that I really need, so I'm going to look into addition restriction of the water flow with an additional low flow washer or adaptor.


I added a small tub to my single basin kitchen sink.  I easily fill that up with normal hand washing or rinsing of dishes during the day.  I've been putting my daily dishes in that and just using the collected water to rinse the dinnertime dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.  I've since turned down the flow of water to my kitchen and bathroom sinks.


-Allen

No need to let the water run while you wash... Just took a shower (first since Friday!), and turned the shower water off while I "soaped-up". Then turned it back on to rinse. Total shower/water time was 2:36.

I'm sitting here reading all the things you do to save water. It would be interesting to see what the folks in SoCal are doing besides cutting back on lawns. My lawn is gone and I have rocks and cactus. more time to fish no mowing. I guess I should sell my mower.

San Diego gets 30% of its water from NorCal.  When I asked some facebook friends to conserve, one of them shared the following:

several years back we stopped watering our lawn when the drought rationing came into effect. Our HOA fined us and took us to court. San Diego Superior Court supported the HOAs fine that our grass was too brown regardless of mandatory watering rationing. Had to pay the fines

Grrr ....


-Allen

All you have to do is look around to see the level of water waste.  I am discussed with my local municipalities.  Sprinklers in all the landscapes and they are overwatering to a large degree.   These landscapes were installed in the last 10 years.  Did you know they make buried drip systems that work for grass?  I don't think the local cities know it.  I was at a park yesterday walking the dog.  The lawn was saturated and the sprinklers were watering the parking lot too.

A lot of Ca is a desert.  We need to start acting like it.   Growers do need to do their part to find ways to conserve water with irrigation scheduling and drought tolerant crops.  They are looking at grape rootstocks that are more salt tolerant.  Why?  The less water you apply and the less rain you get,  the higher the level of salt accumulation in the soil.  The farmable acres in the state will not increase for the most part so we should try to be more efficient at storage, PLANNING, and use,  ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, EVERYWHERE.  The water table in the Paso Robles basin is dropping 2-6 feet a year!  SoCal should not have a speck of irrigated landscape unless they can find the water locally.

Water policy in the state seems very short sided.   It's like they can only see what is coming or in this case, not coming in the next 6 months.  It took the state until now to declare a drought?   Really?   I think they need to a better job of looking at storage.  In Ca,  to me,   every year should be a drought year.

They are considering building a pipe from Naci to San Antonio.  Why?  Naci fills up faster and the extra water could be moved to San Antonio and I think San Antonio has more storage (might be very wrong on this).

A damn does not need to destroy an aquatic ecosystem.    They are also looking at establishing a new reservoir in the hills above King City.   Why?  Pump water from the Salinas up there in high rain years for long term storage.  This would not impact the fisheries for the most part,  just the local animal population.  Who knows,  losing 1000 acres could benefit the wildlife if they have a better water source in a remote area.

This drought saddens me.  I'm actually a little depressed  ,  maybe even a lot depressed  .  The upcoming storm looks only to produce .10 inches in my area.  Everything is brown,  not a speck of green anywhere.  The cows are starving and so is the wildlife.  My wife will go outside to water a few plants and as soon as she leaves,   50-60 birds fly in to get a drink.  I mean seriously,  think about the wildlife!  All the feed that was out there from the limited rainfall last year is gone and it is almost February and there has not been ANY new plant growth.

The UC has created an awesome tool for veg growers.  It is an online tool that allows growers to use the right amount of water for their crop  https://ucanr.org/cropmanage/login/.  It was CIMIS data for evapotranspiration in the grower's area coupled with a crop coefficient (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crop_coefficient) specific to the crop and size of the crop.  They use infrared photography to measure crop growth over time and with some type of data analysis,  can tell you how much to water and how much to fertilize.  In the trials it cuts the water and fertilizer use in 1/2.  I have yet to use it but plan to.   They will be adding crops.  Right now we have broccoli, head lettuce and romaine.  Tomatoes, almonds and cotton may follow.  The grape growers already do a good job managing irrigation with technology like this http://www.pmsinstrument.com/resources/using-a-pressure-chamber-with-wine-grapes   They like to stress the wine grapes for flavor.

And, on a lighter note - it's raining here in Woodland right now!
Hoping for a LOT more.

I installed a hot water recirculating pump.  Was using 4 to 6 gallons of water to get hot water in shower.

I installed a hot water recirculating pump.  Was using 4 to 6 gallons of water to get hot water in shower.

I have a big house and when I moved in it had a properly installed circ system with a Grunfos pump. This is a home built in the early 90's. The goddam pump scoured the walls of the copper pipe until pinholes developed everywhere. Very expensive partial repipe. I would unhook that pump unless you are thick wall copper pipe.

http://www.ksbw.com/news/central-california/santa-cruz/fishing-banned-in-santa-cruzs-san-lorenzo-river-big-sur-river/-/5738976/24189552/-/ybt1euz/-/index.html?absolute=true

So what implications will this have on the Salmon season this year?

http://www.ksbw.com/news/central-california/santa-cruz/fishing-banned-in-santa-cruzs-san-lorenzo-river-big-sur-river/-/5738976/24189552/-/ybt1euz/-/index.html?absolute=true

So what implications will this have on the Salmon season this year?

I assume you are referring to the Ocean Salmon season.  I'm no expert but I believe that the streams mentioned in this article are not known as Chinook spawning sites therefor, the decision will hinge more on conditions up north. Though I must say that I too am worried about the 2014 Ocean Salmon season.

I installed a hot water recirculating pump.  Was using 4 to 6 gallons of water to get hot water in shower.

I have a big house and when I moved in it had a properly installed circ system with a Grunfos pump. This is a home built in the early 90's. The goddam pump scoured the walls of the copper pipe until pinholes developed everywhere. Very expensive partial repipe. I would unhook that pump unless you are thick wall copper pipe.

Maybe your copper pipes need to be grounded to stop electrolysis. Our block had the problem you did. The plumber said the pipes were not grounded properly. And if you really want to save water and have fun. Shower with a friend. For me it is shower with the wife.

it rained here, drought over!!!!!
I've been watering my lawn all day in support of Caltrans irrigation!








Not...
Truth be told, the general public will face the greatest restrictions while the agricultural interests will face tough but not severe restrictions.  Remember, Dick Cheney and many of the senate Republicans are friends with Westlands WD or members of the hunting/duck clubs they own.  This I know from my time in federal water management.
get used to a yellow toilet and brown lawn

I assume you are referring to the Ocean Salmon season.  I'm no expert but I believe that the streams mentioned in this article are not known as Chinook spawning sites therefor, the decision will hinge more on conditions up north. Though I must say that I too am worried about the 2014 Ocean Salmon season.

If it's this bad in these rivers/streams does that mean the Salmon are going to have troublems in the next few years?

I assume you are referring to the Ocean Salmon season.  I'm no expert but I believe that the streams mentioned in this article are not known as Chinook spawning sites therefor, the decision will hinge more on conditions up north. Though I must say that I too am worried about the 2014 Ocean Salmon season.

If it's this bad in these rivers/streams does that mean the Salmon are going to have troublems in the next few years?

Any experts please chime in if I'm wrong, but I believe that Chinook Salmon return to rivers to spawn between 3 and 5 years after hatching.  So if there was ZERO reproduction this year, the impact would not be felt until a few years from now; and would be dispersed over a couple of years.  That is assuming that there will be more productive spawns in the coming years.