Department of Water Resources
California Water News
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
February 09, 2009
5. Agencies, Programs, People –
It's still OK to water your lawn, but ...
The Chico Enterprise-Record
Alternative lawns can save water
The Contra Costa Times
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It's still OK to water your lawn, but ...
The Chico Enterprise-Record – 2/08/09
By Heather Hacking
California is experiencing "the most significant water crisis in history," according to the state Department of Water Resources.
In the Central Valley, farmers are choosing to plant fewer crops this year. Some orchardists are making tough decisions about whether to allow their trees to go without water.
Residents in areas such as the Bay Area and the coast are already being asked, or told, to cut back. More is expected if rain does not appear.
In Butte and Glenn counties, water officials are watching groundwater levels carefully, noting some areas where wells are reaching levels seen in dry years of the early 1990s.
Yet, so far it's still OK to water your lawn.
"Even though we're not in a crisis situation like other parts of the state, we still need to conserve," said Mike Pembroke, manager of California Water Service of Chico.
If you look at your water bill closely, you'll see that Cal Water is now using a tiered rate — charging more per water unit as the water usage increases.
"What we're really asking people to do is to use the water they need, but encouraging them to monitor their waste," Pembroke said.
In the next couple of weeks, Pembroke said he'll be meeting with county water officials, city managers, school districts, park and recreation departments and Chico State University, asking them to watch their water.
Pembroke said companies such as Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and Hignell and Hignell Property Management have asked for a water audit and a presentation on what employees can do in their personal lives to save water.
It is hoped that more companies will also step forward.
Pembroke said Cal Water recently did audits of six sites in Chico, mostly parks. These measure monthly water use and look at modifications that can be made.
"I feel really good about what we're doing. Water conservation is a hard sell. Water is relatively inexpensive. The medium rate is 80 cents a unit (for 748 gallons). That's inexpensive water.
"We have to change the mindset of people and get them to want to do the right thing for the long-term future. There might not be a crisis today, but the question is what will this look like in 20-40 years.
"I would just as soon we do the right thing now," he said.
Cal Water is shifting all residential customers to metered rates. Of the 28,000 customers in Chico, about 10,000 still have flat rates. Each month a crew is switching more than 100 customers to metered rates.
Butte County residents are at the top of water use in the state, with an average of 280 gallons per person a day. In Southern California, where most homes have low-flow toilets and water conservation is becoming the norm, water use is below 200 gallons a day.
So should we be watering our lawns?
"Yes and no," Pembroke said.
People with landscapes tend to "set an automatic clock and walk away from it."
Especially now, auto-timers should be re-evaluated and watering done only when most needed, he said.
Also, people still have bad habits such as allowing water to run into the gutter and running the tap while they brush their teeth.
He urged people to take advantage of plumbing retrofits and rebates "so they don't have to think about conservation."
Cal Water has rebates for toilets and washing machines listed at www.calwater.com/conservation/rebates.php.
Cal Water customers can go online to request free water-saving devices such as shower heads, faucet aerators, hose nozzles and leak detection tablets.
The district also has information about drought-tolerant plants.
"I'm not anti-lawn. But at some point in the future we will have to think differently about things like that," he said.
"There are communities throughout the country that have already made those changes, because they had to. Wouldn't it be nice if we changed the paradigm before we are in a situation where we are forced to?" Pembroke commented.
Paul Gosselin, manager of the county Department of Water and Resource Conservation, said that while Northern California is better off than the rest of the state, "it isn't the same as it was."
All Cal Water is groundwater. In addition to conserving water as a resource, it costs money to bring water to the surface.
Water wasted by residential users could affect farmers who depend on the same groundwater for their livelihood, Gosselin said.
"We can keep our way of life, the things that make Butte County a great place to live, by being just a little more efficient," he said. #
http://www.chicoer.com/news/oroville/ci_11660215
Alternative lawns can save water
The Contra Costa Times – 2/09/09
By Laura Casey
| | With California edging ever closer to a full-fledge drought and water officials warning 2009 could be the driest year ever, it may be time to rethink that large expanse of green growing in front of your house. As people are forced to cut back their water usage, they may look to get rid of their homes' biggest water user. And sorry, lawn, that's you. There are several alternatives to a traditional lawn, alternatives that conserve water and help reduce the pollution from mowing traditional lawns. And, by the way, all the alternatives require less maintenance than the lawn you likely have today. Qualifying homeowners who tear out their lawns in favor of a low- or no-water alternative can get up to $1,000 rebates from the East Bay Municipal Utility District. So, what are you waiting for? Artificial grass A red-blooded American's attachment to green grass is the stuff of legend. "People don't want to give up their lawns, they just don't," says Scott Ose of the Fremont-based PolyGrass, the company that installed the faux grass in the front and backyards of Jean and David Hansen's home in Orinda. Jean Hansen says green grass is warm, soft and feels like home. But, she says, the environmentally concerned couple felt guilty about the hundreds of gallons of water they were pouring onto their lawns every month. So the Hansens replaced 2,000 square feet of lawn with Ose's product. This is not the familiar electric green AstroTurf. The blades of grass are 1-inch high and look extremely natural. Artificial turf is designed to mimic the real thing. Some models have yellowing and browning strands woven with the green to give it a more realistic appearance. The Hansens' model — there are several to choose from— looks damp as it glistens in the sun. Ose says the grass is permeable, meaning water can pass through it, and odorless. Dogs and cats can even do what dogs and cats will do on it without creating stains. You just clean up the mess with a paper towel. "And once you install it, it's virtually maintenance-free," Ose says. The Hansens' summer water bill dropped dramatically after installing the new lawn, going from $600 for three months to $150. Their new, artificial lawn should last 15 to 20 years. "I am very happy with it," Jean Hansen says. The drawbacks: Despite rebates and special offers, installing artificial grass can be prohibitively expensive at $12 to $15 a square foot. The price is high because crews have to first remove your old lawn, prepare a base of rock and rubber to prevent sinkholes, then lay out the plastic grass. Critics also argue that this alternative is not environmentally friendly because the grass is made from plastic and, when installed, does not add anything to the soil. Finally, like concrete, artificial grass also gets hot on warm days and homeowners may need to spritz it with water to cool it down. Drought-tolerant grasses Several types of grasses on the market are both drought tolerant and lawn-like, the most popular being a California native, carex pansa. "Maybe all lawn isn't evil — just some lawn," says John Greenlee of Greenlee Nursery, which specializes in grasses. Carex pansa is an evergreen, creeping grass that will grow into a natural-looking lawn. It only needs to be mowed about four times a year, Greenlee says, and it will stay green and attractive with only two to four watering sessions per month. After killing or removing your lawn, place plugs in the soil 6 to 12 inches apart, depending on your budget, Greenlee says. A 100-plug pack sells at some nurseries for about $120. The drawbacks: Greenlee cautions that the old lawn must be completely killed before the carex pansa or any other native grass alternative is planted. "It's really important to get back to square one," he says. "If people are not thorough in eliminating the weed grasses in their old lawns, they'll be very less than satisfied with their results." A contact chemical herbicide such as Roundup will kill a lawn, he says. Nonchemical methods such as sheet mulching or soil solarization — covering the lawn with black plastic to kill the lawn with solar heat — also will work. Just make sure everything is dead before you attempt to replant. Also, carex pansa and other native grasses will not likely conform to a manicured lawn look. Often called "meadow-like," these lawn alternatives look wilder and less maintained. Strolling garden When one of Susan Morrison's landscape clients wants to get rid of a lawn, she suggests making the space into a strolling garden. A strolling garden has paths that meander among raised beds. Gardeners can add flowers or edible plants in the beds and non-gardeners can install more durable, low-maintenance plants. "By doing this, you've created a space that you can walk through and enjoy that is visually more exciting than a lawn," says Morrison, who owns Creative Exteriors Landscape Design. "And if you've got kids, it's a great way to get them interested in gardening." The first step to creating a strolling garden is to design one on paper, either on your own or with a professional landscape designer. Look around for gardening classes that offer design tips, if you want to do it yourself. The drawbacks: Depending on the size of the area, creating a strolling garden can be a major investment. Also, if you don't select low-water plants, you may end up using a significant amount of water in your strolling garden anyway.# http://www.insidebayarea.com/bay-area-living/ci_11644382 |
|
| |
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
DWR’s California Water News is distributed to California Department of Water Resources management and staff, for information purposes, by the DWR Public Affairs Office. For reader’s services, including new subscriptions, temporary cancellations and address changes, please use the online page: http://listhost2.water.ca.gov/mailman/listinfo/water_news . DWR operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs. Inclusion of materials is not to be construed as an endorsement of any programs, projects, or viewpoints by the Department or the State of California.
No comments:
Post a Comment