Water, Water Everywhere And Not A Drop… For My Roses?
By Loren on Jul 23, 2008 in Uncategorized
It floors me that all these San Diego promoters and developers and smart talking civic leaders never did the math; never calculated the water available versus the water needed. How many people, how many lush tropical gardens, how many golf courses, resorts, water parks and business parks could Southern California support on the very finite water available? It appears we are about to find out. The answer is fewer than we have if we keep sucking up the water as we’ve done in the past.
Here are some water facts from Organic Gardening Magazine:
If all the world’s water were fit into a gallon jug, the fresh water available for us to use would equal only about one tablespoon. By 2025, 52 countries — with two-thirds of the world’s population — will likely have water shortages Drought conditions exist across the U.S., from New York to Arizona, impacting the regulation of water usage On average, 50 to 70 percent of home water is used outdoors for watering lawns and gardensSan Diego’s water supply comes from the Sierra Nevada through the Sacramento Delta and then into the California water project and aqueduct system. We also get water from the Rocky Mountains and the Colorado River.
We are almost entirely dependant on other people’s water to keep our county going and growing.
Tucson Arizona is a Sonora Desert town; San Diego is a Pacific Coast city. From that brief description, San Diego sounds wetter, but it’s not. Tucson’s annual rainfall is greater than San Diego’s. We typically get fewer than 10 inches of rain between November and March each year. Some years we get FAR less than 10 inches.
The San Diego Natural History Museum has just opened two wonderful exhibits dealing with water. One looks at worldwide water issues and the other at our own unique challenges of addressing California’s growing water crisis. The museum does a good job illustrating how we get our water from the environment and (this is important) showing that the environment is also a legitimate user of the water. Get it? Not all the water can be used for human needs. Nature NEEDS some too. That’s why it seems so incredibly stupid to assume the Delta Smelt are less deserving of fresh water than we are. Now it seems, a much larger fish is suffering because of our water use. Native salmon runs have withered and are in danger of disappearing because of the way Californians manage our water resources. A Federal judge will force regulators to come up with new rules to protect the collapsing salmon population in California. That order will ultimately mean even less water for Southern Californians.
This is not brain surgery. We have outgrown our ability to provide water to California’s human population and leave enough for the environment’s needs too.
Desalination may one day make it possible to open the doors again, but for now it seems someone has to make tough calls: use less water or welcome fewer people. Which will it be? Is our water shortage the latest environmental hoax perpetuated by the left to create a totalitarian state or is it a real crisis? Let me know what you think. Are you optimistic about new water sources?
Thanks for tuning in, logging on and speaking up.
Loren,
Thank you so much for bringing up the issue of water crisis. In fact I was jut thinking about it while walking by a big condominium complex in La Jolla and seeing a maintenance person watering the grass in the middle of a sunny day. “This is criminal” I wanted too say to him, but I didn’t, because after all he is “just” doing his job and would most likely become defensive. I am amazed that although we live in a desert, we use water as if there was no end to it. Water in California is cheaper than anywhere else I have lived, including East Coast. There is no educational program or a TV campaign in San Diego teaching public to conserve: take short showers, water plants before dawn, promote planting local plants that don’t need watering, etc. I have noticed that people take things for granted here. Just like with gas, if the price of water (combined with educational efforts) does not go up, it will most likely be wasted.
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Dorota | Jul 23, 2008
Loren,
Great special on water last night. I hope this encourages people to conserve such a precious resource. Thanks for sharing the great conservation tips!
Kevin Grangetto
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Kevin | Jul 23, 2008
Hi Loren, Just got to thinking about the phoney
water and power crises. I get a good laugh whenever I hear the local and state authorities
pleading with us to conserve water and use less power. I’d like to see you do some research to
see how many gallons of water might be saved if
20 million or so illegal aliens and their families were deported tomorrow. How concerned are you and the so-called authorities about having enough resources for our American children and grand children? Are you concerned enough to demand enforcement of our immigration laws? I doubt it. So until I see some real action taken to see that my grand kids will have something
left of America to inherit, I will use plenty of water and energy as often as I want and as much as I want. Thanks for listening.
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In response, on July 25, 2008, Dorota said:
Wow, so now the Mexicans are blamed for the California water crisis? Congratulations, you can shake hands with the Nazis who blamed Jews for their economy crisis back in the 30’s. I guess that’s why some people vandalize water stations that save lives of border crossers: they would rather have “their” water saved for their precious roses. It is absolutely appalling. Lloyd, unless you’re a native American and have no kids, you are also responsible for human overpopulation (too bad
native Americans did not have borders to stop the real invasion). Overpopulation is a big problem, but it won’t be solved by building artificial fences; it can only be solved by planned parenthood and education. We are all responsible for our water crisis and we should start doing something about it and conserving water, instead of finding a scapegoat.
In response, on July 27, 2008, Rob Pink said:
Wow man you’ve got some things to learn.
Do you know who grows the food you most likely eat? It’s 75% illegal workers. If you’re willing to get out there and do the work they do in the fields, only then can you make the statements you’ve made. As a retired farmer I can tell you I never had a white man asking for work. I agree our system is screwed up, but get out there and work in the fields all day, 6 days a week and then we’ll talk.
In response, on August 1, 2008, Jennifer said:
Hi Lloyd,
I agree with most of what you said. Our state spends 1 BILLION a year on emergency services (fire, police, etc.) for the unchecked millions of illegal immgrants in California. Who knows how much water and energy they use. Just because the illegal population is now the majority in this day in age, don’t let them bully you into doing what they want or deem “entitled” to. What kind of person knowingly commits a crime by sneaking into another country under cover of darkness, refuses to learn the offical language of California (yes, its English) and has the audacity to demand services/citizenship/equality along side people who are here legally? If I snuck into Mexico and made the same demands, I would disappear and never be heard from again and/or be ransomed.
I disagree with wasting water or energy; it is not being a good steward; or example to others.
And for the record, I would not compare you to a Nazi.
Lloyd Reighley | Jul 23, 2008
Loren, I’ve got to “Double Down” with Lloyd Reighley!!
30% of The California Prison System Is populated by Illegal Aliens. Mexicans and OTMs – the government reference to those other than Mexican born Illegals. We must deport at least those trouble makers.
But, Lloyd Reighley doesn’t go far enough.
Caucasians in this country and in Europe are having a birthrate of about 1 – 1.5 babies per couple. That’s a declining birthrate, but, In the 3rd world, It’s a growing population.
Third World Women are virtual baby factories. Averaging 8 to 10 babies per couple. India is spilling over with people, and, they don’t seem to care, and, no one is allowed to eat the cattle!! A lot of world poverty stricken mothers have as many as 15 offspring and think nothing about “The Overpopulation of The World!
You said in another blog there’s a map about where there are water shortages world-wide!
Outside of Mass Genocide, or desalinating our oceans, which would create huge salt islands, mostly at prohibitive cost, Population control is the only answer to the water problem all over the world, not only in, Southern California!
We are already at overpopulation in Southern California.
Where else in the world do you see 10 lane “free”ways so stuffed with cars going seemingly nowhere, at about 5 miles per hour, not only in the “rush” hour??!!
In the short term, deporting aliens will help California and the rest of the nation, but, it can’t stop with that.
We must consciously NOT import baby factories and chain migration from all over the 3rd world!
We must put troops on the border to keep them from sneaking in. We must implement nation wide use of E-certification of worker ID’s to keep them from wanting to invade us for the jobs we can get teenagers and high school drop outs to do if we had no Illegal worker pool.
But energy independence and abundance is equally important as plentiful potable water relative to the population that uses it.
Drilling in ANWR doesn’t seem to be the bug-a-boo it once was with the imagined threat of Caribou extinction. The Caribou population, indecently, has been reported on the rise, due to the warmer habitats provided by the warm oil pipes … ??? Oh?…
Of course, in the long run, and, starting NOW, we must re-invent energy production with renewable, clean sources and clean portable use.
Get those oil wells pumping and new, ecologically friendly refineries cooking, and send the Arabs and Iranians back to their 19th Century camel drivers.
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Bill Ascherfeld | Jul 24, 2008
can you let me know the irrigation system in your rose garden?
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In response, on July 24, 2008, Loren Nancarrow said:
Hi Yair,
The product is called a ProMeter and works pretty well. It works as a limiter on an irrigation timer. The devise only allows the sprinklers to come on if the soil has dried to a predetermined moisture level (eg. 33%).
Here is a link to the company’s web site. BTW, I am not reccomending or endorsing the product. Our story was intended to show that when we are asked to conserve natural resources it encourages innovation. The prometer has been used in agriculture for some time, and should help reduce our outdoor water use. http://www.morph2o.com/
Yair Abed | Jul 24, 2008
my suggestion is that we need to order all public places such as airports, restaurants, casinos, shopping malls….to change their automatic system to manual…
i have noticed that a lot of time public restroom would flush before, during and after…that waste a lot of water…we flush at home…why can’t we do that at those places.
also the sink…water just run and it’s a waste…we can turn it on…and off…
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twee | Jul 24, 2008
I did not see the special, but, hope my comments still count.
Unfortunately until it comes to the CRUNCH many people will not change their ways, it’s a “ALL ABOUT ME” way of thinking.
In some ways I can understand, in others it’s just abuse.
We are told to cut back on power, keep A/C low in our homes. Then we go to a store and literally FREEZE it’s so cold in them, it’s a weekday, there’s hardly anyone in the store, few workers, well, I can never find them. So, then this HUGE building is being kept nice and cool and then we should go back to our homes and suffer the heat.
Then on the other hand, I’ve watched neighbors over a period of 10-20 years, who do not know what sweeping up leaves means. They go straight for the hose, clean THEIR driveway, some do this DAILY and the leaves and trash is sent to outside someone else’s house in their gutter and off course eventually goes into our sea.
Gas prices have gone up, but, STILL only a small portion of people have chosen other options, then again, many places do have a public transport system to rely on. We just had our bus stops taken away from us.
A while back I went to an appointment in my car recently and did not know that a neighbor sitting at the bus stop was actually going to the same place, distance approx 5-6 miles from our homes. I went to appointment, waited, saw who I needed to see and was leaving and JUST then the neighbor walked in. It had taken her 2 1/2 HOURS to get to the very same place, took me maybe 10 minutes !
Financial incentives and fines may be a couple of ways people here will change their ways.
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Elaine | Jul 24, 2008
Loren please remind your bloggers and viewers to come to Quail Botanical Garden in Encinitas for great examples of “California Friendly” landscapes.
Cities can limit growth, but the lure of increased tax revenue and developer lobbying makes it difficult. The population of SD County is expected to grow by an additional one million people by 2030. Managed growth is possible, but water conservation is mandatory.
On my 10,000 sq. ft. lot in Oceanside I have converted to native landscape, I also grow bamboo, avocados, and tons of tomatoes all on 2 units of water per month (1500 gallons). It is possible to conserve and enjoy a beautiful, bountiful garden. Very little water leaves my property without being reused.
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Rob Pink | Jul 25, 2008
Where can i find those large water catchment storage bins? Who are the leading grey water system builders in north county? I did the math and found I can reduce my annual water bill by one third if I can catch and store rain off my roof and patio. Please do a thing on grey water systems. You’re the best part of the fab 10 news team Loren. Keep up the good work!
James
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In response, on July 27, 2008, Rob Pink said:
James,
Check Craigslist.com for used plastic barrels. I use 2 35 gallon barrels to collect my washing machine water. My washer is on an exterior wall. I simply punched a hole thru the wall and put in a second drain line right above the one that goes to the sewer. Should I run bleach (very seldom) it goes to the sewer. Otherwise it goes to the barrels and I either pump it out into the garden.
For big plastic above ground tanks, 500-gals and up, check the web or call Hydro-scape in Encinitas for suggestions. They are available in more rural areas and not horribly expensive.
James Agren | Jul 25, 2008
Lauren, Your tip to collect rain water from our gutters made me think of what we did when I was a child, many, many years ago in Illinois, whereit actually rains year around! In our basement was a cistern, and the gutters emmpies the rain from the roof down into the cistern, and we used that water to wash our clothes, because it was soft water. I have often wished for a cistern here, to keep our ranch green.
Some years ago, I was horse back riding up in the hill behind our ranch, which is now a nature preserve. I suddenly found myself in mud, and it hadn’t rained in months! This was on top of a hill, not in a valley, and nowhere near any source of a leaking hose or water pipe. I suddenly realized that since we live west of Flynn Spprings, the name must have been descriptive of the natural surroundings. There is water available underground! Dah! We now have a well to irrigate our property.
This reminds me; whatever has come of the find of a huge source of water deep beneath Balboa Park that could be tapped to irrigat all of said park? Is there any reason why wearen’t using the water that we have right here?
Now I am really going to go overbaord. Everytime I see a scene of a flood back East or mid West , I wonder if there is a way that wecouldn’t capture that overflow and distribut it to the arid lands out here. Could that ever be more than a fantasy?
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Pamela Bailey | Jul 25, 2008
Hi Loren:
I am so excited that you are bringing up this important topic! I am a PhD Candidate in US History, working on a dissertation on water development in early 20th century San Diego. Historically, water has always been an issue in the San Diego region. Today we import approximately 90% of our water. 90%!!
As we look towards the future, we must keep our limited water resources in mind. With our current technology, desalinization is not the answer - it takes lots of energy, and produces toxic by-products. We need to increase conservation efforts and slow down growth, or start transferring water from agricultural to domestic use. As our water situation becomes ever more uncertain with the changing climate, it is time to make some tough decisions, and prioritize. Unchecked, unsustainable growth can’t go on forever.
I missed your TV special. Is there any other way I can view it?
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Eliza Martin | Jul 25, 2008
I think the US need to look at other countries who deal with the threat of drought on regular basis and see how they deal with preventing water shortages.I am from Australia and was back there from December-April and most parts of the country were at level 6 water restrictions.This meant,no using water hoses,washing cars(unless from buckets with water collecting during your shower-yes,you had to put a bucket in the shower with you),only watering your garden on specified days for a specified time.When it rained,we put big buckets or eompty garbage bins outside to collect water to use later.Showers were asked to be kept to a maximum of 3-5mins.It certainly made you think of how much water we waste and is amazing that when you have to make these small changes,you can save alot of excess water usage.Ladies, next time you shave your legs in the shower,turn the shower off until you finish.T
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kate major | Jul 25, 2008
How about installing rain tanks to capture that 10% rainfall?
When I live in Kona, Hawaii we had rain tanks on our property for filtered drinking and gardening. Kona gets dry and having the rain tanks helped us get through a drought one year.
Does the city allow residents to capture rain?
Could the city set up rain tanks for community use at least for gardens?
Thanks for providing Loren’s Field Notes. It’s an awesome idea.
Alicia
Marine Life Naturalist
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In response, on July 26, 2008, Loren Nancarrow said:
Thanks for the post Alicia. I’m a big fan of rainwater harvesting. Susie and I have an 11 hundred gallon tank on our little ranch. Water run from the roof to our drain system and down hill to a sump where it is pumped to our tank. I use it to irrigate avocados and other things which don’t like the salt in city water.
In parts of Australia all new construction requires rainwater harvesting systems with the water being used for no potable uses like toilet flushing and laundry. Think if each home here had a similar system how much water could be saved. It make my family just a little more self sufficient.
Alicia M. Retes | Jul 25, 2008
So many issues—so many views.
Just a thought to ponder on, I wonder what people today would do if they had to live during the depression??????????? Then in 1941, when Pearl Harbor was bombed.
I was only 6 months old then. The government issued books of ration stamps to each family member with their name on the books. Ration books had stamps for staples such as sugar, flour, milk etc. I still have mine, and my parents ration books.
Back then, people accepted the fact of doing without and to make do with what they had. Today, people put up a fuss if they have to conserve or alter their lifestyle.
Water—-There are many ways to conserve water, how about not letting the water run continuously while doing dishes or while showering or brushing your teeth.
Do a fast rinse on the car first then use a bucket of water to wash it and another fast rinse. Above all, shut off the hose until needed.
Wash full loads of clothes in the washer.
I can’t understand why we have to have fluoride in water. I guess the bright person who came up with this idea thought we were only going to use water to brush our teeth. My plants don’t have teeth, my clothes that I wash don’t have teeth, my lawn certainly doesn’t have teeth, nor my car or my floors when I wash them. I don’t particular care to cook my veggies and the rest of my food in fluoridated water.
A lot of busineses can cut down the use of water, such as cutting the time down at car washes, golf courses, etc. I know I’m going to get flack for that but again, if all of us are to conserve, that means everyone.
Most of us know this, but those coming from under-developed countries do not have the many comforts as we do in the USA. They don’t understand what crisis we have here with water and other utilities. I experienced this with a neighbor who left the hose running on the ground when they stopped to talk. I tried politely to explain about the water. Did they understand,—-NO because it happened again in a different situation.
Back in the days when I was growing up, our parents reminded us not to waste anything. For those of you who are old enough to remember those days, how many times did you hear your parents say, you better eat all your food, there are kids in India starving”.
LEAF BLOWERS- I purposely typed those words in caps. I cannot understand why environmentalists don’t put up a fuss about these things. They are hazardous to your health blowing all that dust and debris in the air, yet all this debris is left out on the street or to the side. Tell me, how is that cleaning up a yard or at a business. Oh yes, it’s fast alright but just how healthy is it. I’m an avid gardener, have used a rake and trash barrel or leave bag all my life. And no one is going to convince me “this is their livelihood working as a gardener”. USE A RAKE AND PICK UP THE DEBRIS!
I’m stepping down off my soapbox now.
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Shirl | Jul 25, 2008
I saw the water special tonight and was left wondering what happened to the water in Lake Hodges? Why is it so much more polluted than the water in the Olivenhain reservoir? When & how, can it be cleaned, etc?
Also have to say I’m enjoying this blog, getting inspired to do something more about catching rainwater than setting trash cans out under my gutter spouts.
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Diane | Jul 27, 2008
Hi Diane,
Lake Hodges is filled with rainwater and not imported water as are most other local reservoirs. During the last drought, the lake lost a tremendous amount of water. A forest of willow trees grew at the lakes eastern reaches near I-15. A permit was issued to cut the trees before rains refilled the lake, but the work was never accomplished and the lake refilled during the winter of 05. The trees are now beneath water and rotting. That is one source of pollution but there are others too. Upstream agriculture is partly to blame, and so are the roads which run along side the lake.
Legislation which will help fund an 80 million dollar cleanup of the lake was recently introduced in the House of Representatives. The money would be used to build a reclamation plant so the water could be cleaned before being transferred to the Olivenhain Reservoir as was originally planned.
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Loren Nancarrow | Jul 28, 2008
I would love to see California or San Diego county provide an incentive for homeowners to convert their lawns into xeriscape, like the state of Nevada.
http://snwa.com/html/cons_wsl.html
We live in a desert, so why not landscape your yard with some beautiful local, native plants that are adapted to this environment? It would save water, save money, and we have so many exotic and unusual plants here - we should take advantage of this, even if there is no government incentive (yet???).
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In response, on September 12, 2008, Jane said:
I’ve replace the lawn in part of my front yard with shrubs and perrenials, but in the remaining part, the strip between the sidewalk and the street, when I replaced it with a low water use ground cover, my HOA cited me and told me the CC&Rs required that I replant the grass. This should be illegal. Sacramento has voided HOA prohibitions on roof-top solar panels, I think our legislators need to do more to prevent wasteful HOA practices.
Nunes | Jul 31, 2008
I think public restrooms are one of the biggest wastes of water. What is it with these “automatic” faucets that turn on when you put your hands under them, but then run for 20 seconds after you remove them? Who’s the genious that came up with that one - why the heck wouldn’t you design it so that it turns off as soon as your hands are removed?
And then there’s the automatic toilets that flush 4 times while you’re sitting on the toilet.
Pure genious.
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San Diego Photographer | Jul 31, 2008
I am sorry that I missed the water special the other night. I am not sure if this idea was brought up yet, but what about a “One Less Flush Campaign”? I am the mother of toddlers. We encourage our kids not to flush every time they use the toilet in order to save water.This idea made me start to think. we should start a “One Less Flush” campaign. If most San Diegans did this, we could save over a million gallons of water per day just in our county.
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Michelle | Aug 4, 2008
Has anyone realized that Legoland has used THOUSANDS of gallons of water for their new aquarium? It is not natural sea water..it was created from fresh water. It seems on the surface to be another case of political and corporate entities havivg their way in spite of the public and the environment..
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James C. | Aug 11, 2008
Watering a lawn should not be as wasteful as pictured. I live in Mission Hills and nine months of the year I water once a week, if it doesn’t rain, for 20 minutes. This encourages the grass to grow deep roots. August, September and October it is twice for 13 minutes.
If we should cut back, why did I receive in my water bill, a table that states I should water 6 times a week for 6 minutes?
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Marcy Bandy | Aug 23, 2008
We live in a desert area. If the local governments want to cut down on water usage, the answer seems easy. QUIT ISSUING BUILDING PERMITS. If we don’t build more homes, the population can not grow as there will be no place to live. I live where we are on wells, but if I lived in town I would only cut my water usage when they stopped issuing building permits. Of course what do I know, I’m only an 83 year old WWII and Korean Vet. Ol’ Andy
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Andrew Lindsay | Aug 26, 2008
they want me to save 20gal of water, so other people can use it. when are the city and county going to wise up and put a stop to new buildings, new homes new office builgings, apartments and new malls. when they wise up then we will have enough water to go around and i be happy to conserve more water.
rich
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Richard Stukey | Sep 3, 2008
I agree with the last comment by Richard Stukey. The answer is that big money I am afraid overrides water conservation. I know of someone right now building a 13 bath home in RSF for just two people. That is not conservation that is like I said BIG money talking.
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Keith Watson | Sep 6, 2008