Conserving Water At Home

Early weather warnings predict parts of the U.S. are in for a severe drought this summer. For gardeners and homeowners who want to care for lawns and landscapes and do their share to save water, Early Show Home Improvement Contributor Bob Vila has suggestions on conserving water at home.

For Your House:
Household water usage counts for almost 50 percent of the water delivered to towns and municipalities across the country. The average household uses over 100 gallons of water a day. A few simple saving strategies can significantly reduce that number. When it comes to saving water, it is the little things that count. Repairing leaky faucets and toilets can save hundreds of gallons of water per year. Modern appliances, like dishwashers and washing machines, use less than half the water of appliances made just 10 years ago.

Modern toilets and showerheads can significantly reduce the amount of household water usage. Today, federal standards dictate that showerheads use only 2.5 gallons of water per minute, and that toilets use only 1.6 gallons. As an example, installing a 1.6 gallon per flush toilet can save a household over 15,000 gallons of water usage each year, and cost half as much to operate.

For Your Garden:
• Prep your soil. Plants need a continuous supply of moisture, which they extract from the soil particles that surround tiny root hairs. If soil is too sandy, water rushes away; if there's too much clay, water collects and can drown roots by keeping them from getting oxygen. To create a rich, crumbly, water-retentive soil, work plenty of organic matter such as composted cow manure or leaves, peat moss, and/or green manures into beds before you plant. Be sure to prep beds at least 18 inches down and break up any compacted soil so roots can grow freely in search of moisture over a wide area.

• Use mulch. Planting thickly and using mulches helps shade the soil and keep available moisture from evaporating. Chipped bark, straw, grass clippings, cocoa hulls, and compost are all effective as mulch. However, when using bark or anything else that does not break down readily, be sure to apply no more than an inch or it may keep water from percolating down to the soil where it's needed. Mulches made from organic materials add valuable nutrients to the soil as they degrade.

• Plant appropriately. Consider planting varieties that are drought resistant and appropriate to your geographic area and climate. In addition, cluster plants that have similar moisture needs. For example, many herbs, plants with hairy and/or gray leaves, and sun loving perennials such as coreopsis and yarrow will do better in a sunny, fairly dry bed. Keep moisture-loving plants like roses and classic perennials such as delphiniums and peonies together in a bed that can be watered more frequently.

• Minimize wind. Wind can suck moisture out of the soil and plant leaves faster than the blazing sun. Plant or set up wind breaks that allow the sun in but shield plants from strong winds in exposed garden areas.

• Measure moisture. Before turning on the sprinkler, determine how much water your plants really need. Especially if you've been following the advice above, you might be surprised how much moisture your beds retain, even when it hasn't rained for a week or more. Dig down into the top 12 inches of soil and make sure it's dry before you water. If you do water with a sprinkler, put a bucket out to measure how much water is falling onto the ground.

You may know to water in the morning so plants have the resources they need to face the noontime sun. Watering in the morning also helps reduce fungus and disease problems, because the foliage has a chance to dry before nightfall.

Water Conservation Tips:
• Water infrequently but deeply. Roots grow where the moisture is. If you only water the top couple of inches of soil, that's where the roots will stay. If you water deeply, they'll extend their reach and be more able to withstand occasional dry spells in the future. Be sure to water long enough for moisture to reach at least a foot into the soil

• Put the water where it's needed. Plants take up water with their roots, so this is where the water should go. Build small dams around the base of your vegetable plants to act as catch basins, and direct the hose or watering can onto the ground, not over the top of your plants. Apply water slowly so it soaks into, rather than rushes away over the top of the soil.

• Choose a water-wise sprinkler for watering. Sprinklers can waste a lot of water through evaporation and by scattering moisture to areas of the garden that may not need it. There are a variety of water-wise sprinklers available, but also consider using soaker hoses for beds and water spikes for individual plants.

• Weed, wait, cultivate. Reduce competition for water resources by keeping your garden well-weeded. Wait until plants show signs of distress, such as limp leaves, before watering; most plants will quickly recover. Cultivate the soil to break up compacted areas so water will absorb into the soil rather than run off.

Items to Conserve Water:
• Sorba Gro - When your lawn and garden have suffered from drought, the soil doesn't easily recover, even if you water faithfully. That's because "baked" soil takes on a hard, crusty texture that sheds water. Sorba Gro wetting agent helps water penetrate the soil, restoring soil texture and vitality so plants can thrive again. Maximizes use of your water. This product is safe for flowers, vegetables, kids, small animals. It has normally been used for commercial use by golf courses, etc. This product works for a minimum of 30 days will allow water to penetrate the root zone. One quart treats 32,000 square feet for 30-60 days.

	Aqua Cones
	Hydro-Grow Hose
	Showerheads
	Low-Flow Toilet

• Aqua Cone - Turn your old soda bottles into a super-easy, super-efficient irrigation system. Aqua Cones target each plant's root zone and to work with any soil type. Use 1-liter bottles for light watering, 2-liter bottles for deep watering. Punch-out holes control water flow for sand, loam or clay. Reduces disease caused by splashing wet soil onto plant leaves. Precise watering means fewer weeds.

• Hydro-Grow Hose - Introduced to American gardeners nearly 20 years ago. New design is slimmer (half-inch diameter) and more flexible, so it's easier to weave around plants. HydroGrow waters a 2-ft-wide band with as little as 8 pounds of water pressure.

• Rain Barrels - In England, antique "dollies" or wash tubs have found a new purpose: collecting rainwater for the garden. Our version has the charming design details of the original, including distinctive ribs that add strength as well as character. But we've also added features to make it easier to collect and use precious, chemical-free rainwater, your plants' favorite thirst-quencher.

• Showerheads - Some use only 2.5 gallons of water per minute, as opposed to 5 to 7 gallons per minute that old showe heads use. The advantage here is two fold: they use less water, and as such they use less hot water. That means that the hot water heater will more likely be able to keep up with water usage. If you are third in line for a shower in the morning, you'll still have some hot water to bathe in.

• Low-Flow Pressure Assist Toilet - Already part of building codes across the U.S., 1.6-gallons-per-flush toilets save water over older models that use up to 10 gallons per flush.

However, many consumers are unhappy with the low flow toilets' ability to clear the bowl, which results in double flushing, which negates the water-saving design. We will show a power-assisted low-flow toilet tank. It uses compressed air to sweep water through the bowl, completely clearing it. And it uses less than the required 2.5 gallons of water to accomplish the task.

Resources:
Gardening supplies:
Gardener's Supply www.gardeners.com

Showerheads:
Interbath www.interbath.com

Toilet tank:
Flushmate www.flushmate.com

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