Water Conservation Lessons from California’s Drought

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Water Conservation Lessons from California’s Drought

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It seems as though every year during this time, we experience drought conditions in many areas that lead to fires. With all the awareness surrounding Earth Day, we’ve already taken the time to discuss how to conserve water in our yards. But what are some things that we can do to ensure that these efforts are lasting? California’s governor has issued some mandatory water restrictions that we think should be common practice. Here are some great water conservation lessons from his recommendations and official executive order.

Why it matters.

It’s hard to remember that you’re one of many people using the water supply, which (despite the earth being covered in it) is a limited resource. The executive order does well to outline the reasons for the call for water reduction. Here are just some of the reasons that everyone should take action with regard to water use:

  • Drinking water shortages
  • Diminished water for agricultural production
  • Degraded habitat for fish and wildlife
  • Wildfire risks
  • Saltwater contamination

All of these things have a severe impact on mankind, animals and the environment, which is why conserving water is so important.

Starting with the landscape.

While drought resistant landscaping and vegetation is already very popular in the dryer states, the order insists that the government should fund these efforts. An incentive for landscaping that is drought resistant is an idea that is relatively new, but something that other states should look into as well. It also demands that golf courses, campuses and cemeteries look closely at their water usage as well.

Water waste enforcement.

Similar to the way that kilowatt hours are billed on an electric bill, the order calls for enforcement on excessive water usage. The order suggests education and information on water shortage as well as conservation. It also suggests that there be inspections on wasteful and unreasonable use of water, and a demand for efficient irrigation systems, onsite storm water capture and a limitation on the percentage of landscape that may be covered in turf.

The order goes further to outline government response and efficiencies as well as the investment in new technologies. You can read the entire executive order here. What can we take from these changes that are happening on California? There are a lot of things we can do personally, even without the demand from government, to conserve water. Check out last year’s blog on water conservation that we wrote for Earth Day and start making effort to reduce the amount of water used in your home and outside on your landscaping. The more we do on our own, the more impact we’ll see in the long term.