Bay Area Entering a Drought Again

Time to go back into H20 conservation mode folks... We're being asked to cut water use by 10%. San Jose is in a better situation than other parts of the Bay Area, but that might not last.

It's April and we're only adding up to about half the normal rainfall totals that we're supposed to have and the snowpack supply is looking even worse. Water conservation right now is still largely voluntary, but mandatory rationing may be called for as early as next year if the rainfall totals don't improve.

I remember the last drought. I got so used to taking 3 minute speed showers that I felt guilty if I was ever in the shower longer than 5 minutes for years after the drought was lifted. It got so ingrained that I even got on someone's case for taking long showers my freshman year in college in Boston.

SJ Mercury: Officials set to declare drought in Bay Area (4/11/07)

I'm not surprised. It's been a very dry winter.

Here's today's article in the San Francisco Chronicle:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c...BAGDDP78EG1.DTL

It's important to wash your car in the car wash regardless of whether there's a drought. All the storm drains in the roads run to the bay and so do the soaps that are used to wash cars in driveways, fertilizers and pesticides from your garden etc.

I'm considering replacing my front lawn with bark and drought resistant plants - or simply letting a few pumpkin vines sprawl over the surface.

When water rationing was in place in some areas during the 70s drought we put buckets in the showers to catch water to use in the garden. I always put out large buckets, trashcans or containers to catch rainwater for my garden. Every little bit helps all the time.

Showers - yes; baths -no.

If possible, when running the shower water to your desired temperature, catch the running water in a bucket or two and use that water on outdoor plants or, if the bucket's clean enough, you can use it for your pet's water dish.

Keep a bucket or two in the shower to catch any runoff. Of course that may make the water too soapy for Fido or Kitty but still okay for outdoor plants.

Do the old "navy shower" bit - water on and soak yourself, then water off to lather/shampoo. Finally, water on to rinse.

QUOTE (boluda @ Apr 17 2007, 06:59 AM)

It's important to wash your car in the car wash regardless of whether there's a drought. All the storm drains in the roads run to the bay and so do the soaps that are used to wash cars in driveways, fertilizers and pesticides from your garden etc.

That sounds ecologically correct but I can't take my car to a cheapie gas station car wash. When I did, I noticed scratches. So it costs me $8-15 plus tip to take it to a place where my car won't get scratched, vs. washing it for nearly nothing but my time at home. I'm conflicted. In the meantime, I was going to wash my car this past weekend but didn't because of the drought. I'll probably just drive around for awhile with a dirty car.

I use a dish pan in the sink to catch water while I wash my hands and/or dishes. It holds about 3 gals of water.
When it gets full, I take it out to my patio and use it to water/fertilize my plants. Dish detergent is a fertilizing agent, so it's good for most plants.