Strelizia

In our fourth year of drought in California, there are a few people and communities that have perfected the art of conserving water…bathing in a tablespoon of water, taking out lawns and thirsty plants and replacing them with lava rock and drought tolerant plants, recycling grey water in buckets from the shower to the garden and putting bricks in their toilet tanks.It is a badge of honor to drive around in a dirty car. 

Some of us established habits in the last drought in California which stay with us into this one, such as turning off the tap while brushing teeth, and collecting a sinkful of dirty dishes which can all be rinsed in a small bowl of water. But others either don't know or don't care about what to do. Although we read  daily stories about the drought in the paper or see them on television, there have been very few concrete guidelines as to how to cut water usage by 25% as mandated by the Governor.

There are so many agencies involved that rules mandated by one often contradict or overrule those made by others. Agricultural usage conflicts with hundred year old riparian laws governing who has first dibs on the creeks, canals and reservoirs. Cities have laws requiring homeowners to have green lawns and plants. We get our water from a well, which means that nobody, including us, knows how much water we are using.


This morning the governor announced that cities and municipalities have three weeks to come up with plans by which their jurisdictions will reduce their water use. Good luck.