Water and Its Ripple Effects
December 21, 2010Article by Iris Harrell, courtesy of the Palo Alto Weekly
I always start worrying about our water supply and usage everytime I head to the desert for a short winter vacation. We all know golf courses in the desert are “unnatural”, and yet I cannot wait to get on one. I acknowledge my own expectations for fun and rest are part of this problem we all have our hands in. While “camping out” in high style with the 17th hole of a tournament golf course as part of our backyard deck view, I grew more alarmed when I read about our governor declaring a state of emergency for San Bernadino County, where the water supply for the city of Barstow was found to be contaminated with a toxic chemical used to make rocket fuel and explosives. The contaminant was perchlorate, a salt derived from perchloric acid. (This chemical has been found in drinking water in as many as 35 states.) 40,000 customers were without normal supplies of drinking water and several hotels, restaurants and other businesses had to close because of the contamination. The water company delivered over 100,000 bottles of water to their customers in Barstow while they flushed out and tested their systems. After a few games of golf and steaks and fish on the grill, I had placed this water worry further back in my mind. It came racing back to the forefront as I was traveling home on Interstate 5 with multiple signs in the pastures that said NO WATER EQUALS NO FOOD. This made me realize yet again that if we don’t protect the water sources we have and use them wisely, we could be in deep trouble in a heartbeat. So what are the “ripple effects” of us not guarding and nurturing our water supplies?
Larry’s Auto reported in their last newsletter that debris from braking of vehicles contributes to 80% of copper going into the Bay everyday. Copper build up in fish is toxic to humans as well as making it impossible for salmon to navigate. Could this be one of the reasons our salmon supply is so low in Monterey that fishing restrictions are required at this time? Reducing copper going into the Bay by using vehicle braking systems that don’t do this is the most direct way to solve this problem. There is state legislation that will force brake manufacturers to start reducing copper in brakes, but the law doesn’t go into effect until 2021! Can we really afford to wait that long? Copper free brakes do not cost anymore and they outlast the brakes that have copper. Have our legislators made some “business friendly” compromise that compromises the health and welfare of its citizens? Another ripple effect of our water supply becoming contaminated happens during flooding. Our sewage systems, septic tanks and leaching systems can be serious health hazards after a flood. Ironically with the onslaught of global warming, we will have more floods and water contamination issues to deal with. So with New Year’s resolutions around the corner, what can we do personally to better conserve andprotect our precious natural water supply?
- If your home is on a creek or stream, read the Guidelines and Standards for Land Use Near Streams manual from Santa Clara Valley Water District.
- Keep debris and trash out of creeks and streams so the water can flow freely. This includes yard waste.
- Do not dump anything into a creek or storm drain. Report incidents of illegal dumping. Drains in our street flow directly to local creeks and often to the Bay.
On the conservation issue of water, make some New Year’s resolutions you can spring into action with.
- Install a “smart” irrigation controller. It won’t let watering happen while it is raining outside.
- Landscape with low water use plants.
- Reduce irrigation cycles by 1 to 3 minutes.
- Repair leaks around pools and spa pumps and outside hose bibs or faucets that drip perpetually.
- Keep showers under 5 minutes.
- Use your washing machine and dishwasher only when you have a full load. (And if you don’t have a front loading energy star washer, ask Santa!)
- Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks.
