Big water

Big Water

By Craig A. Wilson, Water Management Director I traveled to the Northwest to visit my son last month. Of course, we had to see the Columbia River Gorge and the dams that make the river big. We visited the Bonneville Dam and toured the facility where they like to highlight the time FDR dedicated the dam. Our Salt River dams were dedicated by Teddy; take that, young whipper snappers. Our water is almost as big.

Previously I mentioned how much water our home landscapes consume and how to balance the use with our needs. The picture I used was of the blowhole, La Bufadora, at Ensenada, Mexico. It illustrated just how much water an individual used in a year and sometimes a picture makes it easier to put things, like water conservation, in perspective. But how could one individual use that much water, a column more than 75 feet high? Well, how much water does a grocery store use? A lot. That water consumption is charged to the community, added to the amount used by the people who buy their food there. Then on the Ranch, approximately 30 million gallons of water are used each year for recreation and for irrigating our common areas. So it is not just the water that comes into the home that adds up, but also the water used in our community.

What impact can we have then on the water used that enables us to live in the desert? I reported earlier that our efforts are working, our march toward a sustainable future is making progress. For example, our residential landscape needs are less than the often reported 70% of our water bills; some say 60% here and now. The water used for the common area landscape has likewise been reduced. At one time, it was as high as 10% of the average household budget. Through careful management, that has been reduced to just 6%. We are getting there. If we turn to the water used in the home, some studies show areas where we can make a difference. I like a shower, so that is out as a potential water saver. I have however, installed a dual flush toilet mechanism that reduces the water used and I have used the leak detection dye tablets to check for leaks. Now if I could figure out how to brush my teeth without the water continuing to run, I would be making real progress.

Keep up the effort, we are getting there. Remember, water makes living in the desert possible make the best of it.