Before coming to Grand Coulee, my family and I lived in New Mexico where I held a job as a water conservation specialist. When we found out we were moving to Washington, I didn’t think that much of the knowledge I had gained with my profession would be that useful here. Even knowing that eastern Washington is considered a semi-arid environment, I assumed there would be more differences than similarities.
Every day I drive by the lakes and appreciate what a gift it is to be literally flanked by water. After spending years in an area with little open water and sparse rainfall, I don’t go by the lakes in Grand Coulee without appreciating their splendor.
But, in a way we are teased with so much water here. Living near two such substantial lakes can give a false sense of entitlement. Why conserve water when there is a lake on the other side of the road?
But making a life in a semi-arid environment demands that we be aware of any overuse of scarce resources. And regardless of the plethora of water at our fingertips, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we should abuse its gift.
In my past life as a water conservation specialist, my job consisted of educating the public about the most efficient ways to save water and I’ve retained a few bits and pieces that might be beneficial to pass on to a town that has more similarities to a high desert environment than I initially thought. With summer at its peak, monitoring outdoor water usage is our most efficient way of protecting this precious resource.
As the days have hit their high temperatures, the best way we can save water is to refrain from any outdoor watering between the hours of 10am and 6pm. Any watering outside of those times will maximize your efforts, for your garden and for your water bill. Watering in the cool mornings and evenings will minimize the amount of evaporation from your garden, allowing it to retain the most amount of the water you shower on it.
Other ways to maximize outdoor watering efforts are to mulch any open soil areas to help retain moisture and keep the roots of your plants cool, thereby reducing the amount of water they might need on these hot days. For those of us who aren’t lucky enough to have an automatic irrigation system, it’s helpful to set a kitchen timer to make sure not to over water when sprinklers or hoses are on. Pots and hanging baskets may require a little water every day in the heat of the summer, but grass, trees, and vegetable gardens will benefit from longer watering less frequently. And as much as I hate to admit it, keeping a garden weed-free is a sure way to save some water at any time of the year. Weeds tend to be water hogs and will steal water and nutrients from your plants, making them suffer and require more watering.
Leaky indoor faucets are noticed almost immediately, whereas outdoor faucets, pipes and hoses may have to be consciously checked a few times a season to stay leak-free. And as it is the season to enjoy our beautiful Grand Coulee sun, spending a few extra minutes in the yard can’t be too bad, even if you are just checking for leaks.
Clearly, there are plenty of ways to save water indoors as well. Older models of toilets, washing machines and dishwashers can be extreme water and energy hogs. According to a new study out of the University of Bonn in Germany, washing a load of dishes by hand can use on average 27 gallons of water, yet washing the same amount of dishes in an energy-efficient dishwasher uses approximately 4 gallons of water.
Regardless of the size of your household, garden, or lawn, there are ways we can all pitch in to monitor our use of water. As we enjoy our lakes this summer, you can be proud of what you’ve contributed to preserving as much of this precious resource as possible.
Previously published in the "Grand Coulee Star," Grand Coulee, Washington. July 25, 2012
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