Cool, clear water

Tim brought his dogs over earlier, and Pixie got worked up when she looked out the front door. A squirrel was lying, legs splayed, on the front porch, which is stone and usually a little cooler than everywhere else. I also keep a bucket of water there for the dogs to get a quick drink when they’re running around outside. Margot and Penny, in particular, like this, as do Lynne’s dogs when they’re visiting. Apparently since Houston now has a mandatory watering ban, Mr. Squirrel can’t find his usual sources and wanted a drink from the bucket, which is fine by me. One of the reasons I like watering the yard is that it makes the birds and squirrels happy.

This year in particular, we have spent a lot of money on our yard: getting professionals to remove and prune trees; covering areas of the yard with landscaping options other than water-greedy grass or plantings; keeping more plants and flowers in pots because I can better control and limit the amount of water they need. There was no way of knowing when we had new sod put in that this kind of crazy heat and drought would hit. We have had a lot of success with the sod in some parts of the yard, and I’m hoping those sections are well enough established to survive with the two waterings a week we’re allowed. If not, eventually maybe the entire Compound grounds will use creative alternatives to grass.

I’m well aware that there are parts of the world where drought is leading to hunger and disease. I know I’m fortunate to live in this country. When I articulate my frustration over the state of things, it isn’t just because of the money I’ve spent that will probably all burn up. It isn’t because I selfishly want a lush yard. It’s because I know that for all of us, flowering and healthy lawns and beds can help maintain nature’s delicate balance, from insects to rodents to lizards. Even when our moisture brings mosquitoes, which I loathe, I recognize that mosquitoes are a food source for frogs and bats, which have their place in the system, too. I’m not just bitching; I’m concerned about the bigger picture.

Some of the things suggested by the city to conserve water during the ban include taking shorter showers (and showers, in general, use less water than baths; we are all shower people at The Compound); not leaving the water running while brushing teeth (I don’t); doing only full loads of laundry and dishes (we already do that with laundry, and we don’t have a dishwasher, so we always use a lot less water in the kitchen than dishwashers require); and watering only between the hours of eight p.m. and ten a.m. on our permitted days. Suggestions that don’t apply to us are not washing personal vehicles, not washing down sidewalks, driveways, or other hard-surfaced areas, and not refilling outdoor swimming pools, spas, or whirlpools.

At The Compound, we are looking for even more long-term solutions to manage water wisely. As I said, we have less ground surface now that needs water. In addition, something Tim has long wanted to do is buy a rain barrel to collect rain for helping water the yard. Of course, we’re not getting rain now, but we will again, so it’s a good idea. There’s also another advantage to getting a rain barrel now. We’ve just implemented a new gray-water practice, putting containers in our bathtubs to catch spray from our showers. This water can then be used to water some of our flowerbeds and potted plants in the evenings when more water will be absorbed than will evaporate. Until the watering ban is lifted, that water and a lot of my dishwater could be saved in the rain barrel. Since our soaps and shampoos are environmentally friendly, this gray water will be a good source for our plants even when the heat wave breaks and the rains return. Finally, another good use for a rain barrel is if city water is ever off (as it has been sometimes after a hurricane), gray water can be used to flush toilets.

Smart water use is something we can practice all the time at The Compound, and I’m sharing this information in case it might help anyone else.