Water loophole in CA

[land butcher]

I know this isn't CLSA material but it affects everyone on here.
All of CA is on restricted water use, we In Tustin are limited to sprinkling 5min/station 2 days a week to become 1 day a week Nov 1. My lawns are dead, my Pomegranate tree yielded ~25% of last years crop. I wonder how long my nice big trees will last.

The loophole is that you can build a new swimming pool and jacuzzi and fill it if you agree to buy a cover for it. Covers cost $200 and up. No one will check to see that the pool is covered when not in use, but the Tustin rent-a-cop has issued 29 $100 citations for watering on the wrong day. In addition to filling the pool there is the water for mixing the concrete, for the pool and decking, and daily sprinkling of the concrete so it cures properly.

So as our landscaping and crops die you can build a pool and fill it. Gotta love the pool building lobbiests and the politicians they own.

[DSigman]

I water my trees with drip irrigation in the middle of the night. I'm not going to let my 80 year old sycamore die. The grass can die and the annuals can die but that tree can't be replaced. Most golf courses look pretty green too. Then in our part of the world they're still growing rice. Makes you wonder.

[land butcher]

I was figuring the trees could last the winter with 2 days/week but not one. So I guess I will be drip watering my 5 trees.

[Dave Karoly, PLS]

Pools use less water than lawns, once they are built and filled, especially covered.

I run the hot side of the kitchen sink into a 2 gallon watering can every morning when I'm getting hot water to wash my glass coffee siphon pot (which btw makes wonderful coffee). My wife expects to find a thermos filled with hot coffee every morning made by me, her automatic coffee maker.

[Edward M Reading]

I run the hot side of the kitchen sink into a 2 gallon watering can every morning .......

Ha! I do the same thing with our shower.

[Peter Ehlert]

Lifestyle changes are needed. over the last year I have modified my plumbing...
patio wash down goes partly to my fig tree and the rest into a bucket for the plants
laundry water goes in the laundry sink, then with a hose into garden
shower and bathroom sink goes a barrel then with a hose in the garden
kitchen sink goes in the garden, direct
mop water is used for the plants
they were easy changes, it is greener and I buy less water

[hellsangle]

Don't forget the sheet rock bucket in the shower . . . flushes most of what I'm made of . . . Oh dear . . . TMI? LOL

Phil - Sonoma

[steffan]

Instead of water, drink wine bottled in non-drought years.

[RAM]

a lot of golf courses are watered with purple water.

[Peter Ehlert]

a lot of golf courses are watered with purple water.

what in the world is "purple water"?

[pls7809]

Recycled water. The recycled water hydrants and other fixtures (valve covers, utility marks, etc.) are painted purple to tell the difference from potable water lines (blue).