WXforum.net
Weather Related Organizations => PWSweather / AerisWeather / WeatherForYou => Topic started by: weatherforyou on April 07, 2015, 02:35:11 PM
-
The data sent to PWSweather.com is going to help people with "smart sprinklers" efficiently water their lawns which could be critical due to the drought in California. Rachio uses information from Aeris (which includes the PWSweather.com data) to tell sprinkler systems how much to water lawns. NBC had a story on it...
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/california-drought/can-tech-save-californias-green-lawns-n334816
So if you want to save water and try to keep a greener lawn, send data to PWSweather.com and buy a system from Rachio. 8-)
-
Not to sound like a jerk, but watching the stories on TV lately & with all the reservoirs so low you can walk across them,
why do they even permit people to water their lawns to begin with?
-
Last year, our local water dept. passed an ordinance asking for a voluntary 20% reduction in water usage and a mandatory restriction on lawn watering to twice a week from June 1 to Sept 30 and only once a week the rest of the year which clearly isn't enough to keep a lawn alive anyway. So, if we are restricted to water our lawns once or twice a week, I don't see how those smart sprinklers are going to help anyway especially in the summer months when we don't get any rain or very little. Many people have opted to let their lawns go dry as it is, including myself. Last summer you saw a lot of brown lawns so don't think that people are not paying attention and taking action. And with Guv Brown's recent press conference calling for a mandatory 25% cutback, I can only see the restrictions getting even worse.
-
Not to sound like a jerk, but watching the stories on TV lately & with all the reservoirs so low you can walk across them,
why do they even permit people to water their lawns to begin with?
Some places actually run into a Catch22. The water dept will impose watering restrictions, or people will just do the right thing and let the lawn die, or put in natives, or even just a vegetable garden.
Then they get violations from another city dept or an HOA that they are violating landscaping rules.
Then there are also people that are just freaking clueless...
-
Has there been any talk of desalinization plants being built?
I would think with no aquifer and basically run off being the water supply that a viable back up would be a no brainer.
-
Not to sound like a jerk, but watching the stories on TV lately & with all the reservoirs so low you can walk across them,
why do they even permit people to water their lawns to begin with?
Some places actually run into a Catch22. The water dept will impose watering restrictions, or people will just do the right thing and let the lawn die, or put in natives, or even just a vegetable garden.
Then they get violations from another city dept or an HOA that they are violating landscaping rules.
Then there are also people that are just freaking clueless...
That actually happened not too far from me. The HOA was going to fine the homeowner for letting the grass dry up but then, they relented after the water dept. and county stepped in. A good example of being clueless.
-
Has there been any talk of desalinization plants being built?
I would think with no aquifer and basically run off being the water supply that a viable back up would be a no brainer.
Yes, they are actually doing it here already. Part of our water comes from wells, desalinization, and the Sierra.
-
Not to sound like a jerk, but watching the stories on TV lately & with all the reservoirs so low you can walk across them,
why do they even permit people to water their lawns to begin with?
Some places actually run into a Catch22. The water dept will impose watering restrictions, or people will just do the right thing and let the lawn die, or put in natives, or even just a vegetable garden.
Then they get violations from another city dept or an HOA that they are violating landscaping rules.
Then there are also people that are just freaking clueless...
That actually happened not too far from me. The HOA was going to fine the homeowner for letting the grass dry up but then, they relented after the water dept. and county stepped in. A good example of being clueless.
That's just mind boggling. :roll:
-
One article I read claimed part of the problem was people moving from the East (my area) to the desert regions and then trying to pretend they were still living in the East dumping tons of water over the entire yard to keep it lush and green. #-o That's kind of like moving to Florida and wanting snow or moving to Northern Michigan and complaining about the cold in my book. In that regard it's not so much of a climate change issue as it is a plain ole people and lack of logical thinking issue. :roll:
-
Jeez, when my career took me from the east to the west a long time ago, I was looking forward to NOT having a lawn to mow.
-
Has there been any talk of desalinization plants being built?
I would think with no aquifer and basically run off being the water supply that a viable back up would be a no brainer.
Here's an interesting article about desalinization:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/102563014
I think they should try to use more gray water in the yards and gardens.
-
One article I read claimed part of the problem was people moving from the East (my area) to the desert regions and then trying to pretend they were still living in the East dumping tons of water over the entire yard to keep it lush and green. #-o That's kind of like moving to Florida and wanting snow or moving to Northern Michigan and complaining about the cold in my book. In that regard it's not so much of a climate change issue as it is a plain ole people and lack of logical thinking issue. :roll:
Like people moving to the country and then complaining that there's not a nearby Walmart or grocery store.
-
Rachio uses information from Aeris (which includes the PWSweather.com data) to tell sprinkler systems how much to water lawns.
That's good for you! =D>
-
Has there been any talk of desalinization plants being built?
I would think with no aquifer and basically run off being the water supply that a viable back up would be a no brainer.
Here's an interesting article about desalinization:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/102563014
I think they should try to use more gray water in the yards and gardens.
Good article. Thanks. There are a few people that are using gray water and also collecting rain water in huge containers to water the lawn and whatever. When we had our last big drought, my neighbor collected rain water in a 55 gal. drum and used that to water the lawn and plants.
-
Like people moving to the country and then complaining that there's not a nearby Walmart or grocery store.
Guilty of that. I didn't realize how much I would miss Walmart until I moved to my small country town, closest shopping 130 miles away and realized everything was twice as expensive living in small town USA.
-
One article I read claimed part of the problem was people moving from the East (my area) to the desert regions and then trying to pretend they were still living in the East dumping tons of water over the entire yard to keep it lush and green. #-o That's kind of like moving to Florida and wanting snow or moving to Northern Michigan and complaining about the cold in my book. In that regard it's not so much of a climate change issue as it is a plain ole people and lack of logical thinking issue. :roll:
Mark,
You've hit the nail on the head with your comments! Lots of folks have moved to the arid areas of the country. Unfortunately they only saw the vast open lands they could purchase. Then they irrigated their lands and lawns until they had nice green grass. Now, when a major drought hits, they rant and rave and want to grab the water from the mountains (the SIERRA) but guess what? With the drought and lack of rain and snowfall for the past few years, the reservoirs and aquifers have run dry and there isn't enough water available to support the vast populations that have built-up along the coastal areas of California and the desert areas of Nevada. Add to that the gross mismanagement by the government controlled water systems and you have what has become a major issue in the western part of our country.
-
And then there is the recycling water from waste water (sewer water). Some of the water plants are mixing it in at a rate of 20%. One plant in Texas is running 100% waste water into it's fresh water. They say the water coming out the backside of waste water plant is cleaner than out of a water plant. Astronauts have been doing it for years. But I'm fairly certain I would have to pass :( .
Mark
-
Santa Barbara is demothballing its 20 year old desal plant that has never been used. Cambria CA is just now commissioning its new desal plant. The Diablo Canyon Nuclear plant has used desal for all of its potable and process water since commissioning.
One interesting thing is that most desal plants here don't use direct seawater. They pump brackish water from near shore wells. The salt content may be less, but mainly, the water is already filtered, saving some expense and steps in the process.
The City of San Luis Obispo has been recycling some of its wastewater for more than 10 years, irrigating parks, the golf course, and landscaping with it. If you are adjacent to a purple water line, I believe you are required to use reclaimed water.
Another interesting factoid... Even thought all of the City's potable water is imported from other watersheds, or pumped from wells, it is required to continue dumping enough treated effluent into the creek to keep the stream live year around all to way to the Pacific.
-
I have a 275 gallon tote collecting roof runoff for supplemental watering. Our aluminum shingle roof also condenses a fair amount of dew some nights that runs off into it. I measured it once and posted that to another forum. I'll have to look for it.
Good article. Thanks. There are a few people that are using gray water and also collecting rain water in huge containers to water the lawn and whatever. When we had our last big drought, my neighbor collected rain water in a 55 gal. drum and used that to water the lawn and plants.
-
Rachio uses information from Aeris (which includes the PWSweather.com data) to tell sprinkler systems how much to water lawns.
That's good for you! =D>
I'm just glad the data from PWSweather is being used in a practical application. When I started it 14 years ago that was always one of my ideas. Provide a place for the data and then let others develop good ways to use it. When someone else decided my previously "not relevant" idea actually was good and started doing it themselves most of the development went to them. But I didn't give up. :-)
-
I have a 275 gallon tote collecting roof runoff for supplemental watering. Our aluminum shingle roof also condenses a fair amount of dew some nights that runs off into it. I measured it once and posted that to another forum. I'll have to look for it.
Good article. Thanks. There are a few people that are using gray water and also collecting rain water in huge containers to water the lawn and whatever. When we had our last big drought, my neighbor collected rain water in a 55 gal. drum and used that to water the lawn and plants.
Here in Oregon it is illegal to collect rain water in any form. :?
-
Here in Oregon it is illegal to collect rain water in any form. :?
30 miles north of us, the City of Paso Robles is encouraging it (http://www.prcity.com/government/departments/publicworks/water/conservation/harvesting.asp).
-
I have a 275 gallon tote collecting roof runoff for supplemental watering. Our aluminum shingle roof also condenses a fair amount of dew some nights that runs off into it. I measured it once and posted that to another forum. I'll have to look for it.
Good article. Thanks. There are a few people that are using gray water and also collecting rain water in huge containers to water the lawn and whatever. When we had our last big drought, my neighbor collected rain water in a 55 gal. drum and used that to water the lawn and plants.
Here in Oregon it is illegal to collect rain water in any form. :?
OK, I'll go first. Mosquitoes?
-
Like people moving to the country and then complaining that there's not a nearby Walmart or grocery store.
Guilty of that. I didn't realize how much I would miss Walmart until I moved to my small country town, closest shopping 130 miles away and realized everything was twice as expensive living in small town USA.
Amazon Prime/UPS is our supplier for many many things.
-
Water trucks are a good business in CA.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/102569793
-
I have a 275 gallon tote collecting roof runoff for supplemental watering. Our aluminum shingle roof also condenses a fair amount of dew some nights that runs off into it. I measured it once and posted that to another forum. I'll have to look for it.
Good article. Thanks. There are a few people that are using gray water and also collecting rain water in huge containers to water the lawn and whatever. When we had our last big drought, my neighbor collected rain water in a 55 gal. drum and used that to water the lawn and plants.
Here in Oregon it is illegal to collect rain water in any form. :?
A while back there was another discussion like this and someone stated this same thing.
Heck it might have even been you Joe.
-
Here in Oregon it is illegal to collect rain water in any form. :?
That has to be one of the craziest things I have ever heard of. I believe someone could beat that in court. That just seems wrong to me.
-
Here in Oregon it is illegal to collect rain water in any form. :?
That has to be one of the craziest things I have ever heard of. I believe someone could beat that in court. That just seems wrong to me.
Hence my mosquito comment.
-
Water trucks are a good business in CA.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/102569793
Well, not quite. From the same article:
The city of Clovis is considering cutting off the flow to trucks that deliver water to outlying areas. Such a move could be devastating for Central Valley residents that now rely on water trucks for essential needs such as cooking, showering, toilets and the like.
-
Here in Oregon it is illegal to collect rain water in any form. :?
That has to be one of the craziest things I have ever heard of. I believe someone could beat that in court. That just seems wrong to me.
Hence my mosquito comment.
Water dept. lobbyist? You know, "we don't want people collecting rain water because they will buy less water and we lose money".
-
Use all you want for one flat rate!
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/08/us-usa-california-drought-idUSKBN0MZ14V20150408
#-o
-
Use all you want for one flat rate!
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/08/us-usa-california-drought-idUSKBN0MZ14V20150408
#-o
Geeeeez, and here we are getting zinged with higher rates if we use too much water or threatened to cut the water off if it runs into the street a little bit. I should have moved to Sacramento. :-(
-
You could do it the old fashioned way and dig an underground cistern. No barrels to see and no one knows you have it unless you tell them. That's how my grandparents watered their gardens. One sprinkling can at a time from a hand pump. Pump could be inside a garage or tool shed.
I don't think I could handle living under the thumb of a HOA. Those tend to be run by people I don't get along with too well. The kind of nosy people that think they need to both know about and run everyone's business yet are barely competent enough to take care of themselves. :roll:
Edit: Some of the old historic homes around here had the rain water cistern under the basement floor. Then they pumped it either by hand or with an old hit-miss engine up to a storage tank in the attic and gravity fed it to the bathrooms and sinks. They were the first houses with "indoor plumbing" in the area.
-
Xeriscaping, xeriscaping, xeriscaping...
-
Xeriscaping, xeriscaping, xeriscaping...
I've heard of a few people doing that around here. I may resort to that myself if the drought continues.
The new slogan that has been floating around here is, Brown is the New Green.
-
I have a 275 gallon tote collecting roof runoff for supplemental watering. Our aluminum shingle roof also condenses a fair amount of dew some nights that runs off into it. I measured it once and posted that to another forum. I'll have to look for it.
Good article. Thanks. There are a few people that are using gray water and also collecting rain water in huge containers to water the lawn and whatever. When we had our last big drought, my neighbor collected rain water in a 55 gal. drum and used that to water the lawn and plants.
Here in Oregon it is illegal to collect rain water in any form. :?
A slight exaggeration. http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/08/16/man-jailed-for-collecting-rainwater-in-illegal-reservoirs-on-his-property/
-
Here in Oregon it is illegal to collect rain water in any form. :?
That has to be one of the craziest things I have ever heard of. I believe someone could beat that in court. That just seems wrong to me.
I thought we lived in the USA? I am beginning to wonder with dumb laws like this. We have too many laws and they just keep coming up with more and more of them and each one dumber than the one before... No wonder our jails are full.
-
I did overstate it some. Oregon code says only roof surfaces may be used for harvesting rainwater. And then there are requirements for "roof washers" and other things. We looked into it when we bought our house out in the forest. We just wanted to put a couple tanks out in the higher clear corners of our property as a collection system for non-potable use but it became very complicated. I guess I could have built a so called "roof" on a shed or something. But the permitting process was fairly complicated. So we just stick with our very deep well.
-
Different states or other jurisdictions view water differently. Some places (Colorado?) seem to treat any water as a public resource, whether it falls on you or your property flows through it on the surface, or is underground. You aren't supposed to capture rain or surface water, and if you install a well on your property, you probably have to get permission from a local water authority, and possibly meter it and pay a "pump tax" on the volume that you pump. Grey or black water is probably not your either. I suppose you could think of it as renting the water and returning it when you are done.
California treats water as private property, unless otherwise deeded away or similar, with a few exceptions. If it fall on you or your property, it's yours. If it's under your property it's yours. If it flows through your property on the surface from somewhere else, it's probably not yours.
Hence the problems we are now experiencing with drought, uncontrolled water pumping and well drilling, subsidence, and depleted aquifers. Here's a litle factoids about wells and pumping. The amount of electricity needed to pump the water to ground level increases as the square of the depth. Twice as deep, 4 times the power required.
At least when the County approved our development, they required extensive hydrogeological studies, imposed a (generous) allocation per lot, and required the 2 tract developers to deed the water rights to our water company. Interestingly, those of us on the original 10 acre parcels retain our individual water rights, while also sharing them with company wells placed in easements on our properties.
-
Here in Oregon it is illegal to collect rain water in any form. :?
That has to be one of the craziest things I have ever heard of. I believe someone could beat that in court. That just seems wrong to me.
I thought we lived in the USA? I am beginning to wonder with dumb laws like this. We have too many laws and they just keep coming up with more and more of them and each one dumber than the one before... No wonder our jails are full.
Land of the Free! #-o
"In October 2013, the incarceration rate of the United States of America was the highest in the world, at 716 per 100,000 of the national population. While the United States represents about 4.4 percent of the world's population, it houses around 22 percent of the world's prisoners.[2] Imprisonment of America's 2.3 million prisoners, costing $24,000 per inmate per year, and $5.1 billion in new prison construction, consumes $60.3 billion in budget expenditures." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_incarceration_rate)