El Niño brought heavy rains to California this winter, but not enough for the state to recover from four dry years and call off all emergency drought measures it has imposed. Even if the state and cities relaxed water restrictions, we should not ease up on water conservation measures, according to a Master Gardener and REALTOR®.
Rebecca Jepsen is passionate about saving water. Jepsen is a REALTOR® with Alain Pinel Realtors Saratoga. She is also a University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardener and writes a monthly gardening column in the San Jose Mercury News.
"We all need to continue cutting back on water usage," Jepsen recently told members of the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS®.
Jepsen explained as of 2014, California needed 11 trillion gallons of rain to recover – that's 17 million Olympic-sized swimming pools. From June through February, California residents were able to cut water usage 23.9 percent compared to their 2013 usage, almost reaching Gov. Jerry Brown's target of 25 percent. The state is currently at about 80 percent of normal.
The State Water Resources Control Board is scheduled to meet and will possibly ease rules for Northern California, which received much of the winter's rainfall, compared to Southern California, which wasn't quite as lucky and has experienced less rain and hotter, drier temperatures.
Jepsen said 50 percent of water goes to the environment - to streams, rivers and wetlands. The remaining 50 percent is controlled – 80 percent is devoted to agriculture, which is needed to grow food, and 20 percent to municipal/residential use, of which 50 percent goes to outdoor irrigation. Outdoor usage of water is an area residents need to improve upon, said Jensen.
According to the UCCE Master Gardener, a typical turf lawn uses 57 inches of water per year. Jepsen suggested removing or replacing turf lawns with eco-lawns, meadow lawns, sedges and herbs. Use thyme and manzanita as groundcover. These lawn options save water and are attractive, she said.
Jepsen shared some outdoor water-saving tips which Realtors can in turn share with their clients:
1. Don't run irrigation systems during the middle of the day. The best time to water is between 5-8 a.m.
2. Use efficient low-flow irrigation and check for leaks. Leaky irrigation systems can waste 6,000 gallons a month. Invest in a SmartController, which doesn't run when it rains and runs more frequently during hot, dry spells.
3. Remove overgrown, tired, inappropriate plants.
4. Apply 2-3 inches of compost and mulch around plants and trees to retain water and feed the soil.
5. Water just enough to keep plants healthy. Jepsen noted contrary to what some people think, lawns and outdoor plants do not need to be watered as often or as much.
Jepsen said she encourages families to grow their own food. "You'll have food at your table and it's a relaxing. Grow what you want to eat and share with your neighbors," said Jepsen.
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.
For further information, please email or call the SILVAR office at (408) 200-0100.