WATER
Water conservation is the highest priority measure discussed as part of the Project. Currently we use domestic water for many purposes for which other water sources could be used. Generally speaking, water is not created or destroyed in its pathway through a domestic site. It arrives as rain, or as potable domestic water, and then it is used for drinking, showering, flushing toilets, doing laundry, washing dishes, and irrigation. Water generally leaves the site in one of two ways. Storm runoff runs to the public flood control system and to the ocean, and domestic water runs to the sewage treatment plant through public sewer piping (black water).
OUR PLAN
It is possible to alter the way we use this water once it arrives on site, so that we do not use as much of precious potable domestic water. We can re-use water after it has performed its first function. Grey water from showers, laundry and dish washing can be used to water plants. It is a low volume but constant source of water, which is ideal for irrigation purposes. It also reduces the flow to the sewage treatment plant. Treated gray water could potentially be used for flushing toilets, reducing the use of potable water for this purpose. Storm water capture can be used for irrigation or flushing toilets. It is also possible to use treated storm water for dish washing, showering and other functions. Advances are being made in on-site water treatment technologies that may allow more widespread use of black water on site.
Using drought tolerant and low water use planting has a major impact on domestic water use. Traditionally up to 50% of the domestic water consumption in California’s urban areas is used for domestic irrigation. We can drastically reduce this waste by using gray water, storm water capture, smart irrigation techniques and low water use planting. Using water for food production offsets the amount of water use in agricultural areas of the state.