The Issue of Water in the Austin area...
Today, I received this message:
What If You Turned on the Water
Faucet and No Water Came Out?
We Want Water. Do You?
The Time for Your Action Is Thursday
There will be a town meeting on Thursday, September 17, 6:00 pm, at Palmer Events Center. This town hall meeting is in support of Water Treatment Plant #4. http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/water/wtpfour.htm
Many have very little information or awareness of the significance of the water issue. Most assume that someone else will take care of the problem. That just won't get it. This is a grass roots (no pun intended) issue. One by one, each citizen can make a significant difference, simply by rethinking what constititutes a beautiful home/property. Beautiful, luxurious lawns have always been a mark of pride. Some of the finest homes have expansive lawns, which drink multiple gallons of water and consume chemicals that seep into our groundwater. I have recently learned that 80% of a community's use of water goes to irrigation.
I have thought, and advocated for water collection systems. They can be a good resource, but are not an acceptable solution. If we relied entirely on rain water collection, downstream areas would be adversely affected. Imagine that we could resolve much of the issue if we would redefine what is considered to be a beautiful property. I am on a mission to find and share examples of alternative ways to landscape...to celebrate those who have made the shift and jumped to the side of a solution. Send your photos and suggestions to me so I can put them on my site.