Water Conservation – Landscape And Drought Milan J. Michalec Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District 09 August 2010
Hill Country Xeriscape Does Mean • Respect The Local Conditions • Balance The Landscape - 30% Turf/30% Hardscape/30% Plants • Plan For Drought • Consider Competition From Deer • Turf • Native Grass Such As Buffalo • Hardscape • Native Stone and Timber • Plants • Natives and Adaptive Species • Key: Go Native
Drought In Texas • Hill Country • Long Periods of Drought Interrupted By Short Periods of Floods • Drought of Record • 1950-1957 (1954 Recorded 10. 29” Of Rain In Boerne) • Tree Ring Studies Indicate Far Longer And Drier Periods • Groundwater Pumping Can Only Be Managed By Local Groundwater Conservation Districts • Drought Contingency Plans Can Cut Pumping up to 50% for wells with operating permits • Wells used for Domestic and Livestock use are “exempt” from the operating permit process • Kendall County-Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District
Keep Plants Alive In Stage Five • Water Conservation Strategies • Condensate Recovery • Reuse Grey Water • Rainwater Capture • Take Inventory • Not All Plants Require Supplemental Water • Use Stored Water Sparingly • Apply Two Quarts Per Plant Every Third Day
Condensate Recovery System Save Water Produced By Air Conditioner
Reuse Grey Water • What Is Grey Water? • Any Water Used In The Home, Except Water From Toilets, Is Called Grey Water • Dish, Shower, Sink, And Laundry Water Comprise 50-80% Of Residential “Waste" Water • May Be Reused For Other Purposes, Especially Landscape Irrigation
Typical Daily RecoveryDishes: 5 GallonsBathing: 3-5 Gallons Per Person
Water Storage Remove Screw - On Top Remove Water With Bucket
Rainwater Collection • 1” Rain On 1,000 Sq Ft Roof Can Yield 600 Gallons Of Water For Capture • Boerne Area Average Annual Rainfall • 33.74 (1893-2008) • Highest Annual Rainfall • 64.17 (1992) • Lowest Annual Rainfall • 10.29 (1954)
Basic/Improved Collection • Shortfalls • Inefficient Capture • Insufficient Storage • Evaporation • Mosquitoes • Better Way? • Increase Capture and Storage • Seal Water From Elements
Sunlight Does Get Inside TankProblem: Algae Growth Solution: Paint Exterior