file under: what in the F*@K?

I love this! Leave to LA to be the example of absolute hypocrisy.

We are in the middle of a drought. Check.
The mayor has asked us to do “whatever” we can to conserve water. Check.
The Public Works department is citing people for planting drought resistant plants. Chec…. WHAT?!?

Yep. You did read that correctly.

It was also after Krieger and his wife Sandy faced a supervisor and two Public Workers inspectors over the citation they were given ordered to immediately remove their drought-resistant plants and replace them with grass or pavement or leave the parkway as dirt — or face prosecution.

You can read the whole article HERE.

water rationing predicted for Cali

California Department of Water Resources announced that water rationing is our likely future, unless we get some heavy rain and lasting snowfall this winter. And, at this point, that is not predicted. What is expected drought and increasing temperatures.

Things can change rapidly but for now there is a call for extra effort in conservation and to keep it as a habit.

I have posted this before, but in LA, it is illegal to:
• Use water to wash any hard surfaces such as sidewalks, walkways, driveways
or parking areas, unless flushing is needed to protect health and safety;
• Use water to clean, fill or maintain decorative fountains unless the water is
part of a recirculating system;
• Serve water to customers in eating establishments unless requested;
• Permit leaks from any pipe or fixture to go unrepaired;
• Allow for the washing of a vehicle without using a hose with a self-closing,
shut-off device;
• Permit watering during periods of rain;
• Irrigate landscaping between the hours of
9 a.m. and 4 p.m.;
• Water outdoors for more than 15 minutes per watering station, 10 minutes for
other irrigation systems;
• Allow runoff onto streets and gutters from excessive watering;

Coca-Cola v. Pepsi…. good gosh, if I had toooooo….

I do not condone the drinking of sodas. I know. Bold statement. But in my book, “Of all Things Being Equal”, I liken soda to heroin. I know. Bold statement. However, I think the proliferation of High Fructose Corn Syrup is addicting and the leading reason we are obese, and soda seems to be the substance of choice in getting that “fix”.

All of that being said, if I HAD to choose between Coke and Pepsi…. because of THIS article, I choose Coke.

Do I like the fact that it takes almost 3 liters of water to make one liter of Coke? No. Do I like the fact that number is actually better than it was last year? Yes. Coke has continued to show that it is making every effort possible to reduce its footprint. It has extensive recycling programs, energy efficient coolers and electric delivery vehicles.

In conclusion… don’t drink soda. If you have to, and really who does?… but, if you have to, drink Coke.

another argument: for

The Los Angeles Times published a great story today about bottled water vs. tap water. Essentially, concluding that tap water is the way to go.

I would argue it is the way to go for reducing the volume of plastic bottles in our landfills. Their argument is more about the fact that tap water undergoes testing that bottled water is not required to do, therefore you are safer drinking from the tap.

For example: “And while large public water supplies are often tested for contaminants up to several times a day, the FDA requires private bottlers to test for contaminants only once a week, once a year or once every four years, depending on the contaminant.”

Or: “Tap water suppliers are also subject to broader scrutiny; they’re required by law to publish and circulate an annual Consumer Confidence Report, which states their sources of water and any contaminants found. The FDA doesn’t require this of bottled-water makers, and though inspectors can drop in on water-bottling plants, such visits are assigned low priority, FDA press officer Michael Herndon says. Companies also aren’t required to share any contamination episodes with their customers.”

However, they conclude, the real benefit to drinking from the tap…. money savings. And, who couldn’t use a bit more of that. “Price it by the gallon, and water in those single-serve bottles is more expensive than even today’s high-priced gasoline.”

You can find the full article HERE.

drought 101

In case there is anyone out there that does not know… Los Angeles is in a DROUGHT.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power says very clearly on their website that certain actions are “illegal” and will be cause for a heavy fine. The list is posted in their website, but I am posting it here, as well.

In Los Angeles, you CANNOT:

*Use water to wash any hard surfaces such as sidewalks, walkways, driveways or parking areas, unless flushing is needed to protect health and safety;

*Use water to clean, fill or maintain decorative fountains unless the water is part of a recirculating system;

*Serve water to customers in eating establishments unless requested;

*Permit leaks from any pipe or fixture to go unrepaired;

*Allow for the washing of a vehicle without using a hose with a self-closing, shut-off device;

*Permit watering during periods of rain;

*Irrigate landscaping between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.;

*Water outdoors for more than 15 minutes per watering station, 10 minutes for other irrigation systems;

*Allow runoff onto streets and gutters from excessive watering;

*Install single-pass cooling systems in new buildings;

*Install non-recirculating systems in new car wash and commercial laundry systems;

*Permit large landscape areas to water without rain sensors that shut off irrigation systems

If you see someone breaking any one of these, you are HIGHLY encouraged to rat ‘em out!
Drought Busters at 1-800-DIAL DWP or droughtbusters@ladwp.com

H two uh-oh

great article about water. Click HERE

conservative

and no I am not talking about politics. I am talking about water usage. This is the only time in my life where I may extol the virtues of being conservative….

A great article from Planet Save was posted this morning that I want to make sure you all see. Click HERE.

In Los Angeles, we are in drought!!!!! It is easy to forget sometimes, with our well manicured lawns, but we do live in a desert and are very lucky that our neighbors in Colorado are sharing their supply with us. But that too is limited. Read the article and CUT BACK!!

Here are some excerpts on how you can reduce:

Bath

* 15 gallons (21 less)–Take showers instead of baths.

5-minute Shower

* 5 gallons (20 to 30 less)–Use the water to get wet and lather up, scrub with it off, and turn it on again to rinse off. Replace your shower head with an ultra low-flow version (I use one–there is no noticeable difference in shower quality at all!). Put a bucket in the shower to catch some of the water and use that water to water thirsty plants. Consider going gray.

Brushing Teeth

* .5 gallons (1.5 less)–Turn the water off while you brush.

Shaving

* 1 gallon (19 less)–Use only a bowl. I use a cup–then again, I’m not the hairiest man in the world.

Toilet

* 2 gallons (3-5 less)–Buy a low-flow model. Put a jug of water in the cistern (I use a large glass pasta sauce jar, filled with water). This reduces the amount of water lost with each flush (amount depends on the size of the container). Don’t flush every time. If it’s yellow let it mellow–if it’s brown flush it down. Finally, don’t use the toilet simply to dispose of tissues; put them in the trash.

Dishwasher

* 7 gallons (8 less)–Use the “short cycle”.

Washing Machine (front loading)

* 24 gallons (16 less)–Only run machines when they are full.

Washing Dishes by Hand

* 5 gallons (15-25 less)–Use a wash sink and a rinse sink. Also, replace the washers on dripping faucets. One drop per second wastes 27,000 gallons per year!

don’t be so trashy

Here is an interesting article about food waste.

The food crisis is not one of lack of food but over production of food that cannot get to people who need it, therefore becoming waste. The point of the article is to also bring to light the volume of water that is used to make the food, therefore it is wasted, as well.

I think the thing that stands out to me about this, and similar articles, is that we need to look at the whole life span of what we buy, whether it is food or other goods. To produce beef it costs 2500 gallons of water per pound. When you throw that away, you have contributed to the waste of not only that item, but everything it took to make that item.

don’t be so trashy

Here is an interesting article about food waste.

The food crisis is not one of lack of food but over production of food that cannot get to people who need it, therefore becoming waste. The point of the article is to also bring to light the volume of water that is used to make the food, therefore it is wasted, as well.

I think the thing that stands out to me about this, and similar articles, is that we need to look at the whole life span of what we buy, whether it is food or other goods. To produce beef it costs 2500 gallons of water per pound. When you throw that away, you have contributed to the waste of not only that item, but everything it took to make that item.