SIMPLE WAYS TO CAPTURE, REUSE & CONSERVE WATER

EVERY DROP HAS A JOB TO DO

IF YOU'VE LIVED IN CENTRAL TEXAS FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME, YOU KNOW OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH WATER CAN BE A LITTLE COMPLICATED. ONE MINUTE WE'RE BEGGING THE RAIN CLOUDS TO REMEMBER AUSTIN EXISTS, AND THE NEXT WE'RE WONDERING WHETHER WE SHOULD BUILD AN ARK!

RECENT RAINS HAVE BROUGHT WELCOME RELIEF TO OUR RESERVOIRS, BUT A FULL LAKE TRAVIS DOESN'T MEAN EVERY PART OF OUR WATER SYSTEM HAS RECOVERED. THE BARTON SPRINGS–EDWARDS AQUIFER CONSERVATION DISTRICT REMAINS IN STAGE 3 EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT, AND GROUNDWATER AND SPRINGFLOW CONTINUE TO BE IMPORTANT CONCERNS.

OUR AQUIFERS SUPPORT SPRINGS, CREEKS, WILDLIFE, ECOSYSTEMS AND COMMUNITIES. AND GROUNDWATER DOESN'T SIMPLY BOUNCE BACK EVERY TIME IT RAINS. RAIN NEEDS TO FALL IN THE RIGHT PLACES, PRODUCE ENOUGH CREEK FLOW AND MAKE ITS WAY INTO RECHARGE ZONES.

SO WHILE WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE RAIN, WE DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE NEXT DROUGHT TO START CONSERVING WATER.

INSTEAD, WE CAN ASK A SIMPLE QUESTION:

BEFORE I LET THIS WATER GO, CAN I USE IT FOR SOMETHING ELSE?

YOU MAY BE SURPRISED BY HOW MANY OPPORTUNITIES THERE ARE TO MAKE THE WATER YOU ALREADY HAVE GO A LITTLE FURTHER.

🚿 CAPTURE WATER BEFORE IT GOES DOWN THE DRAIN.

SOME OF THE EASIEST WATER TO SAVE IS WATER THAT'S PERFECTLY CLEAN BUT SIMPLY ISN'T BEING USED.

WAITING FOR YOUR SHOWER TO GET HOT? PUT A SHOWER WATER CATCHER UNDERNEATH IT AND COLLECT THE WATER. YOU CAN USE IT FOR APPROPRIATE PLANTS, FLUSHING A TOILET OR OTHER HOUSEHOLD PURPOSES.

YOU CAN ALSO KEEP BATH WATER OR PLACE A BOWL IN THE SINK WHILE WASHING YOUR HANDS. DEPENDING ON WHAT'S IN THE WATER, IT MAY BE SUITABLE FOR ANOTHER HOUSEHOLD USE OR FOR WATERING APPROPRIATE PLANTS.

A SINK-OVER-THE-TOILET SYSTEM CAN EVEN USE THE WATER FROM WASHING YOUR HANDS TO FILL THE TOILET TANK FOR THE NEXT FLUSH.

WASH YOUR HANDS. FLUSH THE TOILET. SAME WATER.

NOW THAT'S WHAT WE CALL GETTING YOUR MONEY'S WORTH!

GREYWATER FROM SHOWERS, BATHTUBS, BATHROOM SINKS AND WASHING MACHINES CAN ALSO POTENTIALLY BE REUSED FOR CERTAIN NON-POTABLE PURPOSES. HOWEVER, PERMANENTLY REROUTING PLUMBING IS DIFFERENT FROM SIMPLY COLLECTING WATER IN A BUCKET. IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING A PERMANENT GREYWATER SYSTEM, MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE APPLICABLE TEXAS AND LOCAL REQUIREMENTS.

🧊 LOOK FOR WATER IN UNEXPECTED PLACES.

AFTER A DAY AT THE PARK, A FOOTBALL GAME OR A PICNIC, YOU MAY HAVE CLEAN MELTED ICE WATER SITTING IN THE BOTTOM OF YOUR COOLER.

IF IT'S JUST CLEAN WATER, GIVE IT TO A PLANT INSTEAD OF DUMPING IT ON THE DRIVEWAY. JUST MAKE SURE IT HASN'T BEEN MIXED WITH SUGARY DRINKS, FOOD RESIDUE, CHEMICALS OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD HARM PLANTS.

YOUR PLANTS DON'T CARE WHETHER THEIR WATER CAME FROM A RAIN CLOUD OR THE BOTTOM OF A COOLER. THEY'RE EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY HYDRATION ENTHUSIASTS.

YOUR AIR CONDITIONER IS ANOTHER POTENTIAL SOURCE. DURING AN AUSTIN SUMMER, IT CAN PRODUCE A SURPRISING AMOUNT OF CONDENSATION. IF YOU CAN SAFELY COLLECT IT, AC CONDENSATE CAN POTENTIALLY BE USED FOR APPROPRIATE LANDSCAPE PURPOSES.

EVEN THAT LITTLE BURST OF WATER THAT COMES OUT AROUND A HOSE CONNECTION WHEN YOU FIRST TURN ON THE FAUCET CAN BE CAPTURED INSTEAD OF ALLOWED TO RUN DOWN THE DRIVEWAY.

SMALL AMOUNTS ADD UP!

🌧️ HARVEST RAIN—AND KEEP IT IN THE GROUND.

RAIN BARRELS AND CISTERNS CAN COLLECT WATER FROM YOUR ROOF THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BECOME RUNOFF. BUT YOU DON'T NEED A BARREL TO HARVEST RAINWATER.

DIRECT DOWNSPOUTS TOWARD APPROPRIATE PLANTED AREAS. USE MULCH. IMPROVE YOUR SOIL. CONSIDER RAIN GARDENS, SWALES OR OTHER LANDSCAPE FEATURES THAT SLOW WATER DOWN AND ALLOW MORE OF IT TO SOAK INTO THE GROUND. SOMETIMES THE BEST PLACE TO STORE RAINWATER ISN'T A BARREL. IT'S THE SOIL.

💧 WATER THE PLANT, NOT THE SIDEWALK.

IRRIGATION CAN BE USEFUL, BUT AUTOMATED DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN EFFICIENT.

SPRINKLERS CAN WATER SIDEWALKS, DRIVEWAYS AND OTHER PLACES WHERE PLANTS DON'T NEED WATER. WATER CAN ALSO EVAPORATE, BLOW AWAY IN THE WIND OR RUN OFF BEFORE IT HAS A CHANCE TO REACH THE ROOT ZONE -- AND A TIMER DOESN'T KNOW WHETHER YOUR PLANTS ACTUALLY NEED A DRINK.

TRY TARGETED WATERING INSTEAD. WATER INDIVIDUAL PLANTS OR THEIR ROOT ZONES WHEN APPROPRIATE, AND CONSIDER DRIP IRRIGATION, SOAKER HOSES OR CAREFUL HAND-WATERING.

BEFORE TURNING ON THE IRRIGATION, CHECK THE SOIL. AUSTIN WATER PROVIDES SOIL MOISTURE METERS THAT CAN HELP YOU DETERMINE WHETHER THE SOIL ACTUALLY NEEDS SUPPLEMENTAL WATER.

DIFFERENT PLANTS HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS, TOO. A NEWLY PLANTED SHRUB MAY NEED REGULAR WATER WHILE IT ESTABLISHES, WHILE AN ESTABLISHED NATIVE PLANT NEARBY MAY BE PERFECTLY HAPPY.

YOUR ENTIRE LANDSCAPE DOESN'T NECESSARILY NEED TO BE WATERED EQUALLY.

 

🔧 DON'T FORGET ABOUT LEAKS

WATER CONSERVATION ALSO MEANS MAKING SURE WATER ISN'T ESCAPING WHEN YOU AREN'T USING IT.

CHECK FOR LEAKING OR RUNNING TOILETS, DRIPPING FAUCETS, LEAKING HOSE CONNECTIONS, BROKEN SPRINKLER HEADS AND LEAKING IRRIGATION LINES.

YOU CAN EVEN TURN OFF EVERYTHING THAT USES WATER AND CHECK YOUR WATER METER. IF IT CONTINUES REGISTERING WATER USE WHEN EVERYTHING SHOULD BE OFF, YOU MAY HAVE A LEAK WORTH INVESTIGATING.

AUSTIN WATER ALSO OFFERS WATER-SAVING TOOLS SUCH AS EFFICIENT SHOWERHEADS AND FAUCET AERATORS. SOME SHOWERHEADS INCLUDE A PAUSE OR “SOAP-UP” VALVE THAT LETS YOU STOP THE FLOW WHILE YOU'RE SOAPING UP.

SOMETIMES SAVING WATER REALLY IS AS SIMPLE AS TURNING IT OFF.

🌱 RETHINK THE LAWN

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ONE OF THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITIES TO REDUCE WATERING, TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR TURF.

TRADITIONAL SOD CAN REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL SUPPLEMENTAL WATER TO STAY GREEN THROUGH AUSTIN'S HOTTEST MONTHS. BUT NOT EVERY PART OF YOUR YARD NEEDS TO BE COVERED IN GRASS.

WEBBERVILLE SEDGE CAN BE USED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO TRADITIONAL TURF IN APPROPRIATE LOCATIONS, IF YOU WANT A MORE LAWN-LIKE APPEARANCE.

LITTLE BLUESTEM OFFERS UPRIGHT BLUE-GREEN FOLIAGE AND BEAUTIFUL SEASONAL COLOR, CREATING A MORE NATURALISTIC LANDSCAPE.

MUHLY CAN ADD FINE-TEXTURED FOLIAGE AND SPECTACULAR PLUMES TO A LOW-WATER LANDSCAPE. IT'S NOT A LAWN YOU'D WANT TO PLAY SOCCER ON, BUT IT CAN BE A BEAUTIFUL ALTERNATIVE TO A LARGE AREA OF THIRSTY TURF.

CAROLINA PONYFOOT IS ANOTHER LOW-GROWING NATIVE GROUNDCOVER THAT CAN CREATE A SOFT, GREEN, CARPET-LIKE APPEARANCE IN APPROPRIATE LOCATIONS.

AND DON'T FORGET MULCH. NOT EVERY PART OF YOUR YARD NEEDS TO BE PLANTED. MULCH CAN HELP REDUCE EVAPORATION, PROTECT THE SOIL AND ELIMINATE THE NEED TO WATER AREAS WHERE VEGETATION ISN'T NECESSARY.

REPLACING SOD DOESN'T HAVE TO MEAN REPLACING YOUR LAWN WITH… ANOTHER LAWN.

IT CAN MEAN CREATING A LANDSCAPE THAT'S MORE INTERESTING, MORE DIVERSE AND BETTER SUITED TO CENTRAL TEXAS.

 

🌿 CHOOSE PLANTS THAT NEED LESS WATER

ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO CONSERVE WATER IS TO START WITH THE PLANTS THEMSELVES. 

NATIVE AND WELL-ADAPTED PLANTS ARE SUITED TO CENTRAL TEXAS CONDITIONS AND, ONCE ESTABLISHED, MANY CAN THRIVE WITH LESS SUPPLEMENTAL IRRIGATION THAN PLANTS THAT AREN'T ADAPTED TO OUR CLIMATE.

SOME WATER-WISE OPTIONS YOU'LL FIND AT UNCLE RED'S BACKYARD NURSERY INCLUDE: 

COMPACT TEXAS SAGE — A TOUGH, DROUGHT-TOLERANT TEXAS NATIVE FOR SUNNY LOCATIONS.

TEXAS LANTANA — A HEATLOVING NATIVE THAT PROVIDES FLOWERS AND POLLINATOR HABITAT.

ROCK ROSE — A HARDY TEXAS NATIVE WELL SUITED TO DRY CONDITIONS.

MEALY BLUE SALVIA 'HENRY DUELBERG' — A BEAUTIFUL NATIVE PERENNIAL THAT HANDLES CENTRAL TEXAS HEAT AND DROUGHT ONCE ESTABLISHED.

FLAME ACANTHUS — A HEAT LOVING TEXAS NATIVE THAT BRINGS SPECTACULAR FLOWERS TO A WATER-WISE LANDSCAPE.

AND, OF COURSE, THE AFOREMENTIONED WEBBERVILLE SEDGE, LITTLE BLUESTEM, MUHLY AND CAROLINA PONYFOOT OFFER ALTERNATIVES TO TRADITIONAL TURF AS WELL.

 

💧 WHY WE SELL NATIVE PLANTS

THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS WE SELL NATIVE PLANTS AT UNCLE RED'S BACKYARD NURSERY.

WE BELIEVE A BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A THIRSTY LANDSCAPE.

WHEN YOU COMBINE WATER-WISE PLANTS WITH HEALTHY SOIL, MULCH, TARGETED WATERING, RAINWATER CAPTURE AND THOUGHTFUL LANDSCAPE DESIGN, YOU CAN CREATE A GARDEN THAT WORKS WITH OUR CENTRAL TEXAS CLIMATE INSTEAD OF CONSTANTLY FIGHTING IT.

 

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