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Old 07-23-2009, 05:25 PM
 
Location: Austin, TX
16,787 posts, read 49,068,148 times
Reputation: 9478

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We are running out of water in Central Texas. Is it time to outlaw St. Augustine grass and replace it with drought resistant native plants? I know I'm using way more water then I like trying to keep the stuff alive.

LCRA considers long-range water needs (http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/07/21/0721water.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52 - broken link)

Quote:
At the next turn of the century, with the Austin area looking something like today's Houston, Travis County will see a near-tripling in water demand. Williamson and Hays counties will require four or five times as much water as they do now, as our descendants will need water to drink, to bathe and to wash clothes and dishes. And on the Gulf end of the Colorado River, in Matagorda County, demand for water will roughly triple with new power plants requiring it to help cool their systems and power their turbines.
Graph of demand versus availability (http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/06/16/11/image_8611166.jpg - broken link)

That article says that conservation to reduce water use is far cheaper then any of the alternatives to produce more water. I wonder if they will help me pay for the cost of replacing my lawn?

Last edited by CptnRn; 07-23-2009 at 05:39 PM..
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Old 07-23-2009, 05:28 PM
 
Location: Austin
2,522 posts, read 6,036,816 times
Reputation: 707
When I first saw your post, I thought you were talking about the other stuff!
I'm sure I'm not the only one either! LOL!

was trying to imagine what kind of "grass" it was...blessed by the Pope?......imprimatured by the Catholic Church?

Last edited by inthecut; 07-23-2009 at 05:40 PM..
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Old 07-23-2009, 05:35 PM
 
Location: Austin, TX
16,787 posts, read 49,068,148 times
Reputation: 9478
LOL! I bet you were outraged! Or going to volunteer to come dig it up for me.
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Old 07-23-2009, 05:39 PM
 
Location: The Republic of Texas
78,863 posts, read 46,624,265 times
Reputation: 18521
Quote:
Originally Posted by CptnRn View Post
I know I'm using way more water then I like trying to keep the stuff alive.


I feel your pain!


There sure is a lot more people sucking water from the lake, than there was in the 70's & 80's!
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Old 07-23-2009, 05:42 PM
 
Location: Austin
2,522 posts, read 6,036,816 times
Reputation: 707
Quote:
Originally Posted by CptnRn View Post
LOL! I bet you were outraged! Or going to volunteer to come dig it up for me.
Haha....well, sorry, as I see this is actually a serious issue, and I can really get into the whole aquifer aspect of this, but it was funny for just a sec......
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Old 07-23-2009, 05:49 PM
 
1,961 posts, read 6,124,507 times
Reputation: 571
I wish they would design grey water systems for landscape water and for toilets. Those are probably the two biggest wastes of water.
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Old 07-23-2009, 05:50 PM
 
844 posts, read 2,020,366 times
Reputation: 1076
You know, I could actually see the city, county, or state gov't providing incentive to people to replace their grass with more drought resistant kinds. Kind of like they provide the programmable thermostats and rebates for energy efficient appliances.
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Old 07-23-2009, 06:05 PM
 
Location: Austin, TX
16,787 posts, read 49,068,148 times
Reputation: 9478
Quote:
Originally Posted by woodinvilleguy View Post
I wish they would design grey water systems for landscape water and for toilets. Those are probably the two biggest wastes of water.
I agree, I think the City has been opposed to grey water systems in the past, afraid it might pollute the ground water or something, but I will look into it.
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Old 07-23-2009, 06:08 PM
 
Location: Austin, TX
16,787 posts, read 49,068,148 times
Reputation: 9478
Quote:
Originally Posted by kiacook View Post
You know, I could actually see the city, county, or state gov't providing incentive to people to replace their grass with more drought resistant kinds. Kind of like they provide the programmable thermostats and rebates for energy efficient appliances.
Absolutely!

I wonder how many houses there are in Austin? If we guess 200,000 and each one spends $1,000 a year on watering the yard, that is $200 million we could save.
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Old 07-23-2009, 06:12 PM
 
Location: Avery Ranch, Austin, TX
8,977 posts, read 17,552,407 times
Reputation: 4001
I think we MIGHT have gotten 10 gallons in our rain barrel yesterday...normally, a quarter-inch rainfall will fill the 60 gallon barrel. We could use some real rain. When we moved here last summer, everyone said it was 'unusually dry'...guess what...same thing THIS summer. I am more worried about the trees...grass can be replaced pretty easily if it comes to that! Don't be messin' with my trees!!!
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