More water woes.

[rockpilefarmer]

I have written about this several times in the past. And I must say, I was right. Although I am not proud of my prophesy.

The drought has caused us some water woes here in the Ozarks. Especially where I live in the Beaver Lake area. You see, we have a lot of folks moving here to retire from "someplaceelse". Most of them urban dwellers, or even city people. We have about 700 homes and growing, and we are all on either private of semi-private wells. Well, guess what? Some of the wells are pumping sand along with the water. Yes, our water table is going down faster than it can recharge. The national weather service does not forecast any significant rain anytime in the near future. Even if we do get rain, it will take some time for the aquifer to recharge.

One friend in another "subdivision" is beside himself because of people watering their lawn. I have told all four services on my well to conserve. Use gray water to keep your house plants alive and turn off your water softeners. You would think I told them to use an out house.

My friends, consider this: we can live a long time without food but we cannot live long without water. Be careful and considerate of others. We are all on the same aquifer...if one goes down, we might all go down.

[Roadrunner]

Watering the lawn, i.e. grass, is just a complete waste of water, but so many do it They set their timers and forget, even see the sprinklers going off during rainstorms. Pathetic.

[rockpilefarmer]

Welcome to my world Roadrunner.

Yes, and for these people, I have a term I use-the willingly ignorant.

[ovenbird]

It's really greedy and sinful behavior. Kind of what humans specialize in.

[Mulligan Man]

Originally Posted by ovenbird

It's really greedy and sinful behavior.

Sinfull? That might be a stretch.

I know some that think it retarded that I water my garden when it's dry.

But if the well was pumping sand I'd probably give it up. Atleast start hauling it from the creek.

Rockpile,

I hope it rains for ya.

Cut their water for an hour an so. Tell them you are rationing it. Maybe they will take the hint.

[TastyofHasty]

We got a little bit of rain yesterday, Rockpile ... did you get any? First rain in weeks. This hot and dry stuff is getting depressing. But the weather report looks good for possibility of rain sometime this coming week! I am watching and waiting and hoping!

BTW, I never, never never water our "lawn." Wouldn't think of it ... don't even water the veggies nearly enough; just the "favorite veggies." I water from our rainwater tank, which got filled up some by the rain yesterday, thank God.

[FourDeuce]

I own 10 acres near Elkins, Arkansas. I lived there for 3 years from 1992-1995, and noticed how the soil would develop deep cracks. That heavy clay soil looked strange when it got dry. Those cracks looked like bottomless pits.

[rockpilefarmer]

Well we had quite a storm on Saturday-sideways rain and 70 mph wind. I don't know just how much rain we got, but it was pretty substantial. We also got some yesterday evening. My garden is singing!

[Horsea]

Originally Posted by Roadrunner

Watering the lawn, i.e. grass, is just a complete waste of water, but so many do it They set their timers and forget, even see the sprinklers going off during rainstorms. Pathetic.

In my world, anyone watering her lawn during a serious drought would be hung at dawn.

[gulfcoastguy]

Originally Posted by Roadrunner

Watering the lawn, i.e. grass, is just a complete waste of water, but so many do it They set their timers and forget, even see the sprinklers going off during rainstorms. Pathetic.

I've installed sprinklers at several public facilities. They all had a rain sensor installed so theat they wouldn't come on unnecessarily. The hard part was training the ground maintenance crews to not cut the St. Augustine any shorter than 3 inches, it makes a world of difference.