Water Conservation Gurus Urge Alternative Practices

The recent implementation of water restrictions in New Lenox gives rise to a flood of suggestions by urban planners and governmental agencies alike to conserve water.

Some practices are as simple as correcting fixture leaks, refraining from leaving the faucet running unnecessarily when preparing meals or brushing teeth along with filling a container of water to keep in the refrigerator rather than running the tap till it's cold enough to drink.

last weekend before returning to the Tier 1 restrictions, which allow watering between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. on an even/odd basis, according to your home address. 

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency on Planning in its "Water 2050" recommendation is promoting high efficiency showerheads and toilets.    

Randy Edwards, the newly appointed conservationist for the Will-South Cook Soil and Water Conservation District, which operates as one of the organizations facilitated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office on Gougar Road, explained that the practice of collecting non-potable water is far from new.

In the '50s and earlier it was common for rural residents to maintain cisterns, an outside tank for storing water.

They were usually large, covered tanks that tapped into rainwater as it came off roofs that held hundreds of gallons of water used for irrigating plants, flushing toilets or rinsing yard tools, he said. While they have not remained in demand in the Midwest, they are popular out West where water is more of a scarcity.

Ron Sly, director of operations at the , noted that the CMAP stands behind the use of greywater systems to preserve fresh water, particularly Lake Michigan. Specifically, greywater is wastewater from laundry machines, bath tubs, showers and bathroom sinks.

CMAP guidelines emphasize that greywater is not from toilets, kitchen sinks or dishwashers. That kind of water waste requires treatment at the sanitary plant, which eliminates pathogens, satisfied health codes and accommodates the standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Greywater practices are not widely utilized in this region of the country, but long-term urban planners at CMAP are studying the results of successfully implemented programs in Arizona and elsewhere.

According to Edwards, there are plenty of simple practices that don't require a total shift of in-house plumbing or major infrastructure improvements.

An ordinary homeowner with an interest in keeping an attractive landscape might consider using additional mulch to hold water. Mulch isn't simply to beautify the landscape or to keep out unwanted weeds.

"Just 2 to 3 inches of mulch" around trees and shrubs "will hold water," he said. If the trees in this area get enough mulch, then there is bound to be "less stress on the plants. You'll get a better effect, better growing conditions."

Of course, some mulch is better than others. "The Morton Arboretum (in Lisle) has information on that." Still, he added, "you don't have to have something expensive." A wood chip variety of mulch is often times free.

In the nutshell, Edwards said rain garden remedies, including catching runoff form lawns, driveways or patios are fairly simple to master. There is plenty of information available, he said.