Salem Looks To Conserve Water

SALEM, NH — Town officials are making efforts to get residents to conserve water. Through June 12, residents can order discounted rain barrels that can help them save on water bills and help protect the drinking water supply. Also, a representative from the UNH Cooperative Extension came before the Selectmen last week to offer residents tips on growing tougher plants and to conserve water.

The rain barrels can be used to collect runoff from roofs, which can be used for watering lawns, gardens and plants. According to Julia Peterson from the UNH Cooperative Extension, outdoor use comprises 50 to 75 percent of total residential water use. Meanwhile, it typically only takes 1 inch of water per week to properly water a lawn in New Hampshire, she told the Selectmen last week.

"Lawns are the single largest irrigated crop in the United States," said Peterson.

Overwatering one's lawn can push the needed nutrients away from the plants' roots, she added. Rain barrels can be a a good way to capture runoff off one's roof for growing turf and flowers, said Peterson, though she said it's not recommended for drinking water or growing food for eating. Just one-eighth of an inch of rainwater can fill a barrel, according to town officials.

"We encourage people to think about water as a precious resource," said Peterson. "All the fresh water we have on the planet — that's all there is, that's all that ever has been, that's all that ever will be."

Peterson, a water resources specialist, encourages residents to water deeply and not frequently, and to avoid puddling. She also recommends that homeowners keep their grass at least 3 inches tall to promote deeper roots, and to grow rugged plants and turf that is suitable for our climate. She said it's also beneficial to leave grass clippings on the lawn after mowing, to help keep in moisture and to allow the nutrients from the clippings to return to the soil.

The discounted rain barrels are available with the town's partnership with the Great American Rain Barrel Company, of Hyde Park, Massachusetts. The cost for Salem residents is $69 for a painted barrel, compared to $119 at full retail price, and $64 for a non-painted one.

Orders must be placed by June 12 at midnight. The rain barrels will then be available for pickup on Wednesday, June 19, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Town Hall. Volunteers will be on hand to help load the barrels into residents' vehicles.

Those who are unable to make it to the pickup location are asked to make other arrangements for picking up the barrels. More information is available at the town's website, or by contacting Karri Makinen at kmakinen@salemnh.gov or 603-890-2086.