The Red, White, and Green

Photo via Flickr: Biofriendly

By the end of this week, four severe storms will have pummeled Southern California, flooding the streets with rain as heavy as 3/4 inch per hour and even producing a tornado that touched down in Huntington Beach (how’s that for evidence of climate change?). The rain is pounding on my roof as I write this, and all I can think is, what a waste.

The city of Los Angeles spends $1 billion a year importing water from far-flung sources like the Colorado River, and half of that potable water is used to irrigate people’s lawns. Does anyone see the irony here? Millions of gallons of water are pouring from the sky right now — for free — in an area of the country that has been suffering a severe drought for the past three years. And we’re just letting it all wash out to sea. With all the motor oil, pesticides, trash, and animal waste it picked up along the way, I might add.

While the city has taken great pains to save water with its two-day-only lawn watering rule, and should be applauded for helping residents to cut water consumption by 17 percent last year, I’m amazed that rainwater collection hasn’t been seriously enlisted as part of the solution. The annual rainfall in LA averages 15.5 inches; if every home in the city could harvest this, it would equal 9,600 gallons per home a year — that’s nearly a quarter of the water a year used to irrigate a 1,000-square-foot lawn.

LA started a rainwater harvesting program in July of last year, but it’s in the pilot stage and only includes 600 property owners. We can only hope that the city hustles up and expands the program to harvest our precious rainwater. Climate scientists are predicting that America’s Southwest is only becoming drier, and we’re going to need to save every last drop.

–Jennifer Grayson

Do this now: Click here to read how to capture rainwater yourself, courtesy of environmental nonprofit TreePeople.

Related posts:
Avoiding bottled water at the airport
Update: Save water, pee in the shower

Like this post? Subscribe to The Red, White, and Green RSS feed

[Watch video of the devastation on YouTube]

With the horrible news that over 100,000 people may have been killed in the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti yesterday afternoon, we’re reminded of how small and powerless we humans are in the face of Mother Nature. But with hundreds of humanitarian workers already pouring into the flattened capital of Port-au-Prince, I’m also reminded of the incredible generosity and selflessness of people coming to the aid of others in a crisis. It’s times like these that I’m particularly proud to be an American; the Obama administration is coordinating a massive military response that includes ships, helicopters, transport planes, and a 2,000-member marine unit.

How you can help:

Doctors Without Borders. With nearly every hospital destroyed in the earthquake, DWB teams are working to provide medical care to the thousands of injured people who have nowhere to go. Click here to donate.

American Red Cross. The American Red Cross is pledging an initial $200,00 to provide immediate needs for the Haitians, like food, water, shelter, and medical services. Text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross relief for Haiti.

Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund. This is Haitian-American Wyclef Jean’s grassroots organization, and 100 percent of funds raised will go directly to the earthquake relief operation. Visit the website to donate, or donate $5 via cellphone by texting “YELE” to 501501.

Our hearts go out to those affected by the earthquake, and godspeed to all those on the ground helping them.

–Jennifer Grayson

Like this post? Subscribe to The Red, White, and Green RSS feed