Green growth in the arid West

摘要

It's a common sight among plumbers in southern California: a five gallon bucket in the shower to catch water while waiting for heated water to arrive. Most homeowners are doing everything they can to conserve water. The sight of dead lawns, empty riverbeds and desiccated reservoirs haven't gone unnoticed. "I was in a home to install a hot water recirculation system when I saw buckets scattered throughout the house at a number of water fixtures," said Rob Fer-raud, owner of Valley Plumbing Inc., in Bermuda Dunes, Calif., about 100 miles north of the Mexico border. "They collected the clean water while waiting for the stream to get hot. Then they'd use it to water plants." Californians have adapted by necessity. Lawn-painting services can quickly turn a brown yard into a healthy-looking landscape.