Water Conservation

Dear HH: As a homeowner who pays for water, I was interested in the article on grey water. Before we all start pumping laundry water onto our lawns, flower beds and pastures, we need to think this issue through and not create new problems.

Read more: Grey Water Article Feedback

Water used for washing, showering, laundry and cleaning in most cases can be captured and recycled for various landscaping needs, reducing use of fresh water out of your well or the public water supply. No matter where you live, whether you have a private well or rely on a public water supply, conserving water and using it wisely make good sense.

Read more: Grey Water: A “Greyt” Resource

Have you ever thought about something as commonplace as the flush toilet having a huge impact on our environment?

Only one natural resource on this planet is more valuable than soil: clean water. When the Romans invented indoor plumbing, it was heralded as one of the greatest triumphs of the empire. At the time it seemed like a brilliant idea. Times have changed, and as with many early technological advancements, we were not able to project into the future to see how these “advances” might affect our environment.

Read more: Compost Toilets Save Water

On April 22, we’ll celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day with parades, 10K runs, organic food fairs, and a sea of “Go Green” t-shirts. In the midst of all these eco-festivities, it’s important for those of us in the horse community to take a moment and consider the part we can play in conserving the world’s natural resources.

Lucinda Dyer, author of Eco-Horsekeeping: Over 100 Budget-Friendly Ways You and Your Horse Can Save the Planet (www.horseandriderbooks.com), reminds us to remember Earth Day, and that one small change in our horsey habits can mean one big change in our planet’s future.

Read more: Earth Day for Equestrians

Think washing dishes is a fairly benign activity? Apparently not. Research shows if you have chlorinated water (which many do) and you use an antibacterial dish soap, you are being exposed to significant quantities of CHLOROFORM.

Read more: Beware of Antibacterial Soap and Chlorinated Water Combination

In soil-based and -sided ponds, nutrients constantly enter the water from that soil. Controlling the algae in the water can be a challenge.

Development of a hydroponics area of plants will, over time, remove the excess nutrients from the water and therefore control your algae problems.

Read more: Clearing Algae from Natural Ponds