So I wrote here that I had an epiphany about Earth Day and the fight, such as it is, against climate change. I hope I made it clear that I'm not running out to buy a Ford Expedition or anything, but rather just personally un-investing in the idea that people and the American government will change their course. I'll keep being as responsible as I can (I'm a light turner-offer, I ride my bike to work whenever possible, we wear sweaters, build efficient winter fires and keep the temperature low in winter, etc).

What I've decided, however, is that this will be the summer of water. We are such a people of water waste. We don't treat it like the precious commodity it is. I try, but it's difficult with two small children in the house making horrendous messes that require lots of cleaning. And of course, there is nothing more fun to a child than running water. I don't understand it.

Nevertheless, I take steps where I can, and the last few years this has meant not watering grass or doing other optional things that are simply not a smart use of potable water. I've investigated a graywater system for the house, to capture water from everywhere but toilets and reuse it for irrigation. There are problems with this (detailed excellently at that site above), so I've looked elsewhere.

Our yard slopes down into a creek. The previous owners did an excellent job of planting lots of hostas and other shade-friendly plants, but we've got to irrigate them or the intense heat (if not direct sunlight) of summer will fry the plants and the grass. I've decided to investigate a small, solar powered pump to draw relatively small amounts of water from the creek into the slow-flow drip irrigation system I jury-rigged last summer.

The solar pumps are relatively cheap. I found one designed to work with a fountain for $130.. We have a shed near where I plan on housing the pump, and it gets reliable sunlight about four hours a day in the summer on the roof, so I'll install the external solar panel there.

It's a small thing, I know, but it is so satisfying just to think it's possible to do something that seems luxurious in the world of scarcity we're in now. The water from the creek flows through mostly suburban land, so there is no impact on wildlife or water usage downstream. It eventually empties from the Accotink into the Chesapeake Bay. Minus my little tiny draw.

UPDATE: Just so this isn't a post about my latest hare-brained scheme, do check out this and other resources at the website of the Pacific Institute. I heard Pacific Institute President Dr. Peter H. Gleick give a talk a few years back that really opened my eyes about water. The biggest irony was Gleick was giving the talk in an Aspen, Colorado restaurant while a light rain fell and simultaneously sprinklers kicked on to water the grass. And there was a bottle of water on the table in front of each person in attendance.

Photo courtesy Flickr user Wickenden used under Creative Commons.