By Dr. Kathy Boehme
This blog is a little different than the ones I normally write. At first glance, it may seem that Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) and water conservation have nothing in common, but in fact, the ways in which we care for our pets and the earth are quite similar.
I am the first one to bask in our beautiful San Diego weather, especially with the majority of the nation in a deep freeze, but it comes at a cost. I have been reading about how severe the drought that we are currently experiencing may turn out to be, and the consequences are sobering.
Northern and parts of central California will be hit hard this year, as these areas have received only 20 percent of the rainfall they normally would at this point. The governor has officially declared a drought emergency and many municipalities are scrambling to secure the water they need. The San Francisco Bay area and Southern California are slightly better off and will feel the effects of the drought more severely if it lasts into next year. Of course, there will still be immediate repercussions. Because of these impacts, the governor has asked everyone to voluntarily decrease their water consumption by 20 percent.
In Eastern medicine, the body is a microcosm; the external environment, our world, is the macrocosm and the two mirror each other. It struck me one day that if California were a dog or cat, it would be quite Yin deficient! The danger of heat, or inflammation, within the body would be quite high; this is mirrored in the high fire danger we experience in California.
It makes sense that if one organ system is sick or damaged, it changes the way the other integrated systems must operate. Fortunately, our community can work the same way to maintain the health of our environment—and better to do it now before a major crisis forces us into it unprepared.
To me, this emergency seems like an opportunity for individuals and businesses in the community to pull together and commit to helping each other and our state by decreasing our water use. Big agriculture uses the vast majority of the water in this state, but we can make a huge difference by collectively decreasing our use and by making better use of the rainwater we do have.
Water is so essential for every part of life and we are in a precarious position with our supply. I hope as a community we can work together to preserve a most essential resource during this crisis.
At The Drake Center, we have committed to decreasing our water use as much as possible, including:
Only using the washer when there is a full load and being aware of our towel usage to decrease laundry whenever possible.
Bathing with a system that uses recirculated water.
Decreasing the amount of water used for cleaning our outdoor runs and yard.
Turning off the faucet when washing our hands.
Converting to a water-wise succulent garden as the annuals die back.
Considering a gray water system to water the garden if one is feasible for our building.
We will continue brainstorming more ways to save on our water use here and at our individual homes. Simply raising awareness can help tremendously. We will keep you posted on the additional changes we come up with. We would love to hear from you as well!
For ideas on decreasing water use in your home or garden:
The City of San Diego: Water Conservation
How to Conserve Water and Use It Effectively
25 Ways to Conserve Water in the Home and Yard
For ideas on rainwater use:
The City of San Diego: Residential Rainwater Harvesting (Rain Barrel) Rebate Pilot Program
SoCal Water Smart Residential and Commercial Rebate Programs