Carson gardener advocates using water wisely

Frankie Finlayson's trees in her back yard haven't had a drink for 11 days. She plans to water those first if her well tank fills with enough water, she says.

Her lawn goes brown during the summer months and she doesn't plant water-loving flower beds. If asked, she can say exactly which plants and trees on her one-acre property have been watered in the past week by checking her notes.

"That's the secret right there. You have to keep a calendar," she said.

It takes effort, but the water-wise resident is able to keep water in her well through the summer. Many of her neighbors aren't so lucky.

While hundreds of domestic wells across Carson City threaten to dry up and the city struggles to keep up with water demands, the experienced water-saver has a few tips for others.

"If you're a water hog and you're greedy, one day you're going to turn the water on and you won't have any," said the 31-year resident. "(The city) can't tell us when we can water and how much - but common sense tells you when the pitcher is empty. If you don't conserve, that's what you get."

City water customers who have been using more water than the city can produce lately might want to take note.

Monday, residents and businesses used 1 million gallons more water than the city was able to produce. By Wednesday, water use continued to rise, with 20.5 million gallons used. When demands exceed the city's ability to recover, the city might start asking residents to voluntarily water fewer days, said Utilities Manager Tom Hoffert.

"This has not happened in the last few years and we think further measures will not be necessary with everyone's help in using water wisely and efficiently," Hoffert said.

Finlayson lives with a domestic water well. Decades ago, her husband could draw three hoses from the well and grow a garden of onions, potatoes and carrots large enough to feed three generations of her family. He grew up on an Idaho farm where everything was run off wells and water was a precious resource, she said.

Now, Finlayson said she's lucky if she can keep water for her trees through the summer. She only runs her washers when they're full and has appliances that are controlled by the water level in her well.

So far, Finlayson's water has lasted through the year with her water-saving efforts, but many of her neighbors haven't been so lucky.

Well drillers are booked for up to five months with a backlog of customers who waited too long. Many residents in the Carson City-Douglas County area ignored air in the lines and low pressure signs long enough to run completely out of water, said pump service owner Bruce MacKay of Reno.

"Between the population growing and the static condition of the water supply, the only thing that can happen is water levels drop," MacKay said. "Most everybody waits too long. Then they panic and they say 'gee, I know you told us three years ago to get this done and now we want it done tomorrow.'"

Carson City faces a tough water year. After years of drought and growth, the water table continues to drop throughout the basin.

Drilling to reach deeper into the ground and installing stronger pumps to draw water up is costing about $500,000 for each well, said City Engineer Larry Werner. The wells end up pumping about 200-300 gallons a minute instead of more than a thousand as expected.

The city is also waiting for two water pumps to arrive after taking two wells out of commission.

Again this year, the city is restricting water use until Oct. 1, allowing residents and businesses to use water on even and odd days according to their addresses.

Six water watch employees cover the city seven days a week, 20 hours a day watching for water violations. Residents also regularly report water misuse, said City Manager Linda Ritter.

"Citizens have been good in the past about calling," Ritter said. "We probably get more compliance with water restrictions (that way)."

Contact Jill Lufrano at jlufrano@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.