Recent Drought Anouncement in Washington State

[Methuse]

I'm in the throws of starting up a FOWLR 75gallon tank and just recently saw on the news that Washington state declared a statement of drought for this summer. I know a lot of people on this forum are from or around what may be the affected areas. I'm curious to know if anybody has gone through this before while keeping large or many tanks, and how it impacted you. I'm also curious to hear what if anything people are doing for their tanks to prepare. What people might suggest. Of course this is all relative to a worst case scenario where there are water rationing restrictions in place. I'm not sure how these are enforced, or infractions are punished - but I'm starting to think about it.

 

[dnjan]

In the past when we have had "dry" years, they have limited lawn watering to specific days of the week for specific addresses. No real water rationing.

If you are really concerned, you could start getting your saltwater for water changes from the Seattle Aquarium. Water changes (actually the wasted RO water associated with making up water-change water) are probably the biggest water consumer for most people.

 

[Methuse]

Water from the Aquarium, that can't be cheap. I can't imagine how much waste water has gone down our drain, kinda sad really. They have been talking about water rationing though. That's what I'm wondering how they enforce.

 

[BlennyBabe]

The water from the aquarium is only like 10 cents a gallon after you pay a $10 fee. Its water thats been filtered that comes right out of the sound.

 

[bswim]

How's the nutrient load on that water? I've often wondered about that.

I look out and see the sun and think it's worth having a drought for this weather but I'm also a fisherman and know what this weather is going to do to our already dismal salmon and steelhead runs.

 

[mattseattle]

here is the info on Seattle Aquarium water:

The Seattle Aquarium now offers UVA-disinfected, filtered sea water for sale that can save you money!

$35 gets you started and includes a $10 sign-up fee which gets you a reader card for the self-service valve, and $25 goes to prepayment of the saltwater at 5 cents/gallon. (If you've ever made your salt water artificially, you know it can cost up to $0.35/gallon.)

After you've signed up, come at your convenience. Swipe your card through the reader to open the valve, swipe it again to shut the valve off. You'll be billed when you are close to depleting your account balance for a minimum of $25 based on your past consumption.

For information and to start saving money, call now: 206.386.4300


I used it a few years ago and had quite a few issues such as phosphates and low alk and calcium. It also depends on how much rain we've received on the quality of the water. Guess with drought it would probably be better. I definitely wouldn't use it again.

 

[dnjan]

Here is a thread on Seattle Aquarium water, including my explanation of how I take care of the phosphates.

Seattle Aquarium Water Treatment

I have been using Seasttle aquarium water for over a year, and have not seen any problems that weren't there before I switched to the Aquarium water. Especially, it should be fine for a FOWLR tank.

Of course, don't go and get water right after a heavy rain.

 

[plack]

A 15-25 gallon water change every week with a di filter is not that much watering a lawn takes up much more.

 

[dnjan]

A 15-25 gallon water change every week with a di filter is not that much watering a lawn takes up much more.

No, but if you use RO or RO/DI instead of just DI you are looking at 100 to 150+ gallons per week. Not major but not trivial.

 

[bradreef]

I think an aquarium is the least of my water worries. I have a 75 gallon, probably change 15 gallons per month. equal to a shower or two. not a big deal.

 

[plack]

I tottaly agree brad.

 

[mattseattle]

or washing your car once a month!

 

[les]

I have been using Seasttle aquarium water for over a year, and have not seen any problems that weren't there before I switched to the Aquarium water. Especially, it should be fine for a FOWLR tank.

Of course, don't go and get water right after a heavy rain.

I always thought that it was getting ready to rain, raining, or just getting over raining there on the "wet" side of the state,
Maybe a drought is what's needed to dry out all that moss. :lol:

 

[bswim]

What are we going to do for skin tone once all this rust falls off??

 

[MikeS]

I live in Wyoming, we are in the 5th year of a very severe drought. Many of the reseviors near us are at record lows, ground water is nearly non-existant, soil moisture is at zero (there was no frost line in most of the ground this year because there was basically nothing in the soil to freeze), snow pack levels in the mountains are nowhere near the point they need to be to even keep the reseviors at their current levels. we have been under very strict water restrictions as well. From a tank keeping standpoint, however, your monthy water usage compared to other things, like as Brad said, taking a daily shower, is minimal at best. The only exception to this would be a very large tank with a high evap rate and frequent large water changes using an RO unit. An efficiant RO unit will typically waste somewhere around 4 gallons of water to make 1 gallon of good RO water, depending on your local water quality. Now if you have a tank that uses 10 gallons of water a day based on an average for evap and water changes, then you may be getting into some big numbers. In a 75 gallon tank, however, I'd say you have little to worry about.

MikeS

 

[VickiG]

Two questions: Living on the east side (i.e. very dry side) of the state...does anyone know if the 'waste water' from your RO/DI unit is okay to use to water plants, lawn etc (better than sending it down the drain) and also, what about the saltwater when you do water changes - does that hurt the lawn if one were to toss that out in the yard? (every drop counts if you are in the "Kennewick Irrigation District" this year - those of you who are know what I mean!). Haven't set our tank up yet, but will be making 150 gals of RO/DI water when we do, which means 600 gals down the drain? Would like to use that for something useful if it is safe to do so? Thanks.

 

[MikeS]

I'd imagine the waste water from the RO unit wold be good for plants because of the elevated nutrient levels...just a guess there however...

On the salt water...probably not good for plants or the lawn....

MikeS

 

[Oscapus]

I live in western Washington where the drought will be bad. I intend to drive my fancy car dirty, and somehow catch and use the RO waste water that I generate. Other than that, I think my personal impacts are minimal and I am not going to worry about it (from an aquarium perspective). Be very careful with fire in the woods though.....

 

[les]

Actually Vivki, the salt water will kill the grass. It works as a good ground killer too.

 

[Alice]

The wasted water is what I've always hated about RO. Run a line from the RO into your washing machine or outside into rain barrels for watering plants rather than letting the waste water run down the drain.