michelle kaufmann designs

A lotus blossomed in our reflecting pool today. I am contemplating our friend, Bryan Burkhart’s suggestion that we make our reflecting pool into a gray water storage tank, and include plants that can filter and cleanse the water.  We would need to add plumbing from our washing machine and bathroom sinks and hook to the pool where the water would be stored (for no more than two days) and then have that water be used for drip irrigation for all of the landscape.

Or, we could make the pool into water storage for rainwater. we can redirect the water from the roof downspouts to fill the pool, and then use that water for irrigating the landscape.  Kevin and I are checking into both options to see which one is more effective (both cost and garden-wise).

Already, just by making smart choices such as having dual-flush toilets, low-flow showerheads, local recirculating heat pump, we use 1/3 the water that the average household in novato uses. So, once we start gettting double usage out of some of that water, we are going to be epic savers.