Survey Update 1!

Hey there!

I got some responses to my survey today. Sadly, it's a very small sample, so the results below are skewed.

These results are far from final, obviously, but I'm happy to see to some things. I'm glad that 75% of the surveyed water their plants in the early morning. This is what the water conservation tips recommended! It's also great that, again, 75% surveyed say they took water conservation into some consideration while landscaping. 

Although, I'm sad to see other data. Native Massachusetts plants have not appeared in question #3 (at least on their own) which is a huge let down. Plants native to one's climate are the best water-use wise. Also, no one seems to use recycled rainwater (at least on its own) in their irrigation. Another conservation recommendation ignored.

Oh well. This is only with a very small number, so we'll have to see.

Step 2: Creating A Research Study

After reading through the tips from Step 1, I decided to study the correlation between water conservation and gardening. There was a good deal of tips related to gardening, see. In other words, I wanted to answer the question:

To what degree do people take water conservation into account while gardening?

I decided to ask gardeners. This included folk who weren't quite as good at the hobby as others. Skill level wasn't exactly relevant, as the questions I wanted to address weren't related to it. They were rather related to things that all gardeners do, such as the time of day when irrigation occurs and what water is used. All in all, I collected my queries into the handful below: 

1. On a scale from 1 to 10 (1 being not at all and 10 being the top priority) how much did you consider water conservation while landscaping?
2. What kind of plants have you planted (if any?) Flowering plants, produce, shrubs & bushes, something else entirely or a combination of the aforementioned types?
3. What are the origins of the plants you have planted (if any)? Are your plants native to Massachusetts, the United States generally, or are they foreign? Do you know the origin of your plants, or do you perhaps cultivate a mixture of the aforementioned types?
4. What method do you to irrigate your plants? Do you water them by hand (with a jug, hose, etc.), with sprinklers, an automatic irrigation system, a combination or something else entirely?
5. What kind of water do you use in irrigation? Is it tap water, filtered water, uncollected rainwater, collected rainwater, a combination of the aforementioned types or something entirely different?
6. When do you irrigate your plants? Is it in the early morning, morning before noon, around noon, afternoon, evening or night?
7. How often do you irrigate your plants? Is it once per day, multiple times per day, once per week, or multiple times per week? Or it is something not previously mentioned?

I collected these questions together and turned them into a Google Form. (The form itself is here.) Then, I began the survey!

Down here are the unfinished, unfancy versions of my survey questions. I hope they're readable enough!

Step 1: Initial Research

Hey there! The uploads begin.

This is the preliminary research I did on overall water conservation tips. I got my information from three websites (cited at the bottom.) Here goes!

EPA.gov (1)

• Repair leaky faucets (inside and outside) and consider replacing old appliances

Kitchen:

• Basins-- clean veggies in bowl of water, and clean dishes in a filled sink
• Dishwashers-- only run when full, and try to have “light wash” types
• Use garbage disposal sparingly
• Install faucet aerators

Bathroom

• Take short showers
• Running water-- turn water off when brushing teeth, fill the sink for shaving, or shave and soap in the shower
• Repair leaky toilets
• Install toilet dams, faucet aerators and low flow showerheads

Laundry

• Run full loads of laundry
• Look for water saving models that can be adjusted to load size

Outdoors

• Gardening-- smaller gardens and natural veggies. Native plants are best. Ask for low water plants or shrubs. Cluster demanding plants together for efficiency
• When mowing, set the blades to 2-3” high
• Watering-- Only when necessary. Once a week if minimal rainfall, avoid hot and windy days. Water in morning or late evening. Ensure sprinklers don't want non-vegetation. Put down no more than 1” of water per week. If automatic irrigation, ensure it is properly installed, delivers the proper amount, and has rain shut off capability.
• Apply mulch around shrubs and flower beds
• Collect rainfall for irrigation in screened container
• Washing car-- wet it quickly, then use bucket of water to wash it. Turn on hose or use rain for final wash
• Use broom for cleaning instead of hose

ECY.WA.gov (2)

Bathroom

• Turn off water when tooth brushing
• Showers instead of baths
• If bath, immediately plug drain and adjust temperature as you fill the tub
• Use leak free, high efficiency toilet
• Turn off water while lathering hands

Kitchen

• Wash only full loads, and select appropriate water level or load size
• Defrost foods in fridge overnight
• Scrape dishes before putting in dishwasher
• Compost instead of garbage disposal
• Keep drinking water in fridge

Laundry

• Wash full loads only, or use appropriate water level/load size
• High efficiency washermachine

Leaks

• Fix 'em

Outdoors

• Native/drought resistant plants
• Hose timer
• Collect rainwater
• Use broom or electric blower to clean
• Washing car-- use adjustable nozzle/sprayer & turn off water while soaping

RIPUC.org (3)

Indoor

• Low flow showerheads
• Cut showers by 1-2 minutes
• Taking bath instead of a shower once per day
• Cut off water while soaping and scrubbing in the shower
• Low flow toilet
• Turn water off to brush teeth
• When washing dishes, use spray device or short blasts of water
• Use “just enough” dish detergent
• Collect the colder water wasted while waiting for hot in a bin
• Fix leaks
• Fix or shut off dripping faucets
• Use partially filled sink to wet razor
• Check for toilet leaks with food coloring
• Keep water in fridge for drinking
• Thaw food in fridge
• Wash only full loads of dishes
• Select proper water level for laundry

Outdoors

• Water in early morning or early evening
• Don't let sprinklers water not-vegetation
• Fix leaks
• Fix or shut off dripping faucets
• Drip irrigation around trees, shrubs and gardens
• “Mowing lawns higher than normal”
• Cut water off when carwashing.
• Cover your pool
• Shut off nozzles on hoses
• Collect rainwater on roof

(1) United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2017, February 16). Water Conservation Tips for Residents. Retrieved March 15, 2017 from https://www3.epa.gov/region1/eco/drinkwater/water_conservation_residents.html.

(2) Department of Ecology: the State of Washington. (Date unknown.) Water conservation: it all starts with you. Retrieved March 15, 2017, from http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/ws/wtrcnsv.html.

(3) Unknown. (Date unknown.) Water Conservation Tips. Retrieved March 15, 2017, from http://www.ripuc.org/consumerinfo/Conservation_Water.pdf.

Hey Everyone!

Hey everyone! Welcome to my Ecology project blog. I will be posting all the steps of my project soon. Hang tight!