Miss Jo's San Francisco

LIKE OTHER IN THIS SOUR ECONOMY, MISS JO HAS found new ways to pinch pennies and in the process— and for the sake of her California gardening dream and three tomato plants— she became a gray-water guerrilla.

The change happened gradually, but once she made up her mind there’s been no return– even if it’s meant becoming a scofflaw of the California plumbing code, which forbids reusing household water without a permit, even in small amounts. Imagine that  in a drought-plagued state.

For the last three months, Miss Jo has collected 30 gallons per load of cold water from her clothes washer, as it’s expelled into a garage utility sink just steps from the garden. Using buckets and a watering can, she redistributes the H2O plant by plant.

In the process, this early-morning ritual, overseen by hummingbirds and cats, has shaved $200 off the two Js’ bi-monthly water bill, which in the spring and summer used to top $300.

There’s also good news: Miss Jo, her buckets and eco-friendly, coconut-and-lavender Trader Joe’s detergent, may soon be able to come out of the gray-water shadows.

Changes to the state’s plumbing code have been proposed to distinguish between the safe reuse of household water from a single source, like clothes washers and showers, and more complex systems joining multiple water discharge where bacteria contamination is at risk and permits will still be required. The water conservation changes are being considered for emergency adoption as early as August, instead of a later start of Jan. 1, 2011.

But even with gray-water legitimacy in the wings, Miss Jo’s California gardening frustrations persist, although there have been victories this summer, like three robust tomato plants and a scarlet bougainvillae climbing a retaining wall.

Even reusing six to seven washer loads of water a week–more than 200 gallons— and extensive mulching, barely helps Miss Jo stay ahead of the drying effects of the coastal summer sun, fierce afternoon winds and fog.

She’s beginning to understand the popular San Francisco wisdom of growing herbs, tomatoes and flowers in pots.

But what to do with the climbing pink rose, which looks like it’s struggled for decades as a yard fixture ? Perhaps Miss Jo will find answers next week when she stops by the Rose Library in Golden Gate Park.

Photo by Miss Jo


Here are a couple fun water-conservation public service announcements: