The Central Coast Greywater Alliance (www.centralcoastgreywater.org) serves Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties, as well as the Santa Clara Valley and San Jose. The website offers clear explanations, free installation workshops and a directory of installers.
The Water Awareness Committee of Monterey County (www.waterawareness.org) is rich with information, resources and notices of events and educational opportunities.
The Environmental Working Group’s www.cosmeticsdatabase.com rates personal care products on toxicity, helping inform you which ones are safe. The related site www.EWG.org rates cleaning and other consumer products.
Www.oasisdesign.net is the comprehensive website of Art Ludwig, “the grandfather of greywater and rainwater harvesting,” and offers code-compliant installation manuals, theoretical meditations, Oasis brand detergent and more.
A handy guide, Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond, Vols. 1 and 2 (Rainsource Press) by Brad Lancaster (www.harvestingrainwater.com) details the many effective ways you can build moisture-retentive landscapes.
Get a copy of Slow it. Spread it. Sink it! A Homeowner’s and Landowner’s Guide to Beneficial Stormwater Management, by the Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz (www.rcdsantacruz.org)
Listen to the inspirational TEDx talk by former Santa Cruzan, Brock Dolman, “Watershed City 2.0:Re-thinking and Retrofitting for Resilience!”(oaecwater.org/tedx-mission-oct-2012).
The Association of California Water Agencies has a handy home water use calculator at www.saveourh20.org.
Finally, be sure to seek cash rebates from your local water agency!
About the author
At Edible Monterey Bay, our mission is to celebrate the local food culture of Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey Counties, season by season. We believe in sustainability, and we believe everyone has a right to healthful, clean and affordable food. We think knowing where our food comes from is powerful, and we hope our magazine, website and newsletters inspire readers to get to know and support our local growers, fishers, chefs, vintners and food artisans.
