Drought Causes Community Gardens to Dry Up - FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |
Member Center:
Maureen Wurtz
OMAHA (KPTM)- The heat and the drought aren't just raising the risk of fires, but they're also causing people to use more water.
Officials at the Metropolitan Utilities District of Omaha, or MUD, said Omaha has doubled its average water use this month. The people of Omaha are going through about 181 million gallons of water each day in July, which is double of the yearly average of 90 million gallons each day.
This record beats the July of 2007, when Omaha went through 171 million gallons of water per day.
The rising temperatures and the lack of rain have some community gardeners worried.
"We're having to water twice a day, which means an increase in cost for the agency and the girls program," said Tammy Green.
Green is a service director at the Ruth K. Solomon Girls Center near 30th and Redick.
Green runs a gardening program that helps teach girls how to grow their own food. "We're not trying to just have plants, we're trying to get the fruit off of them as well."
Green said the drought has made their water bill double. "(It's) through the roof."
Green said its important for the girls to get fresh fruit and veggies. "With the rise of water cost, it's bringing up the cost of what it takes to teach the girls how to grow their own produce."
MUD offered some tips to help conserve water
-Water lawns in the morning
-Keep grass longer, longer blades absorb moisture better
-Wash cars at car washes, most recycle water
-Keep a bucket out for rain water to water plants with
-Take quick showers instead of baths
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