Conserving water: Makes sense, saves money

Americans' love affairs with their cars is well documented, a relationship that only $4 gas has been able to crack.

It makes you wonder what it will take to sever another passionate relationship " the one we have with our lush green lawns.

A 28 percent hike in water rates in Carson City last year was enough to get many people thinking about using less water in their yards, and the news last week of a water shortage provided plenty of reinforcement.

But just as you see Hummers and other gas guzzlers rumbling around town, it's not difficult to spot homes where water use isn't really an issue, no matter how expensive it is.

That's the choice of each individual resident, (as long as they're not violating the city's watering regulations or wasting water).

But all of this is a reminder that we do live in a desert, and water supplies are not infinite. Brown, not green, is the natural color of our landscape in summer. If we're wasteful with our water, it's possible the coming years could see strict restrictions and greater concerns about whether there will be enough water to meet our needs.

Conserving water is often a simple matter (many people would be surprised at how little water it takes to keep a lawn green), but the best part is that it saves money, too.

This editorial represents the view of the Nevada Appeal Editorial Board. For ideas on how you can conserve water at your home, visit the city's Web site at www.carson-city.nv.us/Index.aspx?page=1328.