Water Treatment Print

We talk about how often our water is recycled along the rivers of the country. 
 
*Some nasty facts and incidents involving water treatment.

Rosie and Jennifer describe the desalination process of water.

• The Carlsbad Desalination Project is opening in San Diego in late 2015. It will be the largest of it's kind in the world. 

Romey talks about from Bonide's "All Season Horticultural Spray"

*Find Bonide Products at Mesquite Valley Growers in Tucson, Treeland Nurseries in Mesa & Viola's Flower Garden & Nursery in Flagstaff.

Caller:

• Shelly - She wants to replace her tub with a stand up shower. She found a shower base she likes, but the size is non-standard and she doesn't want tile. Do we have any suggestions?

Recommendation - Go with cultured marble. They can make it any size and it's cost effective. Try L&M Laminates, now called Artisan Decorative Surfaces Group if you're in Phoenix.

*We thank a vet and congratulate a couple on their 70th Wedding Anniversary.

Matt Eberhart, the Off Highway Vehicle Safety Coordinator for Arizona Game Fish & Parks joins us to talk about upcoming events and his role in keeping Arizona safe while your exploring the state.

More information on water treatment and water conservation.

*Jennifer shares info on a water-saving shower head that's about to hit the market.

We give away Phoenix Coyotes & Suns tickets. Thanks to KTAR for the tickets!

Jay joins us from Harper's Nursery & Landscaping Company to take your questions!

Tip of the Week:  Jay uses this time to talk about water conservation.  The biggest key is to "learn how to water, correctly."  Most homeowner's over-water during the winter months.....and Arizona uses most of our water for outdoor use. 

*Technology makes it possible to save too, so using monitors and correctly programming irrigation systems will save water.

*Learn how to conserve water in the yard with this great tool from Water, Use It Wisely.

Callers:

• Hank - He has 2 ten year old sissou trees in his yard that his landscaper is removing.  He was told they won't cut out the stump and wants to know if it works and how effective it is?

Recommendation - Most times a stump killer is used now and "Stump Grinders" are effective.  He should be comfortable with the process, just let his landscaper know he needs to replant trees for his H.O.A. to ensure the chemicals don't spread too far into the area of the new tree.

• Dawn - She wants to plant a garden and the ground is rocky and they get cooler temperatures, so they're thinking about putting in a "straw bale garden." What are our thoughts on this?

Recommendation - Jay's knows of a few different methods of "straw bale garden," but he prefers a raised garden for her situation. Do a lot of research and make sure you're comfortable with the method she chooses.

Callers:

• Gary - He had a 20 foot Blue Palo Verde Tree fall down last fall & his neighbor told him to split it into two and plant them. He doesn't like how it looks, but is wondering if he should be patient or start over?

Recommendation - It probably would grow back, but it's going to look like a bush and not look very nice, even after a ton of work. A new plant is probably the best plan.

• Dave - His hibiscus plant seems to be growing well, but as soon as the leaves fully mature, they're turning yellow and dying. What should he do?

Recommendation - Hibiscus need a lot of nutrients and are "Hungry Plants."  Many plants this time of year are low on nitrogen, so fertilize more regularly. Jay likes using "Rose Plant Food."

(Congratulations to Gilbert on winning tickets to the Phoenix Suns game!!!)

After talking about fertilizing roses, Romey shares the benefits of Bonide Rose Shield.

Find Bonide Products at Summerwinds Nursery in Glendale or Civano Nursery in Tucson or Watters Garden Center in Prescott.

*Jay talks about identifying bugs in your yard and what he usually recommends to homeowners who stop by his nursery.

Callers:

• Tim - He has 9 squares of Mel's Square Foot Gardening and wants to know if he needs to add more Mel's mix and fertilizer before the summer. 

Recommendation - He needs to add fertilizer for sure! The kit is just a start and will need to be maintained to have a successful annual garden.

• Christine - She has 5 new hollyhock plants and the leaves are turning yellow?

Recommendation - This is common and she just needs to add fertilizer.  Make sure to read the instructions to make sure it's applied properly & not a waste of time.

• Greg - He has a 19 feet by 5.5 feet wide south facing space and wants plant recommendations for the space.

Recommendation - Try Orange Jubilees plant, Common Myrtle or Japanese Privet should work great!   A metal trellis with vines could be great too.

• Scott - He has two hedges on either side of his sidewalk, but one side is doing well. The other is struggling. He's treating them similarly, so what could be causing it?

Recommendation -  Jay would check the irrigation systems. Even if it is running the same, the sprayers might be off on one side. There could be something in the soil one one side, not the other. It sounds like an irrigation issue to Jay.

Callers:

• Greg - He's putting in a 10 x 10 Foot Strawberry patch and wants Jays opinion on the best strawberry variety and soil treatments.

Recommendation - Strawberries don't grow that well here, so shade is a key for part of the year.  He'll need really rich and moist soil. Lots of organic material and gypsum continually added to cancel out the natural soil deficiencies in our soil. 

• Jim - His agave and saguaro plants have worms into the roots that are killing it.

Recommendation - It sounds like the larva of the agave snout weevil and is usually discovered after its too late.  Preventative treatments in the fall and spring are key to preventing it. Jay's never heard of this same problem with saguaro's, so he might want to verify that something else isn't going on with that plant. 

If you have a question for Jay during the week or need supplies, visit Harper's Nursery & Landscape Company!

Caller:

• Amanda - She and her husband just bought an adobe home and wants to know if they stucco the outside of the home, will it help with their energy bills in the summer and the resale value?

Recommendation - There are a few ways to reduce the energy bills and stucco probably won't help a lot, so having a "whole house energy audit" would be the best place to start. It's only $100 and will pinpoint the exact place she's losing energy in her home.  In Tucson, call Intelligent Design Air Conditioning & Heating.

*After our discussion with Dan from Harmon Solar a few weeks ago on the new rates for SRP customers who use solar power, Laurie with SRP join us to share their side of the story.  Find more information about SRP's plan for solar.

Caller:

• Sharon - She is trying to help a friend who's irrigation cleanouts are plugged and buried.  Do we have any advice on helping her find it without digging up the whole yard?

Recommendation - She can find the sewer tap is in city records and it should be 4 or 5 feet off of the main line to the house. If it gets to be too much trouble, she can call Stampede Plumbing, Babcock Pluming or Thunderbird Plumbing in Phoenix and they can find it electronically.

*We give away more tickets to the Phoenix Suns game!  Thanks to KTAR!

Caller:

• Dave - He's in the process of rebuilding a home with fire damage. The deck on the 2nd floor was repaired, but left the plywood exposed and it's warping. They're planning on sanding it down and then applying the flooring. Is that okay?

Recommendation - It's probably okay to do what the contractor wants to do. The outdoor plywood should hold up for the short amount of time it's been exposed.

*Sue Walter from the National Park Service joins us to talk about the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument re-opening this year.  

• Recent Changes.
• History of the National Park Service.
• Fun Facts about Arizona Parks.
• Wildlife you can see, including the endangered Sonoran Pronghorn Antelope.
• Equestrian Trails.
• Directions to some of the areas we discuss.

Following up from Sharon in Segment 2 about finding her irrigation cleanout...you can call your city officials and they'll come out and find it for her for free.

*More Arizona activities & we share recipes from plants that grow in Arizona. Learn more from the Valley Permaculture Alliance.

Don't forget to sign up for the Sanderson Ford Arizona Staycation!!!

*Thanks to our sponsors Cerreta Candy Company & Sanderson Ford!

Discussing water treatment....the benefits it offer's, plus common scams myths about the industry.

Andy & Robin Pettyjohn with Water Treatment Technologies  join us to sort it all out!

"Water is the most complicated simple thing I know" -Robin

*We share facts on treating water over and over, removing salt, man-made chemicals and other weird(gross) stats. 

*Arizona is sitting fairly well, when it comes to water resources compared to other states in the western US.

Rosie and Robin chat about their history together & the education Robin gave Rosie & Romey.

After covering regional water treatment, we focus on treating water at your house.

Water Softeners - "It's the only appliance that will pay for itself" -Robin

• Softer Skin
• Brighter and Cleaner Clothes
• Listen as Robin talks about laundry detergent and how it keeps clothes brighter with soft water.

Caller:

• Sara calls to ask if using water softeners in older homes can actually damage the existing plumbing.  

Recommendation - It's not true!!  The corrosion on older pipes has been happening for years, so some people assume it's because of the softener.

• What is "hard water" exactly? 

• What does "softening water" mean and what's actually happening?

• Salt.....how this is used to scare customers into buying water treatments that don't work!

• Is it important to use water softener's if a Tank-less Water Heater is installed at your home? 

Caller:

• Rob - Is it necessary to have a softener if his drinking water is okay if he has the electronic magnetic device for the rest of the homes use?

Recommendation - Robin shares his thoughts on the magnetic devices and why it might do a few positive things, but doesn't give the overall benefits of a softener. We're not big fans and share our combined thoughts and what other experts think. 

• Greg - He just bought a house and it has a water softener and wants to know if we have any guesses on if the different sections of his home and should he be using soft water for his pool?

Recommendation in the next segment.....

*Robin is a fact machine!! He shares so much information, you'll have to listen twice!

We answer Greg's question from last segment and talk about new home buyers options if their is an existing system already installed.

*Tips on where TO soften water and where NOT TO use it. Save $$$ on uses that don't need it.

(Inexpensive Test Kits can help determine which areas in your home need treatment)

Caller:

• Sean - Will a whole home R.O. System damage copper piping in his home and what kind of benefits does it have compared to soft water?

Recommendation - Reverse Osmosis systems will help some, but when the water is purified, it will damage the copper pipe. That's why you see plastic piping on these systems. 

If you have questions about water treatment or want service at your home, call Water Treatment Technology!

If you're in northern Arizona, Call Northern Arizona Quality Water.

Join Rosie On The House Every Saturday Morning!