Wouldn't you know . . .

[zin1953]

. . . just when I switch to a machine that's plumbed in -- and can finally stop buying bottled water -- the local utility announces MANDATORY twenty-percent water rationing

[sweaner]

If you skip a few showers we won't tell anyone!

[mitchjayg]

I'm in Oakland and just had my new La Spaziale plumbed in. Since I was using a pourover with tap water in my Isomac Tea, my water use for the machine will go down a tad. One way or the other, I am not changing.

The need for "flushing" has a whole new meaning!

[shadowfax]

The need for "flushing" has a whole new meaning!

Jason,

This is a clear, obvious sign that HX machines and their "flushes" are inappropriate for your neck of the woods, and it is important that you sell your Elektra to me and upgrade to a nice double boiler machine with little or no flushing requirements. I highly recommend the Synesso Cyncra or perhaps even the La Marzocco GS3. I am sure that your SO will understand.

[Randy G.]

. . . just when I switch to a machine that's plumbed in -- and can finally stop buying bottled water -- the local utility announces MANDATORY twenty-percent water rationing

When In The Bathroom:
Never flush for number 1
Only flush for number 2

Doing that for one day will save enough water for a month's worth of plumbed-in espresso machine use.

Running the drain from the drip tray out to a holding tank (55 gallon drum) will save the waste-water for use in the garden.

[bernie]

Water rationing!? You guys got water? I heard it was great on the left coast.

Bernie

[cannonfodder]

Actually, things are not that good. I work for a restaurant supply company; we get avocados from California when they are in season. One of the restaurant chains we supply purchases somewhere in the area of 1/3 of the avocado production on the planet and around half of what comes from the U.S. Water rationing has significantly reduced the irrigation consumption of the avocado fields to the point it will not support the trees. Many of the farmers are cutting down a large portion of their trees so they have enough water to keep the remaining stock alive and producing. That is going to push the price through the roof. Your guacamole is going to go from $1 avocados to $5 avocados.

I am sure the wine industry will be in similar dire straits eventually.

[VS_DoubleShot]

New trend in California wine called 'dry farming'. Doesn't work for all grapes but it's a step in a good direction.

[barry]

Hhmmm... I think we're something like 10" above the normal rainfall for year-to-date.

[zin1953]

New trend in California wine called 'dry farming'. Doesn't work for all grapes but it's a step in a good direction.

Totally off-topic, but since I've been working with dry-farmed vineyards since the 1960s, what's so "new" about it?!?!?!

[Psyd]

Totally off-topic, but since I've been working with dry-farmed vineyards since the 1960s, what's so "new" about it?!?!?

Dry farming isn't new, it's that it's becoming trendy in CA that's new. Used to be that the Californians (and some of the Arizonans here, too) would simply drain the neighboring rivers to increase the water content of their farmland. Not doing that anymore than they have to is the 'new' part'.
Besides, with farming having a nearly ten millenia (give or take) history, five decades is still new... ; >