Q: I have an older house with a water pipeline that goes through the house before going out into the backyard so that I can use its water to irrigate my plants. Iβd like to install a water softener and water treatment system, but then Iβd end up having to irrigate my plants with softened water, wouldnβt I? I donβt know if that would be good for the plants. What should I do?
A:Β That fear of using soft water for irrigation is kind of an urban legend; softened water definitely wonβt affect any plants indigenous to Arizona. But you do want to set up your water treatment so that you donβt run that irrigation water through a treatment system. Thatβs because using treated water for irrigation is a more expensive way to go. But water softening companies can add a hose bib to your softening system that will allow you to use unsoftened water in your yard.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
