Water shortage in the Southwest - worst quote ever!

brianlux

rr165892 said:

Maybe the key for Cali(and other areas) is to really dig in and get going with desalination plants and technology.I believe Sydney is doing some cutting edge work in this area.Sure is a lot of h20 on this earth,harnessing other ways of using it could really make a difference.

It wouldn't surprise me to see that happen and it might buy some time but the cost of desalinization, the energy consumption needed to run such a plant and the impact on the environment will very likely limit this choice.

The Pacific Institute does a lot of research on water issues. They point out that:

--Current cost estimate for the single plant being developed at this time in Carlsbad (in southern California) is one billion dollars.

--Desalinization is very energy consuming. The article points out that, "Desalinated water can cost upwards of $1,900 per acre foot, considerably more than other alternatives such as water conservation and efficiency, stormwater capture, and recycled water."

--There are a number of negative environmental impacts involved in desalinization (see link).

Lets also not forget a very big factor: Population. (I mentioned earlier that has more than triple in my short life span- 63 yrs.- from 10.68 mil to 38.8 mil.)

Unfortunately, the bottom line is there are more cost effective measures that can be put in place now. Also, we would do well to really look at the long term picture. Can we really technologize our way out of the box or are we just putting on billion dollar band aids and throwing more toothpicks under the structure instead of addressing the faulty foundation?

backseatLover12

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/01/california-mandatory-water-cutbacks_n_6987444.html

Water Cutbacks Now Mandatory In California For First Time In History

PJ_Soul

Wow. Good for them.
And suddenly California sounds like a place I would not want to go to, let alone live in. I'm not too into drought-stricken places. Makes me feel lucky to live in a rain forest.

kce8

This is not about California...or only water...this is just about to destroy everything...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em20wNHZsQc

brianlux

kce8 said:

This is not about California...or only water...this is just about to destroy everything...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em20wNHZsQc

Fracking (as well as Canadian tar sand oil) is an insane attempt to continue an unsustainable car culture that needs to die. I lost all respect for Jerry Brown when he went pro-fracking. Frack that shite.