Is California Running out of Water

Is California Running out of Water?

Is California Running out of Water? – Californians continue to waste water while experiencing the worst drought since the 1800s.

We’re all guilty of it. Whether it’s that 30 minute long hot shower when it’s a little cold, watering the lawn during the middle of the day, or cleaning both the cars, we all use water without really considering what it would be like to run out of it.

It seems nearly impossible to restrain this massive consumption of a substance we not only survive on, but use for countless purposes in everyday life.

According to Wikipedia, California’s interconnected water system serves over 30 Million people and irrigates over 5.68 million acres of farmland.

Most of us in California have no idea the drought is really something to be worried about. Water managers in the state have been able to continue the flow of fresh water seamlessly, so we just keep using it.

When we hear about the drought, we don’t internalize the news because the evidence doesn’t match up with our personal H2O experiences. When we turn on the faucet, the water comes pouring out until we turn it off. It might as well be infinite.

The problem is, California’s winters are no longer producing enough precipitation to supply our demands. The LA Times reports that we only have enough water in storage for the next 12 to 18 months:

“Beyond that, many of our state and local water managers have thrown up their hands because they just don’t know where our water will come from.” –LA Times

Another factor that makes water conservation difficult is the lack of accountability due to limited enforcement capabilities. Until recently, The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power had 1 inspector to patrol a city of 4 million people. Needless to say you probably won’t be get a water wasting fine in Los Angeles anytime soon.

It may take a reality check (i.e. large scale water shortages/price increases) for our state to wake up and realize the importance of water conservation. Hopefully it won’t have to come to that, but if California water mangers have thrown up their hands, that doesn’t sound like a good sign.

In the meantime we should all do our best to adjust our daily water usage habits. Maybe skip the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and donate money instead.