5 ms·

I'm not familiar with that term. Are you referring to the Ogallala Aquifer? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogallala_Aquifer https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Og

I'm not familiar with that term. Are you referring to the Ogallala Aquifer? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogallala_Aquifer https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogallala_Aquifer

Retric 10y ago
In part, prehistoric water is also known as paleowater or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_water https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_water Basically all Aquifer's are used faster than the recharge which only works for so long. The Ogallala Aquifer is one example, but most of California pumps out water vastly faster than the recharge rate. This is not only used directly but also adds water to the water cycle which for example increases rainfall. Without that extra water things are going to get a lot dryer.
- sologoub 10y ago
  That's why I still find it odd how little CA is investing in desalination and water recycling, compared with other arid places.
  - mmanfrin 10y ago
    What? We passed a proposition last election cycle for $7.5 billion in water measures. https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_1,_Water_Bond_(2014) https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_1,_Water_Bond... The legislature also passed laws regarding the use of water and monitoring: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB88 http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?... Water recycling plants are coming online that can recycle actual wastewater: http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_26160300/california-drought-san-joses-new-high-tech-water http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_26160300/california-dr... Less than a year ago, the largest desalination plant in the country went online: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlsbad_desalination_plant https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlsbad_desalination_plant But please, keep telling people how little we're investing in to this.
    - Retric 10y ago
      That plant has less than 20% of libia's desalination capacity and 6% of Saudi Arabia. There are 16,000 desalination plants world wide the US has less than 5% of the worlds capacity much of which sits unused. Sure there are good reasons for this, but US water use is still incredibly wasteful.
  - joelwilliamson 10y ago
    There will probably never be desalination cheap enough for irrigation, and non-agricultural uses don't add up to enough to make desalination nescessary.
    - sologoub 10y ago
      Between desalination and water recycling, Israel seems to be doing a lot better than CA: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/30/world/middleeast/water-revolution-in-israel-overcomes-any-threat-of-drought.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/30/world/middleeast/water-rev... The key form CA is not to replace all water sources, but rather close the gap between rainfall and water needs. Right now, we are doing this by pumping ancient water from aquifers, but as solar power and desalination techs mature, the price will come down and will likely be sufficient to cover that gap. The recycled water will also factor in.
      - jrapdx3 10y ago
        There is a considerable interest in California re: what Israel has done to conserve and increase its water supply. Israeli technology is likely applicable to California's water supply issues and cooperative ventures should be fruitful. http://israelnewtech.com/2016/07/california-shifts-gears-water-crisis-management/ http://israelnewtech.com/2016/07/california-shifts-gears-wat... http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Environment/Israel-leading-a-water-revolution-in-arid-California-457930 http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Environment/Isr...

I'm not familiar with that term. Are you referring to the Ogallala Aquifer? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogallala_Aquifer https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogallala_Aquifer

Retric 10y ago

In part, prehistoric water is also known as paleowater or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_water https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_water Basically all Aquifer's are used faster than the recharge which only works for so long. The Ogallala Aquifer is one example, but most of California pumps out water vastly faster than the recharge rate. This is not only used directly but also adds water to the water cycle which for example increases rainfall. Without that extra water things are going to get a lot dryer.

sologoub 10y ago
That's why I still find it odd how little CA is investing in desalination and water recycling, compared with other arid places.
- mmanfrin 10y ago
  What? We passed a proposition last election cycle for $7.5 billion in water measures. https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_1,_Water_Bond_(2014) https://ballotpedia.org/California_Proposition_1,_Water_Bond... The legislature also passed laws regarding the use of water and monitoring: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB88 http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?... Water recycling plants are coming online that can recycle actual wastewater: http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_26160300/california-drought-san-joses-new-high-tech-water http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_26160300/california-dr... Less than a year ago, the largest desalination plant in the country went online: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlsbad_desalination_plant https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlsbad_desalination_plant But please, keep telling people how little we're investing in to this.
  - Retric 10y ago
    That plant has less than 20% of libia's desalination capacity and 6% of Saudi Arabia. There are 16,000 desalination plants world wide the US has less than 5% of the worlds capacity much of which sits unused. Sure there are good reasons for this, but US water use is still incredibly wasteful.
- joelwilliamson 10y ago
  There will probably never be desalination cheap enough for irrigation, and non-agricultural uses don't add up to enough to make desalination nescessary.
  - sologoub 10y ago
    Between desalination and water recycling, Israel seems to be doing a lot better than CA: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/30/world/middleeast/water-revolution-in-israel-overcomes-any-threat-of-drought.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/30/world/middleeast/water-rev... The key form CA is not to replace all water sources, but rather close the gap between rainfall and water needs. Right now, we are doing this by pumping ancient water from aquifers, but as solar power and desalination techs mature, the price will come down and will likely be sufficient to cover that gap. The recycled water will also factor in.
    - jrapdx3 10y ago
      There is a considerable interest in California re: what Israel has done to conserve and increase its water supply. Israeli technology is likely applicable to California's water supply issues and cooperative ventures should be fruitful. http://israelnewtech.com/2016/07/california-shifts-gears-water-crisis-management/ http://israelnewtech.com/2016/07/california-shifts-gears-wat... http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Environment/Israel-leading-a-water-revolution-in-arid-California-457930 http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Environment/Isr...