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Is it a problem if CA uses an incredible amount of water if that water can be provided cheaply and in an environmentally sound manner? Sure, the current situat

Is it a problem if CA uses an incredible amount of water if that water can be provided cheaply and in an environmentally sound manner? Sure, the current situation is unsustainable, but we don't have to focus on conservation and usage restrictions if we have a way to supply CA's water wants while reducing flood damage outside of CA. What do you think is more likely: - People voluntarily accepting a reduced quality of life by cutting back on water usage and forgoing water intensive produce. - Using excess water from flooding in other parts of the country to replenish CA aquifers and support historical usage patterns while helping to reduce flood damage outside CA.

saagarjha 5y ago
Moving a lot of water is very expensive. Perhaps not impractically so, but it’s getting there.
rootusrootus 5y ago
> People voluntarily accepting a reduced quality of life by cutting back on water usage and forgoing water intensive produce. IMO this is what people need to understand. If we need conservation, it won't be the people of California cutting back on their showers. That has very little to do with consumption. It will be everyone in the country who benefits from all the farming in California who will have to learn to do without some of their favorite water-intensive produce.
- kodah 5y ago
  Farming is indeed a big user of water, but I was surprised to see maintaining scenic views and habitat conservation being nearly equal to farming. That's effectively drawing water from other states and destroying other habitats in the name of conservation in California.
  - demadog 5y ago
    What are some specific examples? The main I could think of would be green belts and parks in the suburbs, not watering state park forests.
    - ciceryadam 5y ago
      What comes to my mind are the 11 golf courses in Indian Wells, or 89 golf courses the Coachella valley / Palm Springs area. It's an arid region, it always baffles me to see it around there.
jshen 5y ago
There are very basic things CA can do to improve things before your hypothetical. For example, we can filter and re-use water rather than letting it drain into the ocean. However, everyone a politician proposes this, their opponents brand it “toilet-to-tap” and it never passes because who wants to drink toilet water.
- 01100011 5y ago
  San Diego is doing it now, and the presentation I saw mentioned the TDS of the water is actually lower with toilet to tap. That's nice because normally the water is liquid rock.

saagarjha 5y ago

Moving a lot of water is very expensive. Perhaps not impractically so, but it’s getting there.

rootusrootus 5y ago

> People voluntarily accepting a reduced quality of life by cutting back on water usage and forgoing water intensive produce. IMO this is what people need to understand. If we need conservation, it won't be the people of California cutting back on their showers. That has very little to do with consumption. It will be everyone in the country who benefits from all the farming in California who will have to learn to do without some of their favorite water-intensive produce.

kodah 5y ago
Farming is indeed a big user of water, but I was surprised to see maintaining scenic views and habitat conservation being nearly equal to farming. That's effectively drawing water from other states and destroying other habitats in the name of conservation in California.
- demadog 5y ago
  What are some specific examples? The main I could think of would be green belts and parks in the suburbs, not watering state park forests.
  - ciceryadam 5y ago
    What comes to my mind are the 11 golf courses in Indian Wells, or 89 golf courses the Coachella valley / Palm Springs area. It's an arid region, it always baffles me to see it around there.

jshen 5y ago

There are very basic things CA can do to improve things before your hypothetical. For example, we can filter and re-use water rather than letting it drain into the ocean. However, everyone a politician proposes this, their opponents brand it “toilet-to-tap” and it never passes because who wants to drink toilet water.

01100011 5y ago
San Diego is doing it now, and the presentation I saw mentioned the TDS of the water is actually lower with toilet to tap. That's nice because normally the water is liquid rock.