2 ms·
Because the least economically valuable use of the water is agricultural, which is also by far the highest use of water. It makes no sense for a city to desali
by cameldrv 4y ago
Because the least economically valuable use of the water is agricultural, which is also by far the highest use of water. It makes no sense for a city to desalinate water for ten times the price that it's being sold for agricultural purposes. Unfortunately the politics and property rights of water in the West prevent economically rational water allocation. Instead, city dwellers are legally required to buy ever lower flow shower heads, which make approximately zero difference in overall water usage, while rice farmers flood their fields.
- silisili 4y agoThis is the real problem. In most of southern NM and even west TX, these farmers use so much water that mosquitoes become a problem for parts of the year. In the desert.... Agriculture needs big reform here. Either cut it out, or make them pay their big share of water. But I guess nobody wants to buy a 50 dollar bag of almonds or pecans. Personally, I might miss pecan pie once a year, but otherwise wouldn't even notice if both products ceased to exist.