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I understand that this is mostly for agriculture, but maybe let's stop building and expanding big cities in the desert. Golf courses in Phoenix, for example, se
by cosmotic 4y ago
I understand that this is mostly for agriculture, but maybe let's stop building and expanding big cities in the desert. Golf courses in Phoenix, for example, seem like an irresponsible use of water.
- danboarder 4y agoCounterpoint: I grew up in the Midwest along the Kankakee river, and most infrastructure is built for flooding, as it can happen year round. Fresh water is not only abundant, there is often too much, and flooded fields and towns are a real problem. I am all for finding ways to move it west where people say they need it and are willing to pay a premium. Cities in the deserts of earth are more feasible than ever with ingenuity and engineering, and will probably always be much easier than building cities on Mars, for example.
- SECProto 4y ago> I am all for finding ways to move it west where people say they need it and are willing to pay a premium. Note that the premium amount they would be willing to pay is approximately $0.0017 per litre, delivered treated to their doorstep. [1] https://www.phoenix.gov/rates# https://www.phoenix.gov/rates# says ~$5/unit, with each unit being ~750 gallons, or ~2850 litres
- dr_dshiv 4y agoGonna be inflation on that account
- kevin_thibedeau 4y agoThe great lakes watershed can't be touched. In any case, the solution to floods in a flood plain is to not live in a flood plain or build elevated structures.
- dismalpedigree 4y agoOnly because of a treaty. If there was monetary compensation for the water I think you would get the states and provinces on board in a hurry. I’d be more concerned about the insane water rights problems being shoved upstream to people in the great lakes basins. Telling me I can’t collect rain water to water my garden so somebody who lives in a dessert 2,000 miles away can be guaranteed the ability to water their lawn is insanity.
- kevin_thibedeau 4y agoRain barrels are legal in all states bordering the lakes. It isn't like you're stealing water that will disappear from the local environment. It's just a time delay.
- dismalpedigree 4y agoI’m referring to the madness in the western state where more than 100% of the water is spoken for.
- lambdasquirrel 4y agoWell, so is growing alfalfa in the desert.
- anjel 4y ago... for export
- nradov 4y agoGolf courses in Phoenix mostly use reclaimed water so their net impact is very low.
- Godel_unicode 4y agoThat’s not true. First, that water would be used for other things if it wasn’t used for golf courses. There are lots of other potential uses for reclaimed water. Second, less than 20% of golf course water is actually from reclaimed sources.
- silon42 4y agoI don't see a reason why one couldn't use 90% of a golf course to grow grass/alfalfa and not waste the water.
- Godel_unicode 4y agoOr, better yet, don’t try grow green things in a desert that has severe water shortages…
- JoBrad 4y agoDo you have any sources for that? Growing golf course greens is very water intensive.
- defrost 4y agoArtifical surf parks in Arizona seem a tad excessive. [0] http://www.swellmfg.com/ http://www.swellmfg.com/
- nickphx 4y ago72% of water used in Arizona is used by Agriculture.. https://www.arizonawaterfacts.com/water-your-facts https://www.arizonawaterfacts.com/water-your-facts
- defrost 4y agoIs this essential agriculture that can't take place in another state? Is this water frugal agriculture appropriate for the climate and actual supply, or is it water exuberant agriculture (avocados, sugar beets, applies, apricots, walnuts, cherries, peaches, nectarines, pears, plums, prunes, figs, kiwis, etc)? Percentages alone don't tell the whole story.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- michaelt 4y ago> Is this essential agriculture that can't take place in another state? Of course not. But if you own some land which is worth $x00,000,000 when irrigated with subsidised water and only $x,000,000 when it's not, and you can give $x0,000 for lobbying to "protect farming jobs and keep food prices low" by giving you your subsidy? Paying $x0,000 a year is good business sense.
- pasttense01 4y agoPeople like fresh fruit and vegetables year around and most of the U.S. is too cold to grow these in winter. Arizona is an exception.
- Fargoan 4y agoI could see an argument that surfing is a religious sacrament.
- benj111 4y agoOriginally golf courses were built on marginal land on dunes. The only thing you need water for is the green. Not that I see golf going back to that.