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How much of that 80% of water used for irrigation is lost to evaporation and such. As the water is essentially 'free' to the farmers, they have little incentive
by gizmo686 13y ago
How much of that 80% of water used for irrigation is lost to evaporation and such. As the water is essentially 'free' to the farmers, they have little incentive to use it efficiently, so it would probably be cheaper to use sprinklers than more water efficient methods like drip irrigation.
Also, is the problem really that the government subsidizes water. As I understand it, there is a naturally occurring aquifer that is currently being used at free market rates. We would need the government to tax this to reduce usage.
- pilom 13y agoI guess you're right in the cases of the aquifer's. There are 2 possible solutions. 1. Tax water pumped out of aquifers so that demand levels off at the aquifer fill rate, or 2. Wait until all the the aquifers are depleted to lower levels and force people to re-drill their wells and build new more expensive pumps. Eventually the cost of pumping out the aquifers will reduce demand to the aquifer fill rate.
- deleted 13y ago[deleted]
- schiffern 13y ago>Eventually the cost of pumping out the aquifers will reduce demand to the aquifer fill rate. What actually happens is groundwater salting which starts at the coast and works inland, killing pretty much all plant life as it goes.