Thoughts on the Great Drought

Years of low rainfall, reduced snowpack and unusually warm weather contributed to the current drought. These conditions have stressed the legal/regulatory system designed for the needs of people and to protect the natural resources. These dual objectives are supported across a wide spectrum of political values. We read mostly about the conflicts, but the people of California made a huge statement with overwhelming approval of last November’s $7.5 billion bond issue funding projects and programs, part of a statewide comprehensive water plan for California. This measure provides funding for practically every aspect that needs to be addressed from water storage to water treatment and recycling to flood control and habitat. For an outline of the major provisions of Proposition 1 see: http://gov.ca.gov/docs/Water_Bond_Outline_8_13_14.pdf

It will take tears to reap the benefits of Prop 1, but it is certainly a step in the right direction. In the meantime, water managers at all levels are working diligently, and with a great urgency, to ensure a continuing reliable supply of water. In coming weeks, once the rainy season has ended, we should get word from state regulators and our regional wholesale supplier (Metropolitan Water District of Southern California) whether there will be restrictions or allocations making it more expensive to use water.

There is no single way to address a shortage of supply. The best thing for each of us to do now is to remain calm, stay informed and find ways to become increasingly efficient in our use of water. For most people, this means more conscious effort to use less water both indoors and outdoors. For people who have a yard and a pool, the largest gains in efficiency will through planting and redesign of landscape that requires less water, tight control of watering practices and management of p to prevent overfilling and to reduce evaporation - cover the pool whenever practical.

On a larger scale, water system managers are working hard to manage supplies, remodel and build new systems to improve water use efficiency. As the proper infrastructure gets built, a greater percentage of wastewater can be treated and used for irrigation of landscape in many locations. Storage will be needed to enable accumulated winter volumes to be set aside for use in the dry summer period. Advanced treatment facilities will be needed for replenishment of groundwater. Treated water will need to stored in a variety of ways before it can be used for replenishment of groundwater and eventually be used for drinking water.

Desalination of ocean water is part of the equation too, but there are regulatory barriers and expenses that do not exist for other sources of supply. In most cases, ocean desalination will be far more expensive than building facilities and treatment plants to better manage land side supply. Ocean desalination projects should be viewed on a case by case basis.