Image courtesy of Calif. Dept. of Water Resources
If California really tried, it could keep a reserve amounting to as much water all of its cities use in a year — about 14 million acre feet. That’s according to a new analysis conducted by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Pacific Institute. It’s the “trying” that could prove difficult for the drought-ridden state, because it would take an aggressive, across-the-board effort to save water, reuse water, and capture lost stormwater. Widespread use of available but underused efficiency methods would have to be implemented in the state’s massive agricultural industry, which uses about 80% of allocated water, and throughout urban areas, which use about 20%. That will take strong political will, a lot of cooperation, and financial investment. But it’s worth it, because it will make a huge difference, and you can’t just keep throwing new plans for billion-dollar desalination plants at the problem.
Read more:
Issue Brief: The Untapped Potential of California’s Water Supply: Efficiency, Reuse, and Stormwater – NRDC and Pacific Institute
California Water Security Attainable, Study Suggests – The Desert Sun
Related posts:
Past, Present and Future: California’s Epic Struggle With Water
Serious Water Conservation Requires Layered Approach and Emotional Commitment
California’s State-of-the-State Address: Brown’s Drought Plan in Broad Strokes
Civilization Lost? California’s 500-Year Drought Potential
At the Waterline 