The Importance Of Water In Seattle

With the Colorado River supplying 43% of all agricultural water consumption and 41% of all Municipal and Industrial water supply in the basin, losing access to this resource entirely for one year would cost $1.434 trillion in combined state GDP [2]. Just a ten percent decline in water availability will reduce combined basin states GDP by $143.4 billion, reduce employment in the area by 1.6 million job-years, and reduce labor income by 87.1billion dollars per year [2]. In addition to the shrinking economic production, the cost of living in the area would also start to increase. The water in the Colorado River provides inexpensive energy for the parts of the lower basin states, the cost of the power has doubled from the initial contracts, and if water levels fall to 1000', the costs could quintuple for customers that are bound to purchase the hydroelectric power until 2067 [8]. While the internal economy of the basin would suffer, the effects would also ripple into the rest of the country. The agricultural Imperial Valley in California, for example, provides two-thirds of the country's vegetables in the winter [9]. Without proper irrigation and water supply, production rates

Metro Atlanta is on a collision course with reality – and the shock of this collision will have profound political and economic implications for future growth throughout the Southeast. The core problem is that Atlanta’s runaway growth will soon outstrip the available water supply (Corps, 1998). And if Atlanta continues to increase its water consumption until the maximum limits are reached, the effects on downstream users will become catastrophic, both economically and environmentally.

Moving on, there are some issues with the legislation that has been passed in order to conserve the water, especially concerning the Clean Water Act. People are having opposition with the rules of the Clean Water Act. Small business owners feel that this act is restricting the way that they tend to their property. For example, several farmers use pesticides, herbicides, and other fertilizers to keep harmful insects and other animals off of their crops, so they can grow properly. These pesticides eventually end up in our local rivers, lakes, and oceans which are making humans and animals very ill. However, they make money by the crops they sell, and to them, the Clean Water Act has a very negative economic impact on them (Landers). Although

Yet, humans have limited control on natural events, so this only reinforces the importance of managing water wisely. Recently California’s government has begun to focus more on sustaining and restoring the water supply. Dale Kasler (2016) articulates in his article some of the steps they have decided to make to solve this serious issue. The government has made the following investments: “$415 million for watershed restoration and other environmental aid for Lake Tahoe; up to $335 million for two proposed reservoirs in California, including the Sites reservoir north of Sacramento; $880 million for flood-control projects on the American and Sacramento rivers in Sacramento; and $780 million for flood-control projects in West Sacramento” (para. 10). This could be the first step to restoring the water to California. But these

With 1,400 miles of water and 9 states using it- water is running out fast. Farmers that use the water are saying that they have more legal rights to use the water since they are growing food to give to everyone. Although, cities are needing water to keep their people alive as well.

On March 27, 2014, Wade Graham of the San Francisco Chronicle reported “The Water Revolution California needs.” California is having a severe drought. Wade Graham tells his readers that California is in a serious water crisis. The state of California needs to make strict changes to how water is being distributed amongst farmers and residents. Before all of California’s ecological system is destroyed. Wade Graham believes that water should be priced higher; that way people aren’t wasting water. Water is a limited resource that should never be wasted, and is probably California’s most valuable resource. Unfortunately, many people waste water; instead of conserve water especially when we live in the state of California where we are subject to

Californians are being heavily fined for using a certain amount of water a month, which impacts the daily lives of everyone. Water is a natural resource that is crucial to everyone’s survival. Whether if it’s being used for cooking, showering, gardening, washing your car or just simply drinking purposes; water is a necessity for everyone. Though the bill has not yet been passed by congress and officially has not become a law, the issue still remains on the table. The drought in California has taken a massive toll on agriculture, the environment and infrastructure. The drought is on its route to damage California’s climate change. In the past three consecutive years the average rain fall has drastically decreased, and the winter temperatures have increased. Since majority of California’s water comes from the Western Rocky Mountains, the water supply there is dropping resulting in more strict laws and regulations on how much water can be consumed by the average

In the his brief but effectual article “The Wrong Way to Think about California Water”, the author Michael Hiltzik presents to the reader “a guide to the wrong ways to think about California water, and the glimmer of a better way”(Hiltzik). In the short piece, Hiltzik argues that the current debate on how California should be spending its meager allowance of water during the current drought is being thoroughly misguided. Hiltzik writes that people should stop criticizing businesses that consume “large” amounts of water, rather, the water already being used should be utilized more efficiently and effectively. “The only lasting solutions include creating a better-functioning water market with transparent pricing and transfers, so that water

In the United States, the available water resources is also under assault. Half of water collected and stored by existing infrastructure is usually used in the production of electricity. This forces the population to use and divide what little there is left. This has always been a “good enough” approach until now, when water prices and population is on the rise.(3) There are already calls for charging water resources in order to increase efficiency of use.(3) Water protection is already being carried out and has been for years, but there is still water pollution occurring within the United States. After the Civil war, America strived to provide its population with clean water

Recently, California has cut out 25% of its cities water usage in attempt to conserve water, but is city-wide restrictions really the answer? There are many simpler and more efficient ways of conserving water rather than flat out restricting it. Picture yourself in a poor city in California with limited food and water supply, now you’re being told by the government that your city is required to cut out one fourth of its total water supply. We all use much more, clean, drinkable water for things other than basic needs. In fact, 5.7 billion gallons of water alone are flushed down the toilet each day by millions of Americans (Fishman.) Flushing too much is not the only way Americans are wasting water, leaks, over-irrigation and cooling of power plants. Just imagine if we were able to reuse all that water or use it in more efficient ways.

How did it come to be that one of the wettest states in the nation, with an average 55 inches rainfall a year, has water-supply problems?

According to the EPA, two of the best and most effective ways to conserve water include metering and drip irrigation (“How to Conserve Water and Use It Effectively”). Metering is effective because “surcharges also give customers a financial incentive to use less water on landscaped areas” (Vickers 340). If home and business owners meter their water, then these people will tend to use less water because they can control the flow of water during the day and night. They can set specific times to have the water on. Also, metering shows how much water a household or industry is using, and by being able to observe the amount of water used, water is conserved because water bills increase. One drawback to metering is that it has an initial start up cost. While it does cost an initial deposit to install, metering eventually saves money and conserves water. Studies show that metering reduces water usage and saves money in the long term (Vickers 382). Not only does metering systems need to be implemented into Arizona’s households and industries, but also drip irrigation needs to be used

Texans need to change their mindset regarding water conservation if they are going to overcome water shortage. In fact, San Antonio is the only sizable Texas metro area with an aggressive and effective water conservation program (McCormick). Austin has a decent water conservation program, but its per capita water use is still very high (second only to Dallas) and its reduction goals are weak. Houston’s current per capita water use is low, but the City of Houston is actively seeking new water rights and supplies to meet projected future water demands (McCormick). Houston could address those needs on a more cost-effective basis by implementing an aggressive water conservation program like San Antonio. The Texas State Water Plan also fails to address the fourteen percent water loss by water utilities from pipe leaks and water theft (Texas Living Waters Project). Houston is one of the biggest offenders regarding water loss. Texas needs to aggressively monitor water loss and make water loss reduction and the required use of leak detection equipment part of the water rights permitting process. The more than twenty six hundred water utilities who routinely fail to file their annual water loss reports as required by law should be penalized (Texas Living Waters Project). Clearly politics and public opinion regarding the need for conservation have made the current water plan less balanced and sustainable by

We all love water, but don’t know much about it. What I mean is that a lot of us don’t even know where our water comes from. That answer varies; for example, the city of Camarillo California gets its’ water in Camrosa Water District. It’s official website, “Camrosa Water District building Water Self- Reliance” provides information like what their purpose is, and as well as water conservation, building self-reliance, and other public information. This website states that Camrosa is currently in a state two water supply shortage. This means that there are restrictions on water use and a call for a voluntary fifteen percent reduction on the amount of water consumption. Also, according to Camrosa “Agricultural Water Management Plan”, water is being

In recent years, the City of Orem’s storm drains have occasionally become filled during periods of heavy rainfall. The filling of the storm drains has backed up water to such an extent that homes, particularly those in low-lying areas, become flooded, causing substantial damage to basements and the foundation of the homes. In a prior interview with Orem City’s Storm Water Field Supervisor, Rick Sabey, he responded that these irregular downpours overfill our city’s sumps1. Mr. Sabey feels that no city creates and designs their storm drain system based on something that rarely happens. “Most cities model [storm drains] after 10-year storms3.” In 2013, the City of Orem began designing precautions to better improve the