OT – Water restriction

[scaredyclassic]

i think the solution may be for all of us to eat the weeds in our local areas.

[paramount]

For thousands of years humanity has figured out ways to move water from where it is, to where it’s needed.

I want my kids to play soccer on natural grass, not a rug.

Yes, So Cal is essentially an arid desert region.

I don’t care – I want green lush landscapes and parks, not a bleak depressing landscape of rocks and outdoor carpet.

Private sector workers of California: You’re paying for a 1st Class ticket, but were sitting in the middle row at the back of a Southwest plane with no nuts. Where’s the money going? Where’s the water?

We should already have 50 desal plants along the coast.

Please, go ahead and take a shower (without guilt) and ignore the radicals.

And don’t forget to flush the toilet!

[spdrun]

I don’t care – I want green lush landscapes and parks, not a bleak depressing landscape of rocks and outdoor carpet.

No one is making you stay in Southern California. You can move to the Midwest or the East, to the mountain pine forests in Julian, or even to the Costa Rican rain forest.

“I came to Casablanca for the waters.”
“What waters? We’re in the middle of the desert.”
“Seems I was misinformed…”

Earth will have different biomes — it’s silly to move to another biome and expect it to be exactly like the one you left.

[an]

[quote=spdrun]

I don’t care – I want green lush landscapes and parks, not a bleak depressing landscape of rocks and outdoor carpet.

No one is making you stay in Southern California. You can move to the Midwest or the East, to the mountain pine forests in Julian, or even to the Costa Rican rain forest.

“I came to Casablanca for the waters.”
“What waters? We’re in the middle of the desert.”
“Seems I was misinformed…”

Earth will have different biomes — it’s silly to move to another biome and expect it to be exactly like the one you left.[/quote]
It’s called 21st century. We’re not in the 16th century anymore. There’s that big giant body of water just west of us. We have the technology to make it happen. So, make it happen. It really isn’t that difficult or expensive. It’s a lot cheaper than the bullet train. Water is a necessity while a bullet train isn’t. Water is used by everyone while a bullet train wouldn’t. Water is dirt cheap compare to electricity. Build a few hundred desalination plants, build toilet to tap system for every cities and raise the water rate by 2-4X. Those who want to not spend more can conserve and those who want lush green grass and pay for it. It’s really that simple.

[spdrun]

I’d agree that CA should build more desalination plants. But I don’t agree that we should form nature to fit an ideal that’s from a different biome. Every part of the country has its own beauty. Why not enjoy California as it is?

[an]

Why do you have heater and AC in the north east? Why not enjoy NY winter as it is?

[spdrun]

Changing the indoor temperature/humidity is very different from terraforming an entire neighborhood to look like a place 3000 miles away.

[an]

[quote=spdrun]Changing the indoor temperature/humidity is very different from terraforming an entire neighborhood to look like a place 3000 miles away.[/quote]It’s called freedom and options. You can enjoy your dessert landscape but you shouldn’t force your neighbor to do the same. If I want to live in an area where everything look uniform, I would live in an HOA ridden area.

[spdrun]

But water should be priced to reflect its actual cost, not subsidized. Also, pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides required to maintain a lawn should be priced to reflect their environmental cost and restricted in use.

Runoff from lawns poisons the ocean, and chemicals are used far more liberally for lawns than for farms.

[an]

[quote=spdrun]But water should be priced to reflect its actual cost, not subsidized. Also, pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides required to maintain a lawn should be priced to reflect their environmental cost and restricted in use.

Runoff from lawns poisons the ocean, and chemicals are used far more liberally for lawns than for farms.[/quote]
That’s exactly what I said. Price water appropriately, but don’t restrict use of it. Allow the people to restrict their own usage base on their budget. Just like electricity.

As for runoff, we should implement storm drain runoff recapturing system so we can recycle that water too. So, there would be NO storm drain runoff.

Like I said, it’s all pretty straight forward, desal, toilet to tap, storm drain runoff, mini dams, large dams. If we would just implement those 5 things, we would no longer need to talk about water shortage.

[FlyerInHi]

I wholeheartedly agree, AN.

Although Singapore is a tropical island, they don’t have a lot of local water sources to support a large population. They built a dam around the bay. They are exporting the technology to Australia.

[paramount]

Recent water usage:

2015 2014 2013 2012

May 16 16 16 11
June 11 17 18 30
July 10 15 20 27
August 19 19 21 22
Septemb 12 16 17 29

Let’s see yours…

[The-Shoveler]

I long for the days of droughts and endless sunshine.

I guess they can shut down the new desal plant for a few years maybe save a few bucks.

[phaster]

[quote=The-Shoveler]I long for the days of droughts and endless sunshine.

I guess they can shut down the new desal plant for a few years maybe save a few bucks.[/quote]

one stormy days like today I understand the sentiment BUT,… be careful what you wish for

one thing few realize is that drought in this region can last longer than a human life time AND that there have been two long term drought events that happened in the past 1200 years,… which in geological time is akin to a blink of an eye

http://www.TinyURL.com/AncientDroughts

FYI

[quote]
Get ready to save water: Permanent California restrictions approved by Gov. Jerry Brown

…The laws set an initial limit for indoor water use of 55 gallons per-person per-day in 2022, which gradually drops to 50 gallons per person by 2030.

Just how consumers will be required to meet the goals remains unknown.

https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article211333594.html
[/quote]

[gzz]

The desalination plant was expensive to build, not to operate. It has a long term contract.

I also miss the drought.

Between the rain and China trade war, almonds are now $4.50/lb at Costco. They were $7 or 8 a few years ago. Walnuts are also now very cheap. Hazelnuts, Brazil nuts and cashews have gone way up. Pecans are flat.

I notice because I spend about $600 a year on nuts since about 2010.

[Author]

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