Water!

[AK]

Last weekend was … beautiful … summer-like weather at the tail end of February. Those Piggs who followed SD R’s advice, grabbed a Slurpee, and headed for the beach were reminded once more of why “everyone wants to live here.”

Yet if we were farmers, we’d be frickin terrified of shorts weather in winter. We’d better pray for rain … drought elsewhere in the state won’t just affect our car-washing habits and our lush expanses of water-gulping Bermuda grass … it’s hitting us in our wallets. Look at the price of fresh produce now, and imagine what it might be like in the future. Not to mention the loss of tax revenue and the cost of benefits for unemployed farm workers.

Ultimately it hits long-term property values too … we need to make full use of local water resources and reduce our dependence on (temporarily) cheap imported water.

http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1663578.html

[macromaniac]

AK,

That is why I have been preaching here over the last few weeks to by lots of water, tomato based canned goods, and food. It is the best investment right now….you can’t eat gold bars and this drought is looking to be the worst ever in CA.

I am off to Costco to load up again today….

[AK]

The latest reservoir and snowpack reports are looking a lot more encouraging. But even if this turns out to be a near-normal year (which is looking more likely), water security is a long-term problem we need to confront.

But I’ve always said IRL that there’s no such thing as being overstocked on canned tomatoes. Great for soups, stews, sauces, etc.

[AK]

The latest reservoir and snowpack reports are looking a lot more encouraging. But even if this turns out to be a near-normal year (which is looking more likely), water security is a long-term problem we need to confront.

But I’ve always said IRL that there’s no such thing as being overstocked on canned tomatoes. Great for soups, stews, sauces, etc.

[AK]

The latest reservoir and snowpack reports are looking a lot more encouraging. But even if this turns out to be a near-normal year (which is looking more likely), water security is a long-term problem we need to confront.

But I’ve always said IRL that there’s no such thing as being overstocked on canned tomatoes. Great for soups, stews, sauces, etc.

[AK]

The latest reservoir and snowpack reports are looking a lot more encouraging. But even if this turns out to be a near-normal year (which is looking more likely), water security is a long-term problem we need to confront.

But I’ve always said IRL that there’s no such thing as being overstocked on canned tomatoes. Great for soups, stews, sauces, etc.

[AK]

The latest reservoir and snowpack reports are looking a lot more encouraging. But even if this turns out to be a near-normal year (which is looking more likely), water security is a long-term problem we need to confront.

But I’ve always said IRL that there’s no such thing as being overstocked on canned tomatoes. Great for soups, stews, sauces, etc.

[macromaniac]

AK,

That is why I have been preaching here over the last few weeks to by lots of water, tomato based canned goods, and food. It is the best investment right now….you can’t eat gold bars and this drought is looking to be the worst ever in CA.

I am off to Costco to load up again today….

[macromaniac]

AK,

That is why I have been preaching here over the last few weeks to by lots of water, tomato based canned goods, and food. It is the best investment right now….you can’t eat gold bars and this drought is looking to be the worst ever in CA.

I am off to Costco to load up again today….

[macromaniac]

AK,

That is why I have been preaching here over the last few weeks to by lots of water, tomato based canned goods, and food. It is the best investment right now….you can’t eat gold bars and this drought is looking to be the worst ever in CA.

I am off to Costco to load up again today….

[macromaniac]

AK,

That is why I have been preaching here over the last few weeks to by lots of water, tomato based canned goods, and food. It is the best investment right now….you can’t eat gold bars and this drought is looking to be the worst ever in CA.

I am off to Costco to load up again today….

[EconProf]

If I remember correctly from the news reports, a lot of the water cutbacks for CA farmers are due to the need to protect a certain fish–a type of smelt, I believe.
Because it is allegedly an endangered species, the water cannot be diverted towards agriculture as this will hurt the remaining smelt. Farmers need to get smart and be declared an endangered species.

[Anonymous]

[quote=EconProf][…] Farmers need to get smart and be declared an endangered species.[/quote]

Uh, I think they did that a long time ago. Ever heard of Farm Subsidies?

http://www.heritage.org/research/agriculture/bg2043.cfm

[afx114]

It’s not just the water itself that is an issue, it is the infrastructure. A large percentage of our water supply is lost due to cracks, holes, and seepage from our crumbling delivery system. Some of our systems were installed at the turn of the century and if they aren’t replaced soon our water issues will get that much worse.

[CA renter]

[quote=afx114]It’s not just the water itself that is an issue, it is the infrastructure. A large percentage of our water supply is lost due to cracks, holes, and seepage from our crumbling delivery system. Some of our systems were installed at the turn of the century and if they aren’t replaced soon our water issues will get that much worse.[/quote]

Infrastructure projects!!! 🙂

Seriously. I hate bailouts for lenders and borrowers, but am 100% in favor of infrastructure spending and govt spending on research and development in healthcare, energy and transportation technologies. It’s not so much about “jump starting” growth as it is about keeping people employed (and maintaining social order) as we transition from a debt-based to a savings-based economy.

[CA renter]

[quote=afx114]It’s not just the water itself that is an issue, it is the infrastructure. A large percentage of our water supply is lost due to cracks, holes, and seepage from our crumbling delivery system. Some of our systems were installed at the turn of the century and if they aren’t replaced soon our water issues will get that much worse.[/quote]

Infrastructure projects!!! 🙂

Seriously. I hate bailouts for lenders and borrowers, but am 100% in favor of infrastructure spending and govt spending on research and development in healthcare, energy and transportation technologies. It’s not so much about “jump starting” growth as it is about keeping people employed (and maintaining social order) as we transition from a debt-based to a savings-based economy.

[CA renter]

[quote=afx114]It’s not just the water itself that is an issue, it is the infrastructure. A large percentage of our water supply is lost due to cracks, holes, and seepage from our crumbling delivery system. Some of our systems were installed at the turn of the century and if they aren’t replaced soon our water issues will get that much worse.[/quote]

Infrastructure projects!!! 🙂

Seriously. I hate bailouts for lenders and borrowers, but am 100% in favor of infrastructure spending and govt spending on research and development in healthcare, energy and transportation technologies. It’s not so much about “jump starting” growth as it is about keeping people employed (and maintaining social order) as we transition from a debt-based to a savings-based economy.

[CA renter]

[quote=afx114]It’s not just the water itself that is an issue, it is the infrastructure. A large percentage of our water supply is lost due to cracks, holes, and seepage from our crumbling delivery system. Some of our systems were installed at the turn of the century and if they aren’t replaced soon our water issues will get that much worse.[/quote]

Infrastructure projects!!! 🙂

Seriously. I hate bailouts for lenders and borrowers, but am 100% in favor of infrastructure spending and govt spending on research and development in healthcare, energy and transportation technologies. It’s not so much about “jump starting” growth as it is about keeping people employed (and maintaining social order) as we transition from a debt-based to a savings-based economy.

[CA renter]

[quote=afx114]It’s not just the water itself that is an issue, it is the infrastructure. A large percentage of our water supply is lost due to cracks, holes, and seepage from our crumbling delivery system. Some of our systems were installed at the turn of the century and if they aren’t replaced soon our water issues will get that much worse.[/quote]

Infrastructure projects!!! 🙂

Seriously. I hate bailouts for lenders and borrowers, but am 100% in favor of infrastructure spending and govt spending on research and development in healthcare, energy and transportation technologies. It’s not so much about “jump starting” growth as it is about keeping people employed (and maintaining social order) as we transition from a debt-based to a savings-based economy.

[afx114]

It’s not just the water itself that is an issue, it is the infrastructure. A large percentage of our water supply is lost due to cracks, holes, and seepage from our crumbling delivery system. Some of our systems were installed at the turn of the century and if they aren’t replaced soon our water issues will get that much worse.

[afx114]

It’s not just the water itself that is an issue, it is the infrastructure. A large percentage of our water supply is lost due to cracks, holes, and seepage from our crumbling delivery system. Some of our systems were installed at the turn of the century and if they aren’t replaced soon our water issues will get that much worse.

[afx114]

It’s not just the water itself that is an issue, it is the infrastructure. A large percentage of our water supply is lost due to cracks, holes, and seepage from our crumbling delivery system. Some of our systems were installed at the turn of the century and if they aren’t replaced soon our water issues will get that much worse.

[afx114]

It’s not just the water itself that is an issue, it is the infrastructure. A large percentage of our water supply is lost due to cracks, holes, and seepage from our crumbling delivery system. Some of our systems were installed at the turn of the century and if they aren’t replaced soon our water issues will get that much worse.

[Anonymous]

[quote=EconProf][…] Farmers need to get smart and be declared an endangered species.[/quote]

Uh, I think they did that a long time ago. Ever heard of Farm Subsidies?

http://www.heritage.org/research/agriculture/bg2043.cfm

[Anonymous]

[quote=EconProf][…] Farmers need to get smart and be declared an endangered species.[/quote]

Uh, I think they did that a long time ago. Ever heard of Farm Subsidies?

http://www.heritage.org/research/agriculture/bg2043.cfm

[Anonymous]

[quote=EconProf][…] Farmers need to get smart and be declared an endangered species.[/quote]

Uh, I think they did that a long time ago. Ever heard of Farm Subsidies?

http://www.heritage.org/research/agriculture/bg2043.cfm

[Anonymous]

[quote=EconProf][…] Farmers need to get smart and be declared an endangered species.[/quote]

Uh, I think they did that a long time ago. Ever heard of Farm Subsidies?

http://www.heritage.org/research/agriculture/bg2043.cfm

[Eugene]

[quote=EconProf]If I remember correctly from the news reports, a lot of the water cutbacks for CA farmers are due to the need to protect a certain fish–a type of smelt, I believe.
Because it is allegedly an endangered species, the water cannot be diverted towards agriculture as this will hurt the remaining smelt. Farmers need to get smart and be declared an endangered species.[/quote]

There are other ways to deal with the problem … a few tons of DDT dumped into Suisun Bay in early summer should do the trick. Or maybe some smuggled piranhas.

Seriously though, we need to build a desalinization plant…

[DoJC]

This is the part that should scare out state legislators and assemblymen:

A University of California study takes stock of what to expect: Up to $2.2 billion could be lost in the Central Valley this year, and up to 80,000 jobs.

With the recent massive increase in taxes, fear of unemployment, stock market losses and overall instability of our economy people will already reduce spending considerably. Now, not only do we have a severe water shortage coming, but another multi-billion dollar shortfall on our state budget.

[DoJC]

Also, not sure if anyone caught this Bloomberg article, but it paints another bleak water picture for us in CA:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a_b86mnWn9.w

[DoJC]

Also, not sure if anyone caught this Bloomberg article, but it paints another bleak water picture for us in CA:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a_b86mnWn9.w

[DoJC]

Also, not sure if anyone caught this Bloomberg article, but it paints another bleak water picture for us in CA:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a_b86mnWn9.w

[DoJC]

Also, not sure if anyone caught this Bloomberg article, but it paints another bleak water picture for us in CA:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a_b86mnWn9.w

[DoJC]

Also, not sure if anyone caught this Bloomberg article, but it paints another bleak water picture for us in CA:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a_b86mnWn9.w

[DoJC]

This is the part that should scare out state legislators and assemblymen:

A University of California study takes stock of what to expect: Up to $2.2 billion could be lost in the Central Valley this year, and up to 80,000 jobs.

With the recent massive increase in taxes, fear of unemployment, stock market losses and overall instability of our economy people will already reduce spending considerably. Now, not only do we have a severe water shortage coming, but another multi-billion dollar shortfall on our state budget.

[DoJC]

This is the part that should scare out state legislators and assemblymen:

A University of California study takes stock of what to expect: Up to $2.2 billion could be lost in the Central Valley this year, and up to 80,000 jobs.

With the recent massive increase in taxes, fear of unemployment, stock market losses and overall instability of our economy people will already reduce spending considerably. Now, not only do we have a severe water shortage coming, but another multi-billion dollar shortfall on our state budget.

[DoJC]

This is the part that should scare out state legislators and assemblymen:

A University of California study takes stock of what to expect: Up to $2.2 billion could be lost in the Central Valley this year, and up to 80,000 jobs.

With the recent massive increase in taxes, fear of unemployment, stock market losses and overall instability of our economy people will already reduce spending considerably. Now, not only do we have a severe water shortage coming, but another multi-billion dollar shortfall on our state budget.

[DoJC]

This is the part that should scare out state legislators and assemblymen:

A University of California study takes stock of what to expect: Up to $2.2 billion could be lost in the Central Valley this year, and up to 80,000 jobs.

With the recent massive increase in taxes, fear of unemployment, stock market losses and overall instability of our economy people will already reduce spending considerably. Now, not only do we have a severe water shortage coming, but another multi-billion dollar shortfall on our state budget.

[DoJC]

[quote=esmith]

Seriously though, we need to build a desalinization plant…[/quote]
No, we need to built dozens of desalinization plants! The more the merrier. Water is going to be in seriously short supply to many western states, and if we can become almost independent upon outside suppliers we’ll be better off.

Sadly, this whole recession/depression thing is putting a serious hamper on discretionary income for states to build these plants.

[donaldduckmoore]

I had a chance to read some information from SoCalWaterSmart.com. We need water but we have plenty of sun. Why can’t we build more desalinization plants using solar energy? We are surrounded by water why can’t we make good use of it. It seems the way to go.

Another strategy is to build aqueducts all over the states in this country that have flood problem all the time and direct the ducts to drought areas.

[Arraya]

The biggest desalinization plant in the US is in tampa. I took about 10 years to complete and bankrupt three companies.

Carlsbad was working on plans for a big plant a few years ago. I’m not sure what the status is today.

[Arraya]

The biggest desalinization plant in the US is in tampa. I took about 10 years to complete and bankrupt three companies.

Carlsbad was working on plans for a big plant a few years ago. I’m not sure what the status is today.

[Arraya]

The biggest desalinization plant in the US is in tampa. I took about 10 years to complete and bankrupt three companies.

Carlsbad was working on plans for a big plant a few years ago. I’m not sure what the status is today.

[Arraya]

The biggest desalinization plant in the US is in tampa. I took about 10 years to complete and bankrupt three companies.

Carlsbad was working on plans for a big plant a few years ago. I’m not sure what the status is today.

[Arraya]

The biggest desalinization plant in the US is in tampa. I took about 10 years to complete and bankrupt three companies.

Carlsbad was working on plans for a big plant a few years ago. I’m not sure what the status is today.

[creechrr]

[quote=donaldduckmoore]We need water but we have plenty of sun. Why can’t we build more desalinization plants using solar energy? We are surrounded by water why can’t we make good use of it. It seems the way to go.
[/quote]

I thought the same thing.

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/5155

[Arraya]

[quote=creechrr][quote=donaldduckmoore]We need water but we have plenty of sun. Why can’t we build more desalinization plants using solar energy? We are surrounded by water why can’t we make good use of it. It seems the way to go.
[/quote]

I thought the same thing.

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/5155
[/quote]

The oil drum is an excellent, excellent blog for all issues energy.

[donaldduckmoore]

Looks like the project has been given a go-ahead and the plant should start operating in 2011. The proposal has been submitted since 1998 and it took 11 years to pass the legislature. Unbelivable.

http://www.carlsbad-desal.com/news.aspx?id=212

In the meantime, I am going to direct my washing machine waste water to the backyard for irrigation.

I disagree with the article “Energy Down the Drain” from theoildrum.com. We know that we need lots of energy to turn salt water to drinking water, but solar energy is highly sustainable. The author tends to assume that crude oil is the only energy source. Environmentally, we need more space to install enough solar panels to create sufficient energy to do the job if we use solar. One major concern about desalination plant is how it dump the salt waste.

[Rt.66]

Very High Temperature nuke reactors (VHTR) are perfect for combo electical generation/desalination, as heat is the main requirement for desal. Cheap clean electricity and fresh water.

As I recall there is a San Diego company who can build VHTRs.

Millions of acres of Colorado river farm land are already fallowed each year to provide drinking water to SoCal. It does not look like its going to improve anytime soon, so why no nuke desalanation plants in Obamas stimulus? That seems like a good way to put people to work and future generations get more than just a tax bill;
they get cheap electricity, jobs and fresh water?

[Rt.66]

Very High Temperature nuke reactors (VHTR) are perfect for combo electical generation/desalination, as heat is the main requirement for desal. Cheap clean electricity and fresh water.

As I recall there is a San Diego company who can build VHTRs.

Millions of acres of Colorado river farm land are already fallowed each year to provide drinking water to SoCal. It does not look like its going to improve anytime soon, so why no nuke desalanation plants in Obamas stimulus? That seems like a good way to put people to work and future generations get more than just a tax bill;
they get cheap electricity, jobs and fresh water?

[Rt.66]

Very High Temperature nuke reactors (VHTR) are perfect for combo electical generation/desalination, as heat is the main requirement for desal. Cheap clean electricity and fresh water.

As I recall there is a San Diego company who can build VHTRs.

Millions of acres of Colorado river farm land are already fallowed each year to provide drinking water to SoCal. It does not look like its going to improve anytime soon, so why no nuke desalanation plants in Obamas stimulus? That seems like a good way to put people to work and future generations get more than just a tax bill;
they get cheap electricity, jobs and fresh water?

[Rt.66]

Very High Temperature nuke reactors (VHTR) are perfect for combo electical generation/desalination, as heat is the main requirement for desal. Cheap clean electricity and fresh water.

As I recall there is a San Diego company who can build VHTRs.

Millions of acres of Colorado river farm land are already fallowed each year to provide drinking water to SoCal. It does not look like its going to improve anytime soon, so why no nuke desalanation plants in Obamas stimulus? That seems like a good way to put people to work and future generations get more than just a tax bill;
they get cheap electricity, jobs and fresh water?

[Rt.66]

Very High Temperature nuke reactors (VHTR) are perfect for combo electical generation/desalination, as heat is the main requirement for desal. Cheap clean electricity and fresh water.

As I recall there is a San Diego company who can build VHTRs.

Millions of acres of Colorado river farm land are already fallowed each year to provide drinking water to SoCal. It does not look like its going to improve anytime soon, so why no nuke desalanation plants in Obamas stimulus? That seems like a good way to put people to work and future generations get more than just a tax bill;
they get cheap electricity, jobs and fresh water?

[donaldduckmoore]

Looks like the project has been given a go-ahead and the plant should start operating in 2011. The proposal has been submitted since 1998 and it took 11 years to pass the legislature. Unbelivable.

http://www.carlsbad-desal.com/news.aspx?id=212

In the meantime, I am going to direct my washing machine waste water to the backyard for irrigation.

I disagree with the article “Energy Down the Drain” from theoildrum.com. We know that we need lots of energy to turn salt water to drinking water, but solar energy is highly sustainable. The author tends to assume that crude oil is the only energy source. Environmentally, we need more space to install enough solar panels to create sufficient energy to do the job if we use solar. One major concern about desalination plant is how it dump the salt waste.

[donaldduckmoore]

Looks like the project has been given a go-ahead and the plant should start operating in 2011. The proposal has been submitted since 1998 and it took 11 years to pass the legislature. Unbelivable.

http://www.carlsbad-desal.com/news.aspx?id=212

In the meantime, I am going to direct my washing machine waste water to the backyard for irrigation.

I disagree with the article “Energy Down the Drain” from theoildrum.com. We know that we need lots of energy to turn salt water to drinking water, but solar energy is highly sustainable. The author tends to assume that crude oil is the only energy source. Environmentally, we need more space to install enough solar panels to create sufficient energy to do the job if we use solar. One major concern about desalination plant is how it dump the salt waste.

[donaldduckmoore]

Looks like the project has been given a go-ahead and the plant should start operating in 2011. The proposal has been submitted since 1998 and it took 11 years to pass the legislature. Unbelivable.

http://www.carlsbad-desal.com/news.aspx?id=212

In the meantime, I am going to direct my washing machine waste water to the backyard for irrigation.

I disagree with the article “Energy Down the Drain” from theoildrum.com. We know that we need lots of energy to turn salt water to drinking water, but solar energy is highly sustainable. The author tends to assume that crude oil is the only energy source. Environmentally, we need more space to install enough solar panels to create sufficient energy to do the job if we use solar. One major concern about desalination plant is how it dump the salt waste.

[donaldduckmoore]

Looks like the project has been given a go-ahead and the plant should start operating in 2011. The proposal has been submitted since 1998 and it took 11 years to pass the legislature. Unbelivable.

http://www.carlsbad-desal.com/news.aspx?id=212

In the meantime, I am going to direct my washing machine waste water to the backyard for irrigation.

I disagree with the article “Energy Down the Drain” from theoildrum.com. We know that we need lots of energy to turn salt water to drinking water, but solar energy is highly sustainable. The author tends to assume that crude oil is the only energy source. Environmentally, we need more space to install enough solar panels to create sufficient energy to do the job if we use solar. One major concern about desalination plant is how it dump the salt waste.

[Arraya]

[quote=creechrr][quote=donaldduckmoore]We need water but we have plenty of sun. Why can’t we build more desalinization plants using solar energy? We are surrounded by water why can’t we make good use of it. It seems the way to go.
[/quote]

I thought the same thing.

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/5155
[/quote]

The oil drum is an excellent, excellent blog for all issues energy.

[Arraya]

[quote=creechrr][quote=donaldduckmoore]We need water but we have plenty of sun. Why can’t we build more desalinization plants using solar energy? We are surrounded by water why can’t we make good use of it. It seems the way to go.
[/quote]

I thought the same thing.

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/5155
[/quote]

The oil drum is an excellent, excellent blog for all issues energy.

[Arraya]

[quote=creechrr][quote=donaldduckmoore]We need water but we have plenty of sun. Why can’t we build more desalinization plants using solar energy? We are surrounded by water why can’t we make good use of it. It seems the way to go.
[/quote]

I thought the same thing.

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/5155
[/quote]

The oil drum is an excellent, excellent blog for all issues energy.

[Arraya]

[quote=creechrr][quote=donaldduckmoore]We need water but we have plenty of sun. Why can’t we build more desalinization plants using solar energy? We are surrounded by water why can’t we make good use of it. It seems the way to go.
[/quote]

I thought the same thing.

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/5155
[/quote]

The oil drum is an excellent, excellent blog for all issues energy.

[creechrr]

[quote=donaldduckmoore]We need water but we have plenty of sun. Why can’t we build more desalinization plants using solar energy? We are surrounded by water why can’t we make good use of it. It seems the way to go.
[/quote]

I thought the same thing.

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/5155

[creechrr]

[quote=donaldduckmoore]We need water but we have plenty of sun. Why can’t we build more desalinization plants using solar energy? We are surrounded by water why can’t we make good use of it. It seems the way to go.
[/quote]

I thought the same thing.

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/5155

[creechrr]

[quote=donaldduckmoore]We need water but we have plenty of sun. Why can’t we build more desalinization plants using solar energy? We are surrounded by water why can’t we make good use of it. It seems the way to go.
[/quote]

I thought the same thing.

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/5155

[creechrr]

[quote=donaldduckmoore]We need water but we have plenty of sun. Why can’t we build more desalinization plants using solar energy? We are surrounded by water why can’t we make good use of it. It seems the way to go.
[/quote]

I thought the same thing.

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/5155

[donaldduckmoore]

I had a chance to read some information from SoCalWaterSmart.com. We need water but we have plenty of sun. Why can’t we build more desalinization plants using solar energy? We are surrounded by water why can’t we make good use of it. It seems the way to go.

Another strategy is to build aqueducts all over the states in this country that have flood problem all the time and direct the ducts to drought areas.

[donaldduckmoore]

I had a chance to read some information from SoCalWaterSmart.com. We need water but we have plenty of sun. Why can’t we build more desalinization plants using solar energy? We are surrounded by water why can’t we make good use of it. It seems the way to go.

Another strategy is to build aqueducts all over the states in this country that have flood problem all the time and direct the ducts to drought areas.

[donaldduckmoore]

I had a chance to read some information from SoCalWaterSmart.com. We need water but we have plenty of sun. Why can’t we build more desalinization plants using solar energy? We are surrounded by water why can’t we make good use of it. It seems the way to go.

Another strategy is to build aqueducts all over the states in this country that have flood problem all the time and direct the ducts to drought areas.

[donaldduckmoore]

I had a chance to read some information from SoCalWaterSmart.com. We need water but we have plenty of sun. Why can’t we build more desalinization plants using solar energy? We are surrounded by water why can’t we make good use of it. It seems the way to go.

Another strategy is to build aqueducts all over the states in this country that have flood problem all the time and direct the ducts to drought areas.

[DoJC]

[quote=esmith]

Seriously though, we need to build a desalinization plant…[/quote]
No, we need to built dozens of desalinization plants! The more the merrier. Water is going to be in seriously short supply to many western states, and if we can become almost independent upon outside suppliers we’ll be better off.

Sadly, this whole recession/depression thing is putting a serious hamper on discretionary income for states to build these plants.

[DoJC]

[quote=esmith]

Seriously though, we need to build a desalinization plant…[/quote]
No, we need to built dozens of desalinization plants! The more the merrier. Water is going to be in seriously short supply to many western states, and if we can become almost independent upon outside suppliers we’ll be better off.

Sadly, this whole recession/depression thing is putting a serious hamper on discretionary income for states to build these plants.

[DoJC]

[quote=esmith]

Seriously though, we need to build a desalinization plant…[/quote]
No, we need to built dozens of desalinization plants! The more the merrier. Water is going to be in seriously short supply to many western states, and if we can become almost independent upon outside suppliers we’ll be better off.

Sadly, this whole recession/depression thing is putting a serious hamper on discretionary income for states to build these plants.

[DoJC]

[quote=esmith]

Seriously though, we need to build a desalinization plant…[/quote]
No, we need to built dozens of desalinization plants! The more the merrier. Water is going to be in seriously short supply to many western states, and if we can become almost independent upon outside suppliers we’ll be better off.

Sadly, this whole recession/depression thing is putting a serious hamper on discretionary income for states to build these plants.

[Eugene]

[quote=EconProf]If I remember correctly from the news reports, a lot of the water cutbacks for CA farmers are due to the need to protect a certain fish–a type of smelt, I believe.
Because it is allegedly an endangered species, the water cannot be diverted towards agriculture as this will hurt the remaining smelt. Farmers need to get smart and be declared an endangered species.[/quote]

There are other ways to deal with the problem … a few tons of DDT dumped into Suisun Bay in early summer should do the trick. Or maybe some smuggled piranhas.

Seriously though, we need to build a desalinization plant…

[Eugene]

[quote=EconProf]If I remember correctly from the news reports, a lot of the water cutbacks for CA farmers are due to the need to protect a certain fish–a type of smelt, I believe.
Because it is allegedly an endangered species, the water cannot be diverted towards agriculture as this will hurt the remaining smelt. Farmers need to get smart and be declared an endangered species.[/quote]

There are other ways to deal with the problem … a few tons of DDT dumped into Suisun Bay in early summer should do the trick. Or maybe some smuggled piranhas.

Seriously though, we need to build a desalinization plant…

[Eugene]

[quote=EconProf]If I remember correctly from the news reports, a lot of the water cutbacks for CA farmers are due to the need to protect a certain fish–a type of smelt, I believe.
Because it is allegedly an endangered species, the water cannot be diverted towards agriculture as this will hurt the remaining smelt. Farmers need to get smart and be declared an endangered species.[/quote]

There are other ways to deal with the problem … a few tons of DDT dumped into Suisun Bay in early summer should do the trick. Or maybe some smuggled piranhas.

Seriously though, we need to build a desalinization plant…

[Eugene]

[quote=EconProf]If I remember correctly from the news reports, a lot of the water cutbacks for CA farmers are due to the need to protect a certain fish–a type of smelt, I believe.
Because it is allegedly an endangered species, the water cannot be diverted towards agriculture as this will hurt the remaining smelt. Farmers need to get smart and be declared an endangered species.[/quote]

There are other ways to deal with the problem … a few tons of DDT dumped into Suisun Bay in early summer should do the trick. Or maybe some smuggled piranhas.

Seriously though, we need to build a desalinization plant…

[EconProf]

If I remember correctly from the news reports, a lot of the water cutbacks for CA farmers are due to the need to protect a certain fish–a type of smelt, I believe.
Because it is allegedly an endangered species, the water cannot be diverted towards agriculture as this will hurt the remaining smelt. Farmers need to get smart and be declared an endangered species.

[EconProf]

If I remember correctly from the news reports, a lot of the water cutbacks for CA farmers are due to the need to protect a certain fish–a type of smelt, I believe.
Because it is allegedly an endangered species, the water cannot be diverted towards agriculture as this will hurt the remaining smelt. Farmers need to get smart and be declared an endangered species.

[EconProf]

If I remember correctly from the news reports, a lot of the water cutbacks for CA farmers are due to the need to protect a certain fish–a type of smelt, I believe.
Because it is allegedly an endangered species, the water cannot be diverted towards agriculture as this will hurt the remaining smelt. Farmers need to get smart and be declared an endangered species.

[EconProf]

If I remember correctly from the news reports, a lot of the water cutbacks for CA farmers are due to the need to protect a certain fish–a type of smelt, I believe.
Because it is allegedly an endangered species, the water cannot be diverted towards agriculture as this will hurt the remaining smelt. Farmers need to get smart and be declared an endangered species.

[h82rent]

I’ll comment very briefly. I’m very much involved in energy and water planning for various companies. Energy always seemed like the major issue, but water is quickly becomming as (if not more) important.

Water conservation mandates are coming. In fact, Voice of SD reported on it:

http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2009/02/12/environment/858conservation021109.txt

I’ve been attending some City of SD planning meetings to hear about what’s going on. Let me give you a very high-level background.

Metropolitan Water District (MWD) has member water companies (of which, City of SD is one of them… who we pay for water, of course). Kind of think of MWD as wholesalers, City of SD as retailers, and us as customers. MWD is getting 20% conservation mandates put on them. So they are passing it to the member agencies. So they are passing it along to the customers. And the financial penatlies get passed along in the same direction.

Each member agency is figuring out how to get the reductions from their (various classes) of customers. It can be a tiered rate structure, or based on allocations (giving each customer a targeted savings to meet).

For residential, City of SD is probably going to allocations. The baseline use is going to be an average of the 2006-2007 use, or the 2005-2007 use. City of SD will calculate how much of your water is used for irrigation versus domestic use. Residential customers will be required to cut irrigation use by 45%, and interior use by 5%, or be subject to higher rates on the amounts that are over that.

There will be hardship allowances for certain circumstances.

The penalties will be assessed per bill – meaning that you have to perform each bill cycle… it’s not a year-end look at how you did, for example.

Don’t know what it is for residential, but for commercial, it is going to be 2x the standard rate for the amount that you go over your allocation, between 1% and 15%. And it is 4x the standard rate for the amount you go over your allocation by 16 or more percent. That’s their current thinking, at least.

MWD is going to make their decision in April (how they are going to charge their member agencies). After that, the member agencies are likely to announce their actions by early-summer. And all this will begin at that time.

DISCLAIMER: I reserve the right to be wrong in my info, but this is current as I understand it. The City is still working the details, and I have in fact actually seen some of them change of the course of them working through it.

The City does have (well-attended) meetings on this issue. Not sure what their schedule is, but you can look it up if you’re interested.

My recommendation – start thinking of how you can save now (drip irrigation, cutbacks on your irrigation times, fixing overspray, etc).

Don’t kill the messenger.

[h82rent]

I’ll comment very briefly. I’m very much involved in energy and water planning for various companies. Energy always seemed like the major issue, but water is quickly becomming as (if not more) important.

Water conservation mandates are coming. In fact, Voice of SD reported on it:

http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2009/02/12/environment/858conservation021109.txt

I’ve been attending some City of SD planning meetings to hear about what’s going on. Let me give you a very high-level background.

Metropolitan Water District (MWD) has member water companies (of which, City of SD is one of them… who we pay for water, of course). Kind of think of MWD as wholesalers, City of SD as retailers, and us as customers. MWD is getting 20% conservation mandates put on them. So they are passing it to the member agencies. So they are passing it along to the customers. And the financial penatlies get passed along in the same direction.

Each member agency is figuring out how to get the reductions from their (various classes) of customers. It can be a tiered rate structure, or based on allocations (giving each customer a targeted savings to meet).

For residential, City of SD is probably going to allocations. The baseline use is going to be an average of the 2006-2007 use, or the 2005-2007 use. City of SD will calculate how much of your water is used for irrigation versus domestic use. Residential customers will be required to cut irrigation use by 45%, and interior use by 5%, or be subject to higher rates on the amounts that are over that.

There will be hardship allowances for certain circumstances.

The penalties will be assessed per bill – meaning that you have to perform each bill cycle… it’s not a year-end look at how you did, for example.

Don’t know what it is for residential, but for commercial, it is going to be 2x the standard rate for the amount that you go over your allocation, between 1% and 15%. And it is 4x the standard rate for the amount you go over your allocation by 16 or more percent. That’s their current thinking, at least.

MWD is going to make their decision in April (how they are going to charge their member agencies). After that, the member agencies are likely to announce their actions by early-summer. And all this will begin at that time.

DISCLAIMER: I reserve the right to be wrong in my info, but this is current as I understand it. The City is still working the details, and I have in fact actually seen some of them change of the course of them working through it.

The City does have (well-attended) meetings on this issue. Not sure what their schedule is, but you can look it up if you’re interested.

My recommendation – start thinking of how you can save now (drip irrigation, cutbacks on your irrigation times, fixing overspray, etc).

Don’t kill the messenger.

[h82rent]

I’ll comment very briefly. I’m very much involved in energy and water planning for various companies. Energy always seemed like the major issue, but water is quickly becomming as (if not more) important.

Water conservation mandates are coming. In fact, Voice of SD reported on it:

http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2009/02/12/environment/858conservation021109.txt

I’ve been attending some City of SD planning meetings to hear about what’s going on. Let me give you a very high-level background.

Metropolitan Water District (MWD) has member water companies (of which, City of SD is one of them… who we pay for water, of course). Kind of think of MWD as wholesalers, City of SD as retailers, and us as customers. MWD is getting 20% conservation mandates put on them. So they are passing it to the member agencies. So they are passing it along to the customers. And the financial penatlies get passed along in the same direction.

Each member agency is figuring out how to get the reductions from their (various classes) of customers. It can be a tiered rate structure, or based on allocations (giving each customer a targeted savings to meet).

For residential, City of SD is probably going to allocations. The baseline use is going to be an average of the 2006-2007 use, or the 2005-2007 use. City of SD will calculate how much of your water is used for irrigation versus domestic use. Residential customers will be required to cut irrigation use by 45%, and interior use by 5%, or be subject to higher rates on the amounts that are over that.

There will be hardship allowances for certain circumstances.

The penalties will be assessed per bill – meaning that you have to perform each bill cycle… it’s not a year-end look at how you did, for example.

Don’t know what it is for residential, but for commercial, it is going to be 2x the standard rate for the amount that you go over your allocation, between 1% and 15%. And it is 4x the standard rate for the amount you go over your allocation by 16 or more percent. That’s their current thinking, at least.

MWD is going to make their decision in April (how they are going to charge their member agencies). After that, the member agencies are likely to announce their actions by early-summer. And all this will begin at that time.

DISCLAIMER: I reserve the right to be wrong in my info, but this is current as I understand it. The City is still working the details, and I have in fact actually seen some of them change of the course of them working through it.

The City does have (well-attended) meetings on this issue. Not sure what their schedule is, but you can look it up if you’re interested.

My recommendation – start thinking of how you can save now (drip irrigation, cutbacks on your irrigation times, fixing overspray, etc).

Don’t kill the messenger.

[h82rent]

I’ll comment very briefly. I’m very much involved in energy and water planning for various companies. Energy always seemed like the major issue, but water is quickly becomming as (if not more) important.

Water conservation mandates are coming. In fact, Voice of SD reported on it:

http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2009/02/12/environment/858conservation021109.txt

I’ve been attending some City of SD planning meetings to hear about what’s going on. Let me give you a very high-level background.

Metropolitan Water District (MWD) has member water companies (of which, City of SD is one of them… who we pay for water, of course). Kind of think of MWD as wholesalers, City of SD as retailers, and us as customers. MWD is getting 20% conservation mandates put on them. So they are passing it to the member agencies. So they are passing it along to the customers. And the financial penatlies get passed along in the same direction.

Each member agency is figuring out how to get the reductions from their (various classes) of customers. It can be a tiered rate structure, or based on allocations (giving each customer a targeted savings to meet).

For residential, City of SD is probably going to allocations. The baseline use is going to be an average of the 2006-2007 use, or the 2005-2007 use. City of SD will calculate how much of your water is used for irrigation versus domestic use. Residential customers will be required to cut irrigation use by 45%, and interior use by 5%, or be subject to higher rates on the amounts that are over that.

There will be hardship allowances for certain circumstances.

The penalties will be assessed per bill – meaning that you have to perform each bill cycle… it’s not a year-end look at how you did, for example.

Don’t know what it is for residential, but for commercial, it is going to be 2x the standard rate for the amount that you go over your allocation, between 1% and 15%. And it is 4x the standard rate for the amount you go over your allocation by 16 or more percent. That’s their current thinking, at least.

MWD is going to make their decision in April (how they are going to charge their member agencies). After that, the member agencies are likely to announce their actions by early-summer. And all this will begin at that time.

DISCLAIMER: I reserve the right to be wrong in my info, but this is current as I understand it. The City is still working the details, and I have in fact actually seen some of them change of the course of them working through it.

The City does have (well-attended) meetings on this issue. Not sure what their schedule is, but you can look it up if you’re interested.

My recommendation – start thinking of how you can save now (drip irrigation, cutbacks on your irrigation times, fixing overspray, etc).

Don’t kill the messenger.

[h82rent]

I’ll comment very briefly. I’m very much involved in energy and water planning for various companies. Energy always seemed like the major issue, but water is quickly becomming as (if not more) important.

Water conservation mandates are coming. In fact, Voice of SD reported on it:

http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2009/02/12/environment/858conservation021109.txt

I’ve been attending some City of SD planning meetings to hear about what’s going on. Let me give you a very high-level background.

Metropolitan Water District (MWD) has member water companies (of which, City of SD is one of them… who we pay for water, of course). Kind of think of MWD as wholesalers, City of SD as retailers, and us as customers. MWD is getting 20% conservation mandates put on them. So they are passing it to the member agencies. So they are passing it along to the customers. And the financial penatlies get passed along in the same direction.

Each member agency is figuring out how to get the reductions from their (various classes) of customers. It can be a tiered rate structure, or based on allocations (giving each customer a targeted savings to meet).

For residential, City of SD is probably going to allocations. The baseline use is going to be an average of the 2006-2007 use, or the 2005-2007 use. City of SD will calculate how much of your water is used for irrigation versus domestic use. Residential customers will be required to cut irrigation use by 45%, and interior use by 5%, or be subject to higher rates on the amounts that are over that.

There will be hardship allowances for certain circumstances.

The penalties will be assessed per bill – meaning that you have to perform each bill cycle… it’s not a year-end look at how you did, for example.

Don’t know what it is for residential, but for commercial, it is going to be 2x the standard rate for the amount that you go over your allocation, between 1% and 15%. And it is 4x the standard rate for the amount you go over your allocation by 16 or more percent. That’s their current thinking, at least.

MWD is going to make their decision in April (how they are going to charge their member agencies). After that, the member agencies are likely to announce their actions by early-summer. And all this will begin at that time.

DISCLAIMER: I reserve the right to be wrong in my info, but this is current as I understand it. The City is still working the details, and I have in fact actually seen some of them change of the course of them working through it.

The City does have (well-attended) meetings on this issue. Not sure what their schedule is, but you can look it up if you’re interested.

My recommendation – start thinking of how you can save now (drip irrigation, cutbacks on your irrigation times, fixing overspray, etc).

Don’t kill the messenger.

[Author]

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