The Drought and Water Use in California

[Rajoo]

Originally Posted by Boreas

The Central Valley would have a hard time existing without Lake Shasta.

John, I have been driving that road regularly for the past 15+ years and the levels have been continuously receding. Have you seen Mount Shasta's snow cap recently or lack thereof. Similarly the snow cap on Mount Hood is also receding, not because of lack of rain in OR but the warm winter temperatures. My last trip was this May.

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by BeamOn

John, I have been driving that road regularly for the past 15+ years and the levels have been continuously receding. Have you seen Mount Shasta's snow cap recently or lack thereof. Similarly the snow cap on Mount Hood is also receding, not because of lack of rain in OR but the warm winter temperatures. My last trip was this May.

Yeah, Rajoo, I used to drive it all the time starting about 15 years ago, but not for the past 5 or 6 years. Yes, I did see the level drop from one trip to the next but not like this. Just shows how long we've been in trouble but didn't know it.... or didn't want to know it.

[Rajoo]

Originally Posted by Boreas

Yeah, Rajoo, I used to drive it all the time starting about 15 years ago, but not for the past 5 or 6 years. Yes, I did see the level drop from one trip to the next but not like this. Just shows how long we've been in trouble but didn't know it.... or didn't want to know it.

We should have started water rationing (if that is the correct word) four or five years ago and that is one negative I have for Gov. Brown. He turned a blind eye to our water consumption and more importantly unregulated usage of ground water. We have cut our watering down to two days a week and reduced the time to a third. Not much difference in the greenery and for good measure, ripped out the grass and planted bushes. Slowly converting to an all drip system which should reducing consumption further.

Imagine the amount of water we and our neighbors have been wasting regularly watering our lawns all these years. We have cut our water bill to a third of what it used to be in the peak of summer. Of course, this necessitates hand watering on some really hot days.

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by BeamOn

We should have started water rationing (if that is the correct word) four or five years ago and that is one negative I have for Gov. Brown. He turned a blind eye to our water consumption and more importantly unregulated usage of ground water. We have cut our watering down to two days a week and reduced the time to a third. Not much difference in the greenery and for good measure, ripped out the grass and planted bushes. Slowly converting to an all drip system which should reducing consumption further.

Imagine the amount of water we and our neighbors have been wasting regularly watering our lawns all these years. We have cut our water bill to a third of what it used to be in the peak of summer. Of course, this necessitates hand watering on some really hot days.

That's great, Rajoo!

I rent so I don't have a lawn to take care of but I've taken to doing my dishes in three basins (one wash, two rinses) and replacing the water every other day or every three days, depending on how funky the water gets. I also take "Navy showers". (Blue and Ice will know what they are.) and now every other day instead of every day. I do what I can but we're in deep trouble here.

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by BeamOn

What do we do for power for desalination?

Solar.

Mother nature has been doing it for billions of years.

[Rajoo]

Originally Posted by Tom Joad

Solar.

Mother nature has been doing it for billions of years.

Cover Texas with solar panels? Now that's a novel idea.
As a practical matter, I don't think current solar collection technology can generate the amounts of energy for desalination. Saudi Arabia has been doing this for years but I have not looked further into it. Desalination also creates some nasty brine as byproduct.

[djv8ga]

Grey Water systems should become popular.

[bobabode]

Originally Posted by djv8ga

WTF? Maybe that one snob should consider creating 4 acres of soil out of that 4 acres of dirt.

Edit: I'm guessing the H.O.A. wouldn't allow that.

The HOA can go pound sand

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...614-story.html

[Tom Joad]

Originally Posted by BeamOn

As a practical matter, I don't think current solar collection technology can generate the amounts of energy for desalination. Saudi Arabia has been doing this for years but I have not looked further into it. Desalination also creates some nasty brine as byproduct.

So?

We put a Dude on the moon back in '68, we can figure this one out too.

[Boreas]

Originally Posted by djv8ga

Grey Water systems should become popular.

Municipal gray water systems have been in use here for several decades. I'm sure that Arizona is the same. Residential systems haven't really caught onyet but I hope they do.