What happens if the Colorado runs dry? (homes, cost)

[mrkool]

Several months ago someone was asking the same question on the New Mexico forum.. about diminishing water supply, growing population, etc. I live in a great lakes state, and suggested that even though I didn't like it one bit, I could foresee the day when a pipeline could be built from this region down to the southwest. I also said that folks were being pretty short-sighted to continue moving in droves to an area where inadequate water is almost a guarantee in the future.
Well, I got a few dumb responses, saying the pipeline would never happen, that I'm paranoid, yadda, yadda. But funny thing... I didn't get one intelligent response telling me exactly where the southwest's water WILL come from in the future.

[Pathwalker]

Okay, I'm going to go out on a limb and ask something based on my limited knowledge of the subject.....

I know it's expensive, but has the government considered building desalination plants along the Pacific coast? If necessary at some point in the future, couldn't they pipe that water to the desert areas?

[BillyBaroo]

Originally Posted by mrkool

But funny thing... I didn't get one intelligent response telling me exactly where the southwest's water WILL come from in the future.

In an average year, Arizonans go through about 7.25 million acre-feet, or nearly 2.4 trillion gallons. That amount of water could support a residential population of nearly 30 million people.

Except it doesn't. It's supporting a population of 5.7 million and a lot of farms, which use about 68 percent of the state's water.

In the future, you'll see more water in Arizona going to people instead of growing cotton and alfalfa.

[and the]

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Several months ago someone was asking the same question on the New Mexico forum.. about diminishing water supply, growing population, etc. I live in a great lakes state, and suggested that even though I didn't like it one bit, I could foresee the day when a pipeline could be built from this region down to the southwest. I also said that folks were being pretty short-sighted to continue moving in droves to an area where inadequate water is almost a guarantee in the future.
Well, I got a few dumb responses, saying the pipeline would never happen, that I'm paranoid, yadda, yadda. But funny thing... I didn't get one intelligent response telling me exactly where the southwest's water WILL come from in the future.

Kwame is going to build a pipeline from the City of Detroit to AZ and the suburbs are going to pay for it.

[crystalblue]

Originally Posted by WCRob

Okay, I'm going to go out on a limb and ask something based on my limited knowledge of the subject.....

I know it's expensive, but has the government considered building desalination plants along the Pacific coast? If necessary at some point in the future, couldn't they pipe that water to the desert areas?

i think they built one in san diego, but they will need ALOT more...

[Nice Nice Baby!]

C'mon! The history of this subject is centuries old. Technology will rule, and paying for it will increase along with other options. The Native Americans will continue to hold a big card!

[and the]

If the Romans could manage the aquaduct, we can move Lake Superior to Arizona for a price. And it won't be too long before MI is ready to sell.

[crystalblue]

azcentral mobile edition (broken link)

some more info today.

cant see why tucson is in worse shape...

[rambrush]

Ill be dead and buried before that would ever be a concern

[azloafer]

Originally Posted by WCRob

Okay, I'm going to go out on a limb and ask something based on my limited knowledge of the subject.....

I know it's expensive, but has the government considered building desalination plants along the Pacific coast? If necessary at some point in the future, couldn't they pipe that water to the desert areas?

I recall reading that there is a desalination plant along the California coastline. It is a very expensive process and I wonder, even if they build more plants, is California going to willingly sell their desalinated water to Arizona? We are wasting our drinking water on agriculture, like cotton, and we waste it on golfers. It is up to us to stop wasting the water! Agriculture and golf should be limited to non-desert areas.