[Kalbo]

Originally Posted by robr2

Will they be able to shut it off or reverse the pumps when the Midwest experiences drought conditions every few years?

I think they should be able to do that. For sure shutting it off is no problem.

[moguldreamer]

Originally Posted by robr2

Will they be able to shut it off or reverse the pumps when the Midwest experiences drought conditions every few years?

The Midwest has the Great Lakes to service their water needs during any drought.

[jetgraphics]

It may become prudent to initiate water reclamation like that in Israel, a well known "dry" area.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by moguldreamer

The Midwest has the Great Lakes to service their water needs during any drought.

I should have said middle of the country. Arkansas and other states along the Mississippi don’t get water from the Great Lakes.

[moguldreamer]

Originally Posted by robr2

I should have said middle of the country. Arkansas and other states along the Mississippi don’t get water from the Great Lakes.

Perhaps they should.

The Great Lakes are a national resource for fresh water. We need the infrastructure in place to distribute fresh water from where it is (The Great Lakes) to where we need to consume it -- Arkansas in your example.

[Mike from back east]

Lake Michigan is at high levels, some of that excess should be siphoned off and pumped to dry areas.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

Lake Michigan is at high levels, some of that excess should be siphoned off and pumped to dry areas.

And in January 2013, they were at a record low. IMHO, moving water around simply doesn't make sense as a long term solution. Continued growth in a desert, growing crops in dry areas, etc. doesn't make sense either.

[Ted Bear]

We tend to think that climate change is going to flood low lying islands, and maybe wash into the streets of the major east coast cities...New York, Baltimore, Miami, etc.

But just as likely is that cities in Arizona, Nevada and other places where water is scarce will slowly dwindle away until there is a balance between the "new normal" for water supply and population.

I would not move to that area. It seems that California is "first in line" with water rights and the johnnie come latelies like Phoenix will have to suffer from their place in the back of the line.

[BMW R1100]

California is looking at ways to capture storm runoff into the Pacific. Water is very heavy, and it's costly and difficult to move.

[tijlover]

Back in the 70's Texas came up with a water plan to syphon water from the Mississippi and run it westwards to the driest areas of TX (Odessa/Midland) but the plan was shelved, realizing that they'd be going uphill from 0 elevation to 3500 feet, and to accomplish all that pumping, it would take 2 nuclear power plants to keep it flowing up hill.

Voters in Houston, Dallas, Austin voted against it, as they don't need the water.

As the saying goes: Water will Always arise to $$.