"wild hair" ideas for more fresh water from our area (Phoenix: homes, homeowner)

[DougStark]

Here's one wild, optimistic solution to our Southwest water woes:

In short, forget about ever tapping the Great Lakes for water---they've formed a solid coalition from member states (including Canada) to prevent this type of water diversion. Maybe they'll change their mind if they ever flood Oh dear, I hope not

However, I suspect that further downstream (like the lower Mississippi river and State of Texas) areas would applaud a trans-nation, man-made river or pipeline (ie, massive aqueduct). After all, they are very flood-prone, especially in spring, when snow melt from the upper Mississippi basin is high.

https://www.freep.com/story/news/loc...ist/100301326/

[phx1205]

And who/how do you propose to pay for this pipeline?

[JGMotorsport64]

Originally Posted by phx1205

And who/how do you propose to pay for this pipeline?

They

[jdhpa]

Originally Posted by phx1205

And who/how do you propose to pay for this pipeline?

(Doing my best Bernie)
The Millionaires and Billionaires!

[Searching-01]

Originally Posted by phx1205

And who/how do you propose to pay for this pipeline?

Now we get down to the brass tacks of the matter, LOL!

I don't know if this particular plan is the best, etc...

But truth is 3/4's of the planet is covered by water... there's not a water shortage... there's a priorities problem.

Society, the gov't et. al. isn't putting the money to "first things first", IMHO.

If we were to prioritize properly, and put water near the top, and other less important BS at the bottom, cut out pork barrel, etc... there wouldn't be a problem (just my opinion... no financial data to back that assertion up with).

[KurtAZ]

There you go...trying to find a solution for a problem that doesn't exist. SRP Lakes are at their highest levels in decades, plenty of runoff (you did notice that we flooded the Salt River in town and that led to closures of streets that crossed the river bottom?) and the snow melt hasn't even really started in CO. In the mean time we have been banking water in the underground aquifers. Why in the world would we want to build a pipeline from the Great Lakes?

[fluffythewondercat]

Seems like California needs the OP's help much more than AZ.

Seeing as they've completely forgotten how to build reservoirs and dams...

[wit-nit]

There's often talk of piping in water from the Pacific Ocean and building a
desalination plant. But right now it's just talk.
There's plenty of rain and CAP water stored in underground facilities.

[DougStark]

Well, KurtAZ, there still IS a water shortage problem here despite this year's bountiful winter of rain and heavy snow pack in the Rockies. There are still greedy farmers in AZ outside of the state's AMA areas who are pumping massive quantities of groundwater for alfalfa!! like there's no tomorrow!! Some of the farms are owned by Saudi Arabians!!! Damn it.

With more abundant, high quality water from the east, we could revive the state's declining citrus industry, which has been hit over the years as homes have replaced orange groves. We could also replenish depleted aquifers, plant more pecan orchards, line Phoenix streets with leafy SHADE trees, and encourage homeowners to plant grass yards to cool our city down. OK, I let out some steam Them's my thoughts, lol.

[DougStark]

Originally Posted by wit-nit

There's often talk of piping in water from the Pacific Ocean and building a
desalination plant. But right now it's just talk.
There's plenty of rain and CAP water stored in underground facilities.

wit-nit, the big problem with that idea is "What do we do with all of the waste brine water?" If we were a coastal city, we could return the salty brine back to the sea. But, since we're not coastal, we'd either have to inject the salty brine DEEP underground (below any freshwater aquifer) or build a pipeline to the Gulf of CA or the Pacific Ocean (needless to say, CA wouldn't welcome this action by us.) Another solution is evaporation ponds. But they're relatively slow and take up lots of land.

PLUS, a desal plant using Pacific Ocean water doesn't help reduce flooding in Texas and the Mississippi delta!

PS- I think I'll write a letter to Trump about this. He seems to know how to get sh&t done!!