Drought - 2014 (San Jose, Merced, August: tornadoes, farms, areas)

[ExeterMedia]

I would love for another storm to roll through this month, but I'm also missing the ability to take my morning walks down Strands.

[Bunjee]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

Put me in charge. I'll have desal and nuke power plants all over the f'in place in record time.

Glad you combined it with energy needs. I think people generally still believe desalination means free water. I'm for desal plants but if it supplied say, 33% of total water volume I wonder how the higher cost to produce it would get passed on. Consumers would be sticker shocked of course, and it would certainly get them to conserve! How about businesses though? Would they carry the real cost and stay in California, or would it be evil nanny state government again intruding on the market with subsidies and corporate accommodations?

[Hawk J]

Perhaps, use the 'working' Desalinating Systems that are on US Navy ships, which are now moored in 'moth ball fleets'. It would cost much less $$$.

[happyinca]

Originally Posted by Hawk J

Perhaps, use the 'working' Desalinating Systems that are on US Navy ships, which are now moored in 'moth ball fleets'. It would cost much less $$$.

They would not produce enough water to make a difference and then you have to figure out how to get the water from the ships into the distribution pipes etc. Lot of cost and no real rewards.

I want to thank people like you that are reading this thread, caring about the subject and coming up with creative ideas. The biggest problem we have is apathy so thank you for your comments and I don't want to sound negative. Cruise ships also have Desal on Board. I am OK with living on a cruise ship to do my part in saving water!

Here is an article about Desal in CA. We would need plants every 4 miles from San Diego to L.A. to produce enough water for the population. No easy solutions. More rain please!

Drought-plagued California tries to drink the ocean (hold the salt) | Grist

[happyinca]

Originally Posted by Bunjee

Glad you combined it with energy needs. I think people generally still believe desalination means free water. I'm for desal plants but if it supplied say, 33% of total water volume I wonder how the higher cost to produce it would get passed on. Consumers would be sticker shocked of course, and it would certainly get them to conserve! How about businesses though? Would they carry the real cost and stay in California, or would it be evil nanny state government again intruding on the market with subsidies and corporate accommodations?

Right now Desal costs about double the cost of Imported Water. I am making reference to San Diego and the Desal plant. Eventually the cost of Desal comes down and the cost of Imported water always goes up and they will intersect in about 20 years and then the cost of Desal will be cheaper. I am using rough figures of course. When I refer to "Imported Water" I am talking about the cost of San Diego getting water from the State Water Project (Northern CA water), water from the Colorado River, and water from the Imperial Irrigation District (IID Water Transfer).

I know this is a California thread. As far as I know the cost of Desal would be double for just about anywhere you build a plant in California at least for the first 20 years.

[happyinca]

Storms helped but not a whole lot:

California Soaked, But Path of Winter Storms Limited Drought Impact | NBC Southern California

[CA4Now]

"Winters, 65, never considered canceling his High Sierra vacation because of three years of California drought.
"This is the Golden Pond of my youth," said the retired history teacher. "I used to come here with my grandfather."
He would come hell or high water, he said, "or I guess you better make that 'hell or no water.'"
Huntington Lake summer fun drying up in California drought*-*Los Angeles Times

[msgsing]

This could get really bad. LA had the least amount of annual rainfall since 1877. The last really bad drought in CA was the one that lasted from 1985 to 1991. Six years. The state has at least 18 million more residents than it had back in the 70's all straining our water resources. Studies have shown that in pre recorded history there were droughts lasting as long as 100 years which decimated Native American populations.

[jbunniii]

We might even have to stop growing quite as many almonds and other water-thirsty crops.

[dexter14]

Originally Posted by msgsing

This could get really bad. LA had the least amount of annual rainfall since 1877. The last really bad drought in CA was the one that lasted from 1985 to 1991. Six years. The state has at least 18 million more residents than it had back in the 70's all straining our water resources. Studies have shown that in pre recorded history there were droughts lasting as long as 100 years which decimated Native American populations.

Yea, I mean where on earth is the state going to find more water? Its not like we live next to a giant ocean!