California Out of Water in a Year

[Jazzy]

Water isn't just running low in California, a top NASA scientist warns—it's going to plumb run out in about a year. "As difficult as it may be to face, the simple fact is that California is running out of water—and the problem started before our current drought," writes Jay Famiglietti in the LA Times. He notes ominously that since 2011, California has lost roughly 12 million acre-feet of stored water per year, and water sources in the Sacramento and San Joaquin river basins are way below normal levels. He says the state needs to ration water, manage groundwater better, and form a task force to create better water strategies. "We're not just up a creek without a paddle in California, we're losing the creek too," he writes. In other bleak water news:

Desperate for groundwater, California is drilling deep enough to extract ancient water that dates back 15,000 to 20,000 years, Mother Jones reports. That groundwater may never be replenished, water quality will suffer, and pumping will grow ever pricier, experts say.
 
An article in the journal Groundwater warns that a water supply amounting to two Lake Eries was depleted across the US in recent years. "That's enough to contribute to rising sea levels, along with melting glaciers and polar ice," says Mother Jones.

Meanwhile, a blistering heatwave has struck California with record-high temperatures yesterday in several locations, including Los Angeles (90) and San Diego (89), the LA Times reports.

Source

Thoughts?

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Hey other states, can we borrow some water? -California

 

[Webster]

Thoughts?

What about desalination? Has the Golden State thought about that option in some regards?

 

[Dee]

California's been almost out of water for years, just like the big one is supposed to hit any day now.

 

[seasidemike]

I keep saying over here.. we need to build a massive water reservoir in the middle of Ireland with water pipes leading to one of our port cities, get a few tankers and start selling water.
We could trade Irish water for California wine.

 

[callie8]

My personal belief is that this problem of water shortage is more widespread than is known. The earth is not specifically telling us, like California is, that her fresh water is depleting. The state of this world is very sad all the way around.