Does California have too much water? Seriously. Because our actions are sending peculiar messages. Even the State Water Board has backed off on conservation targets for some water agencies.

It’s true, rains have replenished much of Northern California’s reservoirs and Governor Brown’s mandated 25% water restrictions made a serious dent in our water binge. A whopping 1.1 million acre-feet of water was saved, or rather, not wasted, thanks to these restrictions. And that water savings came with other benefits: If that 1.1 million acre-feet of water had been produced in a desalination plant instead, 5 billion kilowatt hours of electricity would have been consumed—enough for over 800,000 California households for a full year.

Our savings was not inconsequential, but the truth is, we could have squandered even less without much hardship or inconvenience. I learned this directly when, after ripping out the lawn, I cut my water use by 75%. But throughout last summer, the majority of my neighbors—and perhaps yours—were still pouring water on their lush green lawns, ignoring restrictions, and not suffering any consequences except for an occasional warning.

Meanwhile, water agencies were complaining that their budgets were being severely pinched as a result of lower water sales. Many have temporarily weathered the cuts by drawing down reserves but others have been forced to raise rates.

Last summer, the small Yorba Linda Water District in southern California was facing a $9 million budget shortfall and so they raised rates in this conservative upscale Orange County community (home of the Richard Nixon Library) by $25 per month. Residents were so outraged that they gathered twice as many signatures as needed to repeal the hike. Legal wrangling has ensued.

In San Diego County, water officials were gleefully proclaiming their drought-proof ocean desalination project would be completed soon. But their glee turned to embarrassment not long after they flipped the switch and discovered they had too much water. Obligated to take or pay for this expensive new supply, the San Diego County Water Authority opted to take it and dump it in a lake. You read that right.

So do we have too much water or not enough? And if we had more water what would we do with it? Grow more grass on driveways like several of my neighbors?

Many folks think they should be able to waste as much as they can afford.  One board member of the Metropolitan Water District (who ironically lives in Yorba Linda), referring to his garden hose, told a Washington Post reporter, “They’ll have to pry it from my cold dead hands.”  Many offers ensued; he has curtailed his tough guy talk…at least temporarily.

The problem with that sort of thinking is that water is a monopoly and priced as a commons.  Many water agencies still charge one flat rate even though water may come from a variety of sources with disparate associated costs.   They call it a “melded” rate.

If agencies turn to expensive sources like ocean desalination to provide water to meet the demands of the biggest wasters, then the cost is blended with cheaper water. And it isn’t just the rate-payers within that district who are subsidizing the water wasters.  Metropolitan Water District provides hundreds of millions of dollars of additional project subsidies to its members, thus spreading the cost of the subsidy over their entire service area.   So, in effect, every rate payer in Southern California is subsidizing the most profligate users like the “Wet Prince of Bel Air” who was using 38,000 gallons a day.

Despite all of the fear mongering the drought has wrought, there is a silver lining:  For the first time in decades we have made a dent in improving our relationship with water:

As California settles back into what could be another long hot summer, it will be interesting to see whether we can learn to live with “enough” water or whether we return to living like we have too much.

28 Comments on "Too Much Water to Waste?"

onlooker on Sun, 17th Apr 2016 1:47 pm 



And so the band aids continue in meager attempts to hold back the tsunami of consequences that are headed towards the US and its myriad of unsustainable practices.

JuanP on Sun, 17th Apr 2016 2:37 pm 



There is so much waste in today’s world. Every day I go up and down streets and look at the sidewalks, landscaping, lighting, parks, cars, parking lots, etc. and see so much waste. That is one of the reasons I think this sucker is gonna take a very long time to hit the bottom. There is a lot of fat to cut out. By turning yards to farms we can keep things going at some basic level for a very long time, IMHO. Every tree within city limits could be a fruit tree.

penury on Sun, 17th Apr 2016 3:56 pm 



JuanP you are correct in that there is an obscene amount of everything wasted in the “developed” world. However, in the U.S. consumerism has been the vogue since the early fifties. Everyone is trained by T.V. schools, movies, and magazines that you always need the latest whatever or you will be an outcast forever. Just look at cell phones and other electronic devices. Look at the I need a new car crowd. There is absolutely no hope for change in our behavior barring a tremendous downturn. But the fact that people could live off our garbage for an extended period at a reduced level is also true.

Makati1 on Sun, 17th Apr 2016 6:20 pm 



penury, you, JuanP and Onlooker see the world as it is. The ‘developed” i.e. Western world and especially the uS is a huge waster of resources and probably number one in the world. I have seen several articles where just the food wasted daily in the US would feed 100 million people or the entire population of the Philippines. America the land of waste, soon to be the land of pain and misery. It is only a matter of time.

Apneaman on Sun, 17th Apr 2016 6:21 pm 



Poor widdle California. Fuck em all. Spoiled rotten snivelling cunts. I hope “The Big One” hits before the climate exodus starts – less raggedy assed white refugees for me to deal with. Probably gonna see millions anyway since most of them can subsist of their enormous fat bellies and asses for the duration of the journey north to the new promised land. penury is correct “Everyone is trained by T.V. schools, movies, and magazines” IOW, indoctrinated, but you can say the same thing about jihads or Nazis or any other group of easily manipulated simple minded ape tribes. As for the retarded American brain washed sheep, the manifest destiny mentality will only end once they are all dead.

Millions Face Starvation As Haiti’s Drought Stretches Into Its Third Year

http://thinkprogress.org/world/2016/04/15/3769857/haiti-farmers/

Davy on Sun, 17th Apr 2016 7:10 pm 



I look forward to when the Californians migrate north into British Columbia for “Lebensraum” once California crashes and burns. The savages then can take down the dumbasses in BC. It will be like Custard’s last stand. The BC dumbasses will shoot until the bullets are gone then the scalping and bone crushing will begin. What fun! I only wish I could be a fly on some dumbass BC bare skull watching the melee.

Boat on Sun, 17th Apr 2016 7:36 pm 



ape,

You talking about the top 10 percent rich, the 50 percent multi nationals, foreign immigrants, just whites or the nation leading cleaner environment renewable crowd. Please be more specific with your hate.

Boat on Sun, 17th Apr 2016 7:56 pm 



Davy,

Come back to us. Your losing it again.

Apneaman on Sun, 17th Apr 2016 10:59 pm 



Davy, I’m not in the least bit worried. Just look at the way Americans treat each other now when they are the richest country in the world where even the poor are fat and own smart phones, flat screens and cars. Look at how y’all stomp on each other at black Friday sales to save $10.00 on a 3rd flat screen. Mass shootings every day. Cops blowing away unarmed civilians. Everyone suing each other. Everyone using each other. It’s like the US is one big massive 24/7 cage match.

What the hell do you think is going to happen when the store shelves go bare and there is no gas in the pumps and the prescription drugs run out?

It’s going to be a fucking blood bath – Coast to coast.

Just imagine when the police have buged out and all the angry ones who have been fucked over and looked down on start their vengeance. Millions from the ghettos (think south Chicago), 2 million prisoners and millions of gang members – Biker gangs, Mexican mafia, MS 13, Crips & Bloods, KKK etc etc – all out for payback.

By the time y’all have sorted it out there won’t be too many left to make the journey up here on foot.

Duck and cover bitch.

GregT on Sun, 17th Apr 2016 11:23 pm 



“I look forward to when the Californians migrate north into British Columbia”

In case you haven’t been paying attention Davy, BC has also been experiencing drought. Besides, why would any decent red white and blue blooded American ever want to move up into the permafrost? You know, that one big empty territory coloured pink on most US ‘educational’ maps. Nope, I don’t see it. More than likely they’ll be heading East.

Anonymous on Mon, 18th Apr 2016 12:15 am 



I wouldn’t be too worried. Most americants dont know what a map is, and once google maps goes down, so will their limited ability to navigate. I would be surprised if 5% of Californians know what BC even IS, let alone where to find it. But yea, water restrictions are being talked about already in BC, only being April and all, with 1/6th the population of Calimexico. Not that exceptionalist uSasians would know about any of that…

dooma on Mon, 18th Apr 2016 4:43 am 



Water is absolutely THE most precious resource on this finite planet.

It is high time that people realise this.

The cost per gallon/litre and the total waste of it is an insult to mother nature.

And when you piss nature off…look out!

derhundistlos on Mon, 18th Apr 2016 4:44 am 



Right again, Davy, and the others know it as well, which explains the vitriol.

Davy on Mon, 18th Apr 2016 6:03 am 



Derhund, right I detect a cognitive dissonance among the anti-mericants. They try to “splain away” the idea the hated mericants will be at their doorsteps begging or killing in a collpase. How awful a thought that they will actually have to deal with the mericants in the flesh and not from the safety of the net. When the world flies apart I will relish the idea of canheads suffering at the hands of the mericants. I will do this as I am suffering and probably starving.

I hope the reality of how horrible a neighbor and unfriendly Canheads really are gets out through the net. Probably won’t because a lot of what the anti-mericant canheads say is true. It is the part they leave out that is also true and that is they are neighbors to a huge country they hate and this country as it comes a part will migrate and likely north.

The reason I bring this up at all is to remind these assholes to the north you kick me in the teeth enough and I will kick back. Canada used to be my favorite Country and now I despise it. I despise people that think their shit don’t stink. I laugh at little people countries that think they are giants and big people on the global stage. Canheads are a joke and their constant finger pointing and hate games proves it.

They hate criticism so much. So they have these come backs to my anti-canhead comments with further criticism or try to “spain it away”. Da Da dumasses, do you realize you can only water board someone so many times and they are unconscious. Your friggen anti-merican porn and spam is so thick and complete I could give a shit what else spews from your rotten smelling sucks. Fuck Canada.

derhundistlos on Mon, 18th Apr 2016 6:45 am 



Davy, you asked if I was making fun of you re. the building of underground bunkers in the Ozarks. The short answer is no. Jesse Ventura made a video that can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zpv1Frj6U7s
Further, just type into the browser underground facilities in Missouri and there is lots of evidence.
I am from Missouri so I know plenty as well. BTW, Davy, I thought you lived near Herman?

Davy on Mon, 18th Apr 2016 6:53 am 



Boat, “FO”, you just make it worse by giving the anti-mericants fodder for their attacks. You are just an ugly American stirring up shit. Go somewhere else to get attention.

Davy on Mon, 18th Apr 2016 6:59 am 



Derhund, never sure these days because so many love to bash the Ozarks. I used to live around Hermann. I now live south of Rolla. I am doing the doomsted farm thing.

I would not doubt such bunkers exist down here because the land is condusive to it. The limbstone makes good caverns. There are many people moving down here for a variety of reasons to get away from the status quo. Land is cheap and people don’t bother you. Population densities are low because who would want to live in such a poor place except locals are alternative types.

Kenz300 on Mon, 18th Apr 2016 7:20 am 



Waste not, want not……………….

The ever increasing population continues to strain our resources………

GregT on Mon, 18th Apr 2016 10:13 am 



Davy,

Once again, Northern latitudes are heating up much faster than Southern latitudes. If you feel the need to continue on playing your little nationalist games, so be it. Your delusions are not based on reality. The East/Central states have been least affected by a warming climate so far, at least temperature wise. From my understanding there is no reason to believe that this will not continue to be the case. If current trends continue, the first migrations will in all likelihood be southwards from Alaska, The Yukon, and The Northwest Territories. The biggest threat to BC in the future will be water insecurity. Our water here comes mainly from glaciation and those glaciers are disappearing at an alarming rate.

Also Davy, despising 38 million people who live in any particular manmade territory is not only silly, it is bordering on paranoia.

Give up the nationalist competition already, and join us as a fellow human being. Defending your tax farm is somewhat self defeating.

GregT on Mon, 18th Apr 2016 10:27 am 



http://www.realclimate.org/images//Winter15NOAA.jpg

Makati1 on Mon, 18th Apr 2016 10:30 am 



“Temperatures were also much higher than normal for April. “Thermometers on and around the ice showed temperatures as high as 64 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday — more than 35 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year,” Slate reported.”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/greenland-ice-sheets-extreme-melt-144000985.html?nhp=1

If true, then the shit is hitting the fan even faster than predicted. Are YOU prepared?

onlooker on Mon, 18th Apr 2016 10:40 am 



Yep, this year so far to put it mildly has been a most anomalous year climatically for the planet.

Davy on Mon, 18th Apr 2016 11:00 am 



Greg, learn some manners and mention it to your fellow citizens on this board when they get obnoxious. Each one of you represent your country so realize poor behavior reflects on your whole country. Practice what you preach since you are among the worst at preaching. Show some respect for others on this board. Admit your shit stinks. I think that covers your first lesson at becoming a decent person.

GregT on Mon, 18th Apr 2016 11:02 am 



We are to expect temperatures of ~26°C this week, in April. That would be normal highs for the hottest time of the year, in July and August. The normal average April temperatures here, are 12°C.

GregT on Mon, 18th Apr 2016 11:10 am 



I don’t support my tax farm Davy, and I certainly do not support my tax farmers either, which, BTW, are for the most part the same tax farmers as yours. I don’t agree with human imaginary lines drawn in the sand. No other species is restricted by borders, only human beings. The fact that you continually display a complete lack of understanding as to what I am talking about, speaks volumes to your indoctrination.

Canada is not my country Davy. It is a crown corporation. It does not belong to me.

onlooker on Mon, 18th Apr 2016 11:19 am 



And I too feel exactly the way Greg does. I have to gripes or grievances against the American people or whites for that matter. But both I and Greg came to the conclusion that much of the reason the world is so fucked up is because of whites ever since 1492 Columbus, maybe you can go back to Rome have done alot to make it so. The Elites do not have any allegiance either to anything or anyone except themselves. If any separation is to be made it is between the masses and the Elites

Boat on Mon, 18th Apr 2016 11:44 am 



If you skip the last 50 years of predominantly non white immigration. Germans were the largest immigrant group.

onlooker, you and gregt German haters?

GregT on Mon, 18th Apr 2016 3:07 pm 



Kevin,

You a complete moron?