General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCalifornia isn’t the only state with water problems
Americans tend to take it for granted that when we open a tap, water will come out.
Western states have been dealing with water problems for a while, but they won't be alone for long.
As drought, flooding, and climate change restrict America's water supply, demands from population growth and energy production look set to increase, according to a report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
These two changes squeeze our natural water reserves from both directions. The stress is becoming clear and will soon manifest as water scarcity problems all over our country.
While the rest of the US hasn't been ordered to reduce water use, that doesn't mean we have a free pass to use as much water as we want. Many states 4o out of 50 according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office have at least one region that's expected to face some kind of water shortage in the next 10 years.
By 2030, nearly half of everyone in the world will be living in countries highly stressed for water, according to UN predictions. Bank of America Merrill Lynch reports that water scarcity is our biggest problem worldwide, and projects that climate change will only make it worse."
http://www.businessinsider.com/americas-about-to-hit-a-water-crisis-2015-4
pnwmom
(108,925 posts)yeoman6987
(14,449 posts)Discussion on children might be wise too. Of course some will scream how awful that is and it probably is. But the alternatives are worse.
CreekDog
(46,192 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)amount of water, so use less carpet. Same for beef. Multiply those by many frivolous items we could cut back painlessly. We'll start catching and cleaning much of the rain water we now channel into gutters to just run off to the oceans.
No need to send ourselves into a ferocious national decline by cancelling immigration. As for children, last I looked the middle class was having about 1.67 children per couple and is aging, so too many children is not the problem and the reason just cancelling immigration would be disastrous. The ship of state would need more time than many of will be alive to make that turn safely. Also, today's massive refugee flows are just the beginning.
damnedifIknow
(3,183 posts)Snobblevitch
(1,958 posts)What is your source for that information?
pnwmom
(108,925 posts)of people moved there in search of water, the water wouldn't be sufficient to support them.
Snobblevitch
(1,958 posts)I don't know I that North Dakota has a lack of water or aquifers. I do know that it is one of the states that has been growing the fastest in population, although that rate has been slowing a bit lately.
pnwmom
(108,925 posts)And it's 1,000 miles away from the nearest large body of water.
But the water there is sufficient to support the approximately 740,000 people that now live there.
It would not be a good state for millions of people to flee to, hoping for more water.
So again, that map showing adequate water for UT and ND depends on those states continuing to have low populations. The amount of water there wouldn't support the population density we have along the coasts or in other major metropolitan areas.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_North_Dakota
Snobblevitch
(1,958 posts)How do you explain Devil's Lake?
I am not suggesting North Dakota has a water surplus. I am only saying your map is an over simplification of the water issue.
Like I said, in most of Minnesota there is not a shortage of water for people to use.
pnwmom
(108,925 posts)we are facing significant water shortages due to climate change. Even the states that appear to have enough water might not, if their populations grow.
Jim Beard
(2,535 posts)have portions of the state affected.
hughee99
(16,113 posts)I wonder if any of the other states are in the opposite situation, where their water projects to be insufficient based on current population growth rates, growth rates that may be affected if water begins to become more scarce.
former9thward
(31,798 posts)And they were wrong.
tabasco
(22,974 posts)Arizona Could Be Out of Water in Six Years
Prolonged drought and a rapidly expanding population are pushing Arizona's water system to its limit
Arizona is bone dry, desiccated by the worst drought ever seen in the state's 110-year long observational record. The Grand Canyon State has been in drought conditions for a decade, and researchers think the dry spell could hold out for another 20 to 30 years, says the City of Phoenix.
That people have not been fleeing Arizona in droves, as they did from the plains during the 1930s Dust Bowl, is a miracle of hydrological engineering. But the magic won't last, and if things don't start to change Arizona is going to be in trouble fast, says the New York Times.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/arizona-could-be-out-water-6-years-180951814/?no-ist
former9thward
(31,798 posts)Because, well they are in New York which is pretty far from AZ and they like to think they know it all. They don't. AZ is not going to run out of water in 6 years or 60 years. There are no water restrictions here. AZ has 3 trillion gallons of water stored in underground containers. Does CA even have a gallon stored? AZ residents are not fleeing AZ but CA residents are fleeing CA and coming to AZ.
tabasco
(22,974 posts)Try again.
former9thward
(31,798 posts)We are not CA.
tabasco
(22,974 posts)to make Arizona look bad, dating back to 1900.
No doubt there, anonymous Internet poster.
former9thward
(31,798 posts)Won't hold my breath.
Response to tabasco (Reply #34)
tabasco This message was self-deleted by its author.
Snobblevitch
(1,958 posts)the water scarcity problem in Minnesota is only in a few southwestern counties in the prairie region of the state. They rely on ground water almost exclusively. The rest of the state has no real shortage of water.
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)it is all about Ground Water Contamination and in that lies the new problem. Most of the State has issues with Fertilizer or Feed Lot Contamination issues looming on the Horizon. Your State EPA is failing in their Agency Charter,if you think not,well head out to the Hog and Turkey Operations in your area,try a overnight camp out,you will find out what I speak.
Snobblevitch
(1,958 posts)Do you have any links to the issue of ground water contamination?
Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)Why do you have a extensive rural water supply system? First pipe was laid along HYW 30 in the early 60's from Pipestone to Darfur St James area. Second line is along HWY 14 From the SoDak Border to Near New Ulm. Third line follows HWY 19 and the fourth line follows HYW 212. Interesting,yes,these originate in the Feens of Eastern SoDak or as we know it,the West side of the Buffalo Ridge. Our relies in Brown County lost their entire Hog herd in the middle 60's due to Nitrogen contamination of their well water. And just this past Summer,County and City Big shots are finally recognizing they have a major ground water contamination issue in Redwood County as well as Renville County. Not just Fertilizer but Hog Barn Lagoon run off into the Minnesota River. The State EPA Workers are very cautious as to what they will tell you about the real truth is due to recrimination by certain State Legislators as one put it to us this past summer.
NickB79
(19,109 posts)Snobblevitch
(1,958 posts)I guess there is still enough rainfall for decent crops. They look good this year.
Binkie The Clown
(7,911 posts)And a water filtration system.
And drought resistant landscaping.
And any other way you can think of to conserve water in the home.
Ichigo Kurosaki
(167 posts)where you live, quite a few places the people do not 'own' the rain water that falls on their property........
Binkie The Clown
(7,911 posts)They can have my rain when they pry it from my cold, wet fingers.
Ichigo Kurosaki
(167 posts)msongs
(67,193 posts)ffr
(22,644 posts)from their lush lawns, whereas everyone else has cut back.
Being a denier seems to mean that participating in voluntary water cutbacks is something for other people.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)Quackers
(2,256 posts)This is a huge problem that no one wants to address. There is no "in the future". The shortages are real and they are now.
SleeplessinSoCal
(8,992 posts)pablo_marmol
(2,375 posts)I haven't done any serious research on the environmental impact of desal plants, or their effectiveness. I know that they require a great deal of power to operate - but we might be at the point where price is much less of a concern than it's been in the past.
Need to put some study into this.
Kaleva
(36,145 posts)Reading the report and other articles related to shortages in the state, the problems seem to be more about deep freezes during winter in the northern part of the state freezing water mains, old water mains breaking and algae blooms in Lake Erie which affect citizens of Monroe County in South-East Michigan.
Jim Beard
(2,535 posts)dropping for years. In Texas, it is only the Panhandle, south plains region.
daleanime
(17,796 posts)ffr
(22,644 posts)Too many human consumers. Earth's carrying capacity for us is beyond its limits.
B2G
(9,766 posts)In the 2003 report, they stated that in 10 years, 36 states would be facing significant shortages.
In the 2013 report, they state that little had changed since 2003, but now the year is 2030.
People start to ignore the warnings after too many false calls.
bluedigger
(17,077 posts)John Wesley Powell warned about oversettlement and sustainability of Western communities in the 19th century. And right after he died Congress started a massive western dam construction era and reallocated all the water out of it's watersheds. A great plan, right up until it fails.