filed in Daily Life
Water Guilt
We’re in the midst of one of the worst droughts on record in California, and I should think about it more while luxuriating in the shower. I’ve grown accustomed to never keeping the water running while brushing my teeth, but I flush the toilet more often than is advised. I wonder whether I ought to be rinsing my plastic orange juice container before recycling. I need to pay attention.
Shower Stall by Kristen Martincic
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California’s water problems are going to get a whole lot worse before they get better. In the short(er) term, there is the possibility of an El Nino this fall (building in Sept.-Nov.), but if it does materialize, it’ll likely be a weak one. That, unfortunately, lessens the chance of drought-relieving precipitation. I think collective action regarding water-saving are probably a big key to weathering this drought (yes, pun intended). IIRC, the Sierra snowpack, which is responsible for the delivery of water to LA, was woefully short.
California’s population growth is still above the US average, although it is slowing. I’m not sure how much of that is due to births exceeding deaths or net in-migration from other states/countries. Without clear conservation measures (and consequences for those refusing to adhere to them), I’m not sure how California is going to deal with the population component to water use/conservation.
Agriculture is (I think) the heaviest user of water. If there’s ever been a reason for spatially diversifying our nation’s agriculture industry, this is it. The rest of the country needs to understand that its food sources (and prices) are heavily tied to what happens in California.
Fortunately, California is still the land of the innovative, something I can’t say about Indiana (in general–we do have some creatives here and not every Californian develops something new!)
I’m trying to get our condo building to redo our parkway and landscaping with drought-resistant plants. We’d be the first on our street, but I’m excited to start a trend.
And I get that “rinsing the recyclables” thing! I keep mine in the garage until my recycle bag is full, which can take a few weeks. I HAVE to rinse if I don’t want the bag to stink!
It’s hard to know what’s worse right now – landfill or drought.
to live is to pollute…do the best you can. It will all be OK.
I use way too many paper towels. I feel bad about that.