photo by Kjkolb (Wikimedia Commons)

I recently posted about the drought in Texas and how that American state is suffering from a combination of effects due to climate change, urbanization (in a desert, no less) and groups who seek to profit from the current water crisis.

The great state of California, Southern California to be more precise, is not currently facing drought conditions like Texas, but simply does not have the water to supply its nearly 22.5 million inhabitants

Southern California currently pumps in much of its water from the Colorado River, over the border with Arizona, uphill – 242 miles (390 km) along the Colorado River Aqueduct. This pumping of some 900 million gallons (3.5bn liters) per day is costly and requires a lot of energy. Climate change legislation and increasing costs are making the already impractical practice of importing water less appealing. This may have its pluses.

The twin forces of energy prices and climate-change regulations are threatening Southern California’s long love affair with imported water, increasing the allure of local sources such as groundwater, rain and recycled supplies.

–Los Angeles Times

Perhaps those Southern California’s residents might consider conserving more water by simply using less. Those with manicured lawns – unnatural and non-native to So Cal – could consider having front and back yards with local and/or less water intensive plant life, rocks, sand, etc. Check out this piece in Sunset for how good-looking and environmentally sound a natural ‘California friendly’ yard can be.

The issue should be the conservation of water along with businesses and residents living a practical, affordable lifestyle, not corporations’ rights to make money from selling water. Policies should reflect the interests of citizens and the environment (same thing, really) and not the relentless drive for corporate profits.

Read more on this subject in the Los Angeles Times.