Water crisis in West has prompted desperate ideas: Drain the Great Lakes, desalinate ocean water – By Trevor Hughes (USA Today) / Mar 4, 2023
DENVER – As western water woes continue, some experts and authorities say a national-level problem like this requires an innovative solution.
The U.S. has plenty of drinking water — it’s simply in the wrong place. That’s a seemingly fixable problem that has inspired a number of creative ideas. Unfortunately, everything except conserving water has proven to be a longshot proposal riddled with logistical, legal or cost problems.
- The problem: The Colorado River is drying up from drought and overuse. It’s the literal lifeblood of the West.
- A rainy year doesn’t solve the water crisis: Rain and snow, particularly in California, has offered temporary relief to water worries. But experts say the water demand in the west is set to keep exceeding supply — unless major conservation efforts successfully roll out.
- Demand remains high: Native American tribes increasingly demanding their legal rights to water, fast-growing Phoenix and Las Vegas are consuming more water to support development and California and Arizona farmers are under increasing pressure to keep food costs low and production high.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id="404"]
