Since summer many Texans have been under mandatory watering restrictions, which will likely persist at least through summer 2007. Unfortunately, not everyone understands that drought is only part of our water woes. The real issue is our rate of consumption: North Texans rank among the highest water wasters in the US. Our area will continue to develop, but if we do not permanently alter our water usage habits, we could run out of water before the new reservoirs become accessible in 2008. And these new resources might not even keep up with our current rate of consumption. If we do not start using our water more wisely, and our supplies continue to dwindle, it's reasonable to expect water prices to skyrocket. Water will be the next oil.
We are not alone, fellow Texans. Residents of San Diego have demanded greater access to a certain canal that irrigates farmlands on both sides of the US-Mexico border. Follow this link to read more about it: http://tinyurl.com/y3b342.
Any comments about water issues confronting Texans, Californians, Mexicans, or anyone in North America?
2 comments:
Just a thought...a couple of weeks ago, I read in the Dallas Morning News that Texas residents use more water per capita compared to other states do. The article then went on to state that this was because of the lush landscaping that Texans like to have. Makes you think if we (Texans) are the ones who have created the water shortage?!!
Appropriate comment. The water shortage is caused by several factors. Drought has caused the most visible evidence: low lake levels and crispy landscapes (if non-native.) But our water shortage indeed has been created and will be persisted by our consumption habits. Texas residents use more water per capita, that's true. Plano residents log the highest per capita consumption in the entire metroplex. Partly to blame is our antiquated conception of landscaping (i.e. lush turfgrass, plants that require too much water and 'babying', etc.) More than 95% of Texas' land is privately owned. That means, the only way Texas' water resources can effectively be conserved, preserved and otherwise protected is if every single homeowner learns waterwise landscaping techniques. Sure, we can take shorter showers or minimize the number of laundry loads per week. But the single most effective way to reduce our water wastefulness is to landscape with plants that will survive once-per-week watering. And that's why we do what we do...
Thanks for your comments, as always.
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