Water crisis out west. AZ,CO,CA and NV

[snowthx]

We’ve got a thread going very much in alignment with this one:

What do you think will happen when the water level at Lake Mead falls below 1050 feet?

Lake Mead sits just outside Las Vegas, created by the construction of the Hoover Dam back in the 1930s. Lake Mead is the largest capacity water reservoir in the US and that water is used, in part, to generate electricity at the dam. Hoover Dam has 17 turbines that generate electricity. 5 of those have been upgraded to newer, more efficient models that can run at lower water levels than the previous/original turbines. The 12 that have not been upgraded cannot function when the water level in …

@EDOK9Trainer

Seems like every time I open the paper or listen to the news

OK, there’s the first issue. News tends to sensationalize problems. Not to minimize the seriousness of the dry conditions, but it’s not climate Armageddon out here. Take a look at that other thread - there are a number of ideas and concepts being discussed - more factual than newsy.

@Lancia

A significant portion of western US water usage (about 80%) goes to irrigate commercial food crops. While some may sneeringly joke about avocado toast and almond butter body soaps, the reality is that we humans like to eat, we like cheap foods, and much of western US agriculture satisfies those two points.

However, a large percentage of crops grown out west are exported to other countries, which is nice for the growers, but does not add to our tables here at home. I say some modest reduction in acreage for some of the thirsty crops will very much help the situation, without much risk to our domestic food supply. We can afford to grow food in many of these places, but we may not be able to afford exporting food from them.

@EDOK9Trainer

My son, when we talk about this, says the building of new homes do not slow down at all in the area in and around Phoenix so apparently someone somewhere is not getting the message.

Residential water use is a small fraction of overall usage. Agriculture uses the lions-share of water. And from what I have seen in the large metros like Phoenix and Las Vegas, xeriscaping is encouraged, so that helps residents use even less water. Of course, if the rivers dry-up there will be no hydro power, so no electricity to run the air conditioner, but that is another problem.