Living out here in Colorado, the issue of water conservation is always front and center. There are wars of rivers, reservoir storage and the like. Now a new water authority has formed. Here's a story about it.

http://denver.yourhub.com/Story.aspx?contentid=74860

Do you think its a bunch of fuss about nothing? Is there plenty of water or do we really have to change the way we are living?::hmm:

It depends on where you live-it's something people don't think about till they have to...

Living out here in Colorado, the issue of water conservation is always front and center. There are wars of rivers, reservoir storage and the like. Now a new water authority has formed...

Do you think its a bunch of fuss about nothing? Is there plenty of water or do we really have to change the way we are living?::hmm:
Well the thing is, you're upstream of booming polulation centers. The city of Los Angeles and much of southern California relies on the COlorado river for drinking water.
Colorado River Aqueduct:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ce/Wpdms_shdrlfi020l_colorado_river_aqueduct.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_River_Aqueduct

So the thing is for people in Colorado water conservation is not an issue, but if you want places like LA and Las Vegas to exist you should be very concerned about water consercation. You can expect to see increasing tension about this issue over the next century or until the next world war comes around.

The Colorado is the most over allocated major river in the country ... in fact by the time it gets to the delta at the sea of cortez there is no water left in it.

A prolonged drought has also caused the largest lake on the river, Lake Powell, to drop to less than 1/2 capacity

In the mean time, southern California, Nevada and Arizona are some of the fastest growing parts of the country, and there ain't enough of the precious H2O to go around, so, something's got to give :|

The Colorado is the most over allocated major river in the country ... in fact by the time it gets to the delta at the sea of cortez there is no water left in it.

Indeed. Tis rather sad to see pictures of that.

Perhaps someday desalinization of the ocean will become cost-effective here in the states (which they do in some Arab countries, if I'm not mistaken)

kind of looks like a north south thing to me.
Have a look at the graphic half way down the page

http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/home/wsmap.htm

If you enjoy nonfiction, you must check out the late Marc Reisner's masterpiece Cadillac Desert

http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/~martins/hydro/case_studies/cadillac_desert.htm

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0140178244/103-0200023-6799068?v=glance&n=283155

He spent literally decades researching this and he is a riveting storyteller too.

We take for granted that water will pour out of the spigot with little thought to the lives, history, conflicts, money and power that shaped (and were shaped) by water policy here.

If you enjoy nonfiction, you must check out the late Marc Reisner's masterpiece Cadillac Desert

Yes, I remember watching that. Very informative.

Here are some great old photos of the Central Valley Project, which is one of the largest and most expensive construction projects in history

http://www.sldmwa.org/historical.htm

I cant even imagine the govmt contracting anything like this today

On a geopolitical scale, the upcoming (potable) water shortage will dwarf the energy one.

Is there plenty of water or do we really have to change the way we are living?::hmm:I think it makes sense to take reasonable steps to conserve all natural resources.

I think it makes sense to take reasonable steps to conserve all natural resources.
:nice: unfortunately governments often don't plan ahead and instead react to sick and dying masses. It's nice to see colorado getting smart about this before the problem becomes desperate.