UNITED NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network / 8 October 2008 -Home to over 12% of the country’s population, California is recognized as the most populated US state. It is also one of the fastest growing states of the country.

Additionally, as of 2007, California’s gross state product stood at US$1.812 trillion. In fact, its GDP is larger than all but eight countries in the world. The state contributes to 13% of the US GDP.

Despite its size and trillion dollar GDP, the state has faced numerous challenges – budgetary shortfalls, energy crises, etc. 

And now the state is also facing its greatest water challenge in recent history. Public water agencies are only receiving 35% of their annual allocation from the State Water Project this year – the lowest level since the 1991 drought. And in coming years, deliveries will likely be less. According to the initial forecasts from the National Weather Service, the drought conditions in the state will likely to continue into next year.

Observes Lester Snow, the director of the California Department of Water Resources, eighteen communities across the state have implemented some form of mandatory water rationing. And many other water agencies in the state have asked customers to comply with some form of a voluntary water conservation program. Agencies have also implemented price change initiatives to make conservation a financially appealing choice.

In June, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a statewide drought emergency and directed state agencies to take further action to more effectively address the drought impacts. This led to the resurrection of a Drought Water Bank which will allow the Department of Water Resources to purchase water from willing sellers and sell that water to at-risk water agencies.

Lester Snow emphasizes that the ongoing drought conditions serve as a reminder of the importance of providing a sustainable water supply system that is capable of meeting the ongoing demands of consumers – both now and in the future.  He notes that the California public needs to fundamentally change their daily use/consumption patterns when it comes to water. The concept of water efficiency and water conservation needs to become a priority.

According to Snow, Californians learned to adjust their energy usage as a result of the state’s energy crisis.  Fundamental changes in energy use during peak times resulted in significant energy savings across the state.  Now the state needs to take its water supply problems and re-evaluate water usage across all sectors – consumer, business, industrial, and agriculture.

It is imperative that California not only set an example for the rest of the country but the state should also seek to become a global leader when it comes to initiatives that focus on water conservation, water efficiency, water re-use, and water resource management.

Labels: United Nations, U.N., MaximsNews, MaximsNews WATER, MaximsNewsWATER, water, Lester Snow, California, Drought Water Bank, Arnold Schwarzenegger, water efficiency, water conservation, water re-use, Kathy Shandling, international development, environment, water news, water sustainability, water resource, water management, global water crisis, sustainable development 

 

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