Essay On California Shortage Of Water

Of the world’s entire water supply, 97.5% is saltwater that resides in the ocean. That leaves just 2.5% freshwater and of that, 70% is frozen in glaciers and ice caps. That means only 0.75% of the global supply makes up water for human consumption. There is certainly no shortage of water on this planet, just a shortage of freshwater. The only problem is that the global population is expected to double in size by 2050 and for a state like California with its own water problems, doubling the population is not good news. California is in need of drastic reconstruction of its water supply system and desalination can be a viable resource in supplying clean water to the urban sectors of the state.

Most years California will receive most of its rainfall between the months from November and March, but

The state depends on the water sheds in the mountains to supply it with enough water year after year. Most Californians are aware that rain falls in the northern regions of the state and according to the California Department of Water Resources, it is stored and delivered by a system of reservoirs, aqueducts, power plants and pumping plants throughout the state. The water from the rainfall in the north is transported to the urban communities and farms in the south. The interconnected water system is managed by the federal and state governments through the State Water Project and Central Valley Project. Each are responsible for the funding and maintenance of the water projects. However water always has been, and at this point it will remain the most controversial issue in California. Unfortunately for this time of year the Sierra Nevada snowpack is at 12% of its normal level. Todd Ferrara, Deputy Secretary for External Affairs at California Natural Resources Agency has said that, “even if it rained for 40 days and 40 nights, we still wouldn’t have enough water to get out of the current drought