According to Jake Bittle at Grist, the federal Bureau of Reclamation has been directing investment funds from the bipartisan infrastructure bill that Congress passed in 2021 to accelerate solutions for America's groundwater crisis (1). In summary the issue is plenty of water, just not in the places needed. The depletion of "groundwater across the U.S. has drawn nationwide attention in recent years, as local officials in states from Kansas to Arizona struggle to manage dwindling water resources even as homes and farms get thirstier." Pragmatic projects funded by the 2021 infrastructure bill are now being deployed, reviving long-dormant proposals for pipelines, reservoirs, and treatment facilities in rural areas across the U.S. West.
Even with last year's record-breaking snowpack, California's groundwater in the central valley remains critically low (2). Water reclamation, desalination, and reservoir projects in southern California have potential to reduce demand from far away sources. With an abundant supply of Pacific Ocean seawater, IPHROS would further improve regional water sustainability in southern California. IPHROS would also provide energy storage from the same facility.
Sources:
1. Article written by Jake Bittle, Staff Writer, at Grist published Oct 23, 2023.
2. California Water Watch website https.cww.water.ca.gov updated Oct 24, 2023.
Comments