As reported in the San Diego Union Tribune by Henry Fountain from the NY Times, the secondary headline states "experts say reductions once "unthinkable" may be needed in the long term." The article cites the crisis in the southwest from the two-decade drought, and that a "call to conserve up to an additional 4 million acre-feet of water." How much is 4 million acre-feet of water? Answer. About one third of the of the Colorado River's current flow according to the author.
So what happens when the two-decade drought extends to a three-decade drought? To a four-decade drought? If negotiations for significant water conservation across multiple states and stakeholders fail, the government could act unilaterally, according to Camille Touton, commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation. As reported, "we will protect the system," she said.
To ease the water scarcity burden in southern California IPHROS is a solution utilizing two decades-proven operations; RO desalination and pumped hydro storage. The bonus is IPHROS provides clean water and energy storage as output by design. The site with the highest probability of success is Camp Pendleton. Multiple stakeholders would need to be in agreement including; DOD, DOE, State of California, southern California counties, water municipalities, utilities, etc. Or as the crisis worsens "the government could act unilaterally." For concerned citizens please contact your local, state and federal representatives to advocate for IPHROS as a solution.
Source: San Diego Union Tribune report by Henry Fountain at the New York Times, published Jul 23, 2022.
Comments