Water Dilemma: California

1) The idea of water conservation is an important issue and should be discussed more. In Canada, we possess only 7% of the world's renewable freshwater supply, so it is sad to see that we overuse and abuse this precious resource. In many underprivileged countries, they have to fight for clean drinking water.  I wasn't too shocked with the information that people didn't have access to clean water.  It is quite a general knowledge that is taught to students to show how fortunate we are and how we shouldn't take this resource for advantage.  Many people in different parts of the world don't have access to freshwater that they can consume and sometimes travel miles to attain water that's not even fresh.  I am very fortunate and grateful to live in a place where water is easily available and I'm sure many people that live here think so as well, but it doesn't mean that we have the right to abuse it just because it's accessible. What did shock me was that corporations were abusing water resources to make money and leaving villagers with nothing. It is horrible to think that companies like Coca Cola don't give villagers the right to access their own water.



2)  *I will be doing California as it is a part of West USA and is also a suggestion provided*

Currently in California they are experiencing their 3rd year of drought.  There are even headlines claiming that "Current California Drought is Driest in State's History; Scientists fear 'Megadroughts' On Their Way".

The water situation in California right now is so crucial that the state's ecisting water supply and storage facilities could not meet the state's needs. Aside from this, the state (and much of the West) relies heavily on relies heavily on snowpack each winter to resupply surface water streams and lakes. The lack of winter storms and record high-temperatures this past winter, snowpack in California is at an all time low.  The state's hydropower supply is also threatened when snowpack is scarce.  Exports in California are reliant on produce and most of the water in California is used for farming; the drought is causing farmers to suffer as there is the water use restriction up to 25% that was announced to help reduce demand.
"Once aquifers are depleted, the state will have no backup supplies to surface water. Desalination could make up some of the difference, but can be expensive and is energy-intensive."
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