"The government projects that at least 36 states will face water shortages within five years because of a combination of rising temperatures, drought, population growth, urban sprawl, waste and excess." -From an Associated Press Article on October 27 th about the droughtThis above sentence from the article got me wondering who in the government projected this shortage? How did the government project this? Thankfully, we live in this gilded Google age where reports can't stay too hidden. A little power Google searching revealed all.
It turns out this statement comes from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in a report published in 2003 titled "FRESHWATER SUPPLY: States’ Views of How Federal Agencies Could Help Them Meet the Challenges of Expected Shortages" The report was generated after the 2002 drought to help federal agencies determine how their activities affect states and how they can be more supportive of state efforts to meet their future water needs.
The report states that "even under normal conditions, water managers in 36 states anticipate shortages in localities, regions, or statewide in the next 10 years." So go ahead and subtract five years, since it is 2007, and you see where the five year prediction comes from for this article.
So, how did the government calculate this shortage? They didn't. I was disappointed to read that basically this report was a a compilation of web-based surveys of state water managers. Three important states didn't even participate; California, Michigan, and New Mexico.
This report was still interesting to read and I thought it had a bigger conclusion. The report states that under drought conditions, 46 state water managers expected water shortages. So, basically every state that answered said they expected shortages during droughts.
Now that is big.
5 comments:
Given that, by definition, every state faces droughts (some now even declare them during average precipitation years), this means that essentially the entire nation has this problem.
And, by the way, good sleuthing. I've seen this quote and wondered.
My perception of water shortages in the future, is that it will be most important problem to solve. Wars will be fought tenaciously to obtain water. It is a vital liquid for life.
There is sufficient evidence that drought are longer and drier in many places of the planet.
I'm afraid the problem right now is critical and it will only get worse. The problem is that no action is taken until it's too late.
Our politicians are deaf to global warming because of global greed.
Massive water tampering / diversion taking place in Fresno, CA. Beneath the surface i.e., streets, homes, sidewalks, lawns is evidence of a 45+/- yr operation that is now being tied into the "infrastructure upgrade." Entire city has been left a shambles - clamped sewer and water lines from one end to the other. This explains why Fresno has no older records - and why they do not stand behind the ones they DO have! Where is help when it is needed?
I suppose I shouldn't let things like this get in the way of what the article was trying to say, but I am a bit distressed that a map published in a report by a government agency has Mississippi and Alabama mislabeled.
Oh My Gosh! I can't believe I didn't notice that. Great observation Rachel.
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