To: The California State House, The California State Senate, and Governor Gavin Newsom
Stop Government Waste of Critical Water Resources
The State of California has encouraged disastrous overuse of our ever-diminishing fresh water resources by plodding along using unimaginative 19th century ideas about water use.
Before even considering more unnecessary environmental destruction, it must be the official policy of the State of California that ALL government buildings and properties reuse grey water for all purposes where potable water is not required. An immediate conversion of all state properties should begin now with a timeline to complete conversion within no later than 5 years. All other governmental entities, federal, county, city and special districts, should be set on a timetable to complete at least 75% of such conversions within 5 years and to complete 100% conversion within 7. Appropriate penalties should be applicable in cases of willful non-compliance.
It should also be the policy of the State of California that ALL aqueducts and other such water conveyances, as well as purposely constructed reservoirs should be covered immediately to prevent the massive and needless loss of fresh water through evaporation.
The City of Arcata under the auspices of CalState Humboldt has created an internationally admired and copied system for converting wastewater into water pure enough to release into ecologically delicate Arcata and Humboldt bays. Why not use such natural "technology" state-wide? It should also be the policy of the State of California that continuing research of this sort be funded to preserve our natural water resources.
Before even considering more unnecessary environmental destruction, it must be the official policy of the State of California that ALL government buildings and properties reuse grey water for all purposes where potable water is not required. An immediate conversion of all state properties should begin now with a timeline to complete conversion within no later than 5 years. All other governmental entities, federal, county, city and special districts, should be set on a timetable to complete at least 75% of such conversions within 5 years and to complete 100% conversion within 7. Appropriate penalties should be applicable in cases of willful non-compliance.
It should also be the policy of the State of California that ALL aqueducts and other such water conveyances, as well as purposely constructed reservoirs should be covered immediately to prevent the massive and needless loss of fresh water through evaporation.
The City of Arcata under the auspices of CalState Humboldt has created an internationally admired and copied system for converting wastewater into water pure enough to release into ecologically delicate Arcata and Humboldt bays. Why not use such natural "technology" state-wide? It should also be the policy of the State of California that continuing research of this sort be funded to preserve our natural water resources.
Why is this important?
Fresh water to preserve the ecological health of the Bay Delta and other sensitive ecosystems can only vanish at an ever-accelerating rate with global climate change. Foolish wasteful unthinking practices of water use MUST be replaced by thoughtful, CONSERVATIVE use of our resources. If we cannot change, the entire state will become a desert and the oceans, deprived of fresh water inflow, will become saline to the point of toxicity. There is another way.