Today is WaterWired's 3rd birthday. Tempus fugit! And I am having fun.
CBS Evening News' Friday night newscast had a piece by Mark Strassmann, America's Dwindling Water Supply. Here's a direct link to the video.
I thought that given the time constraints, Strassmann did a pretty good job. There was the usual "water is the new oil" thing. And we don't have good knowledge of how much water we really have or use. Agreed. And of course, experts all agree that demand exceeds supply. Really? I'll channel David Zetland: "At what price?"
The initial part, comparing the USA's water use with other countries' uses, was very good and an eye-opener. Journalist/author Steven Solomon then made the his first appearance. Arizona and New Mexico got a little play, then the focus turned to Las Vegas and Lake Mead, with an appearance by SNWA's Pat Mulroy, who at times sounded like a conservationist.
Strassmann couldn't help but give a shout-out to the opulent CityCenter. Conservation personified? Uh-huh.
Strassmann then did something a little different with Lake Mead. Aside from the well-known water-supply aspect, Lake Mead has recreational and very important power-generation roles. Strassmann spoke with a marina owner who's had to move her marina 15 times and has to do so again. He then spoke with Ken Rice, who manages power generation. Rice noted that Lake Mead's level is only about 45 feet above dead pool, the level at which it can no longer generate power.
A brief blurb about the Great Lakes ("hands off our water") just about wrapped things up.
Strassmann certainly did a much better job than Lesley Stahl and 60 Minutes did with California's water issues. For one thing, The Governator was nowhere to be seen.
The site also has some useful links. Give it a view. And read the comments posted to the site.
"Everyone has a piece of the responsibility. It is our individual behaviors." -- Pat Mulroy, quoted in the piece
at what price indeed!
There would be NO shortage if prices where higher. That bit of "supply and demand" has been true from the beginning of time.
Posted by: David Zetland | Sunday, 10 January 2010 at 02:16 AM