California Water: Why It’s Not Just About Using Less

Abstract

California gets its water supply from a variety of sources: surface water; underground aquifers; and the Colorado River. Water is used for environmental purposes, agricultural needs and residential uses. Some of the other statistics for water usage calls into question what can be done to cut back on that usage as the population grows. Water conservation efforts have cut back urban water usage, but agriculture conservation efforts have little impact. Environmental conservation limits how much water is available for other uses but fluctuates the most. Governments and private sector alike need to get creative and proactive about devising a solution.