Tag Archives: CA drought

Sustainability

Workers and Markets Follow the Water

sedge-628370_640The lack of water caused by the California drought affects our food supply in more ways than just the ability to grow crops. It has had deep impact on the workers in this industry and the businesses that employ them. When the cost of water for a 10-acre farm parcel goes from $3,200 to $33,000 in one year, you’ve got a business problem. In 2013, the California agriculture industry employed about 349,000 people.

Currently, the San Joaquin valley is considered the salad bowl of the country. It provides one third of the fruit, nuts and produce we consume in the U.S. With more than 10 years of drought tendency, water has become so scarce and so expensive, landowners are considering what to do next. If the predicted El Nino doesn’t do enough to alleviate the drought situation, workers may have to leave California to follow the water to Washington State. Idaho or Oregon.

Farmers are also learning to become more adaptable and are learning about foreign markets – to maximize their investment in crops by exporting to other countries. China, a large importer of American produce, has become a factor in which crops live or die, because farmers need to consider how to squeeze the most profit out of their products.

“The overseas market is extremely important,” says Jesus Ramos, a farmer who owns 140 acres of mostly citrus trees in Terra Bella in Tulare County. “That dictates whether you can keep a crop going or not.”

California wasteland: Drought-sick farmers hope for relief

California has been experiencing drought conditions since 1999. The lack of rainfall and snowpack in the recent years has pushed farmers in the Central Valley to the edge. Farmers spend millions of their own savings to purchase emergency water to save crops, hoping the coming winter will bring rain to relieve the situation.

Read more at CNBC, How China is Changing Your Dinner Plate.

Environment, Rainwater Catchment

Will El Nino Bring Drought Relief?

downpour-61916_640California may think it’ll finally see some relief from the extreme drought that has gripped the region for several years because this year’s El Nino is predicted to be massive, bringing heavy rains – and with that the potential of mudslides and flooding in southern California.

CBS/AP reports: “Weather models this year show a 60 percent chance of above-average rainfall in Southern California, but that figure declines farther north…”

There’s a downside. Northern portions of California and parts of Nevada are only looking at between a 50% chance, down to 33% as you head north. Unfortunately, most of the state’s reservoirs are located in the northern portion of California, meaning heavy rains in southern California won’t do much to alleviate drought conditions as its infrastructure is designed to channel rainwater away from homes to prevent flooding – and water is washed out to sea.

The Pacific Northwest is expected to continue being very dry and drought conditions will persist mostly due to warm weather causing reduced snowpack across much of the Cascades Range and Olympic Mountains in Washington. So, while residents and businesses are being diligent about reducing water usage, there is certainly more that can be done on a municipal, county, federal and individual level.

Ben Franklin

“When the well is dry we know the value of water”, Benjamin Franklin

Residential Rainwater Collection

How Can Urban Homes Benefit From Rainwater Collection?

RBRWC9241510Just like rural homeowners, urban households can benefit from rainwater collection. Unlike rural homes, most city homes have less space available for storage. Slim line water tanks and underground storage options allow those who live in an urban environment to collect, store, and use rainwater for a number of purposes.

You do not need a lot of capacity of storage for supplemental use of rainwater. For every inch of rainfall, a thousand square feet of surface will yield 623 gallons of water. A 2,000 square foot roof in Seattle will yield over 44,000 gallons of water annually. Even with only 3,000 gallons of storage, winter use can be as much as 100% or can be stored for summer irrigation demands. See chart below  – an average 2,000 square foot roof yields over 44, 000 gallons with only 3,000 gallons of storage capacity based on 120 gallons of daily demand.  (click the image for larger view)

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Rainwater is a clean source of water that needs very little treatment for irrigation, toilet flushing, or laundry facilities. Further treatment with UV disinfection allows for whole house demands including drinking water. With more demands on our water districts due to drought conditions, every drop helps. Why not benefit from this natural resource, rather than send it down the curbside drain?