Water security

[LaurV]

Oh, so silly these guys!
I was reading this from the beginning, but didn't realize the guy's name is Bundy, is he relative of Al Bundy?

[ewmayer]

Oregon occupiers ask public for supplies: get glitter, sex toys | Reuters

Best headline I saw about this is from Gawker: “Angry Militia Leader: Stop Mailing Us Dildos.”

[only_human]

When the big lake runs dry

These are anxious moments for South Coast and Santa Ynez Valley water customers. Santa Barbara County officials recently made a grim prediction about Lake Cachuma’s future. It looks dry.

In fact, if water experts are correct, the lake level will reach a historic low point sometime in July, and be effectively dry as a bone by the end of the year.

The reality of a drying Lake Cachuma, coupled with the admission by county water managers that the reservoir is all but finished, for now, compelled us to search the internet to answer the following question: What happens when Lake Cachuma runs dry, and cannot supply water to tens of thousands of people?

It didn’t come as a complete surprise that we found no reasonable answer. Regional experts have been pondering the same question for generations, and the only answer that made sense was, we need more rain.

But what if we don’t get more rain? What if this going-on-five-year drought drags on to become a 10-year drought, or maybe a 50 or 100-year mega-drought? We all know that in California, anything’s possible.

Still, folks on the Central Coast need an answer to that question of supply. Without a realistic, reliable water supply we can envision of veritable dust bowl, a place where million-dollar homes become virtually worthless.

It’s a vision of staggering, mind-numbing ugliness. A Central Coast resident’s worst nightmare, especially for those who own a home here.

[only_human]

Donald Trump Tells Drought-Plagued Californians: ‘There Is No Drought’
“If I win, believe me, we’re going to start opening up the water.”

[kladner]

Originally Posted by only_human

When the big lake runs dry

One of the possible mitigating factors, which I don't see mentioned very often, is the capture of urban runoff. I remember being in Oakland and seeing signs by storm drains which warned that the water goes straight into the Bay. The warning is that catchments should not have leaves and other solids swept into them. It seems that there must be at least some pipes which combine the runoff on its way to the Bay. What might it take to divert this water to a treatment plant?

[only_human]

Originally Posted by kladner

One of the possible mitigating factors, which I don't see mentioned very often, is the capture of urban runoff. I remember being in Oakland and seeing signs by storm drains which warned that the water goes straight into the Bay. The warning is that catchments should not have leaves and other solids swept into them. It seems that there must be at least some pipes which combine the runoff on its way to the Bay. What might it take to divert this water to a treatment plant?

The treatment plant issue seems to be iffy. This article does show a "greenway" on the LA river to "enhance the natural process to clean polluted water."

There does to be a lot of interest and even money spent for capturing urban storm water.
Storm Water, Long a Nuisance, May Be a Parched California’s Salvation

This shift in approach will not be easy. The State Water Resources Control Board had earlier authorized spending $200 million on an array of projects devoted to capturing storm water. But officials said it would cost more than $1 billion for the kind of ambitious water-collection goals set by Los Angeles, San Diego and the San Francisco Bay Area.

[kladner]

Thanks for the storm water article, Ross. I hope people press ahead with the projects.

[Uncwilly]

Originally Posted by only_human

When the big lake runs dry

There is a much larger lake that ran dry before (in the rough area) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulare_Lake

Originally Posted by kladner

One of the possible mitigating factors, which I don't see mentioned very often, is the capture of urban runoff. I remember being in Oakland and seeing signs by storm drains which warned that the water goes straight into the Bay. The warning is that catchments should not have leaves and other solids swept into them. It seems that there must be at least some pipes which combine the runoff on its way to the Bay. What might it take to divert this water to a treatment plant?

There are 2 issues here: 1) Capture of run-off for use. 2) Items in the water going to the bay, ocean, creak, river, etc.

For capture see below.

The idea of the signs "Drains to Bay", is not only about leaves and solids that will clog the system, but as important is the prevention of various other pollutants. Keeping oil, pesticides, fertilizers, other chemicals, fast food wrappers, six-pack rings, etc. out of the storm water is important. That is the reason behind the signs.

Originally Posted by only_human

The treatment plant issue seems to be iffy. This article does show a "greenway" on the LA river to "enhance the natural process to clean polluted water."

There does to be a lot of interest and even money spent for capturing urban storm water.
Storm Water, Long a Nuisance, May Be a Parched California’s Salvation

In coastal areas, like Los Angeles, sending stormwater to the sanitary sewer for treatment is generally not done. That does not lead to capturing it for use (it can if the treatment plant is a water reclamation plant, but stormwater needs much less treatment than sewage). Generally it must be captured in rain barrels or cisterns, or it must be infiltrated for groundwater recharge.

The greenways and other projects are used for that. Here are a few links that show more:
http://www.lastormwater.org/blog/cat...green-streets/
http://www.lastormwater.org/blog/201...dway-corridor/
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home...un-valley.html
https://lacreekfreak.wordpress.com/2...cles-and-fish/

The projects in Los Angeles are multifaceted / multibenefit. They capture stormwater, they beautify, they often help with flooding, and they help clean-up the Los Angeles River, restoring it to a living river.

[kladner]

Thanks, Uncwilly. I greatly appreciate the hearing from a knowledgeable person who is on the scene. Thanks for the links, as well.

I had not thought about all the really terrible things that ignorant or uncaring people might dump in a storm drain.

BTW: Have alterations in the LA River aroused any colonies of giant ants?

[only_human]

Originally Posted by kladner

BTW: Have alterations in the LA River aroused any colonies of giant ants?

I just learned that a cheesy scream also used in the movie Them! is called a Wilhelm scream and is in many popular movies including Star Wars.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_scream (includes sound clip)

http://www.hollywoodlostandfound.net/wilhelm/index.html

[only_human]

California Eyes Recycling Wastewater for Drinking

But now the State Water Resources Control Board, prompted by the legislature, has tasked a panel of experts with determining whether it is feasible to develop criteria for direct potable reuse (DPR) – where wastewater is treated for drinking and then piped directly to customers without first being mixed in a reservoir or groundwater aquifer.

The panel is set to deliver its report later this month, as is a group of stakeholders. Then staff from the Water Board’s Division of Drinking Water will use those two reports to develop their own recommendations on the feasibility of DPR criteria by September 1. After a 45-day comment period a finalized report will be submitted before the end of the year. If, as is most likely, the final report does find that the criteria are feasible, the Division of Drinking Water will begin work on developing the appropriate regulations for direct potable reuse.