Because apparently water tables in this area are getting rather strained. From the Spokesman-Review...The two-year study done by the Columbia Basin ground water Management Area, based in Othello, found that aquifer levels are dropping fast, that most deep wells in the study area are drawing water left from the Ice Age floods at least 10,000 years ago, and that there is virtually no chance Lake Roosevelt is recharging deep wells in Eastern Washington’s driest counties.
“This is a major issue for cities and big irrigators,” said Paul Stoker, executive director of the ground water agency.
Franklin, Adams, Grant and Lincoln counties are most affected in a study area covering about 8,000 square miles.
I'm not so thrilled about that one. Thirty minute showers are a specialty of mine in the morning, and to have that taken away would be a fate worst than starvation.However, counties may want to look into something like water rationing and stuff. The Western United States has been hit by a pretty nasty drought that has been ongoing to the point where I'm pretty sure LA and Vegas are going to have a smackdown over who gets to have the Colorado River for water. You don't really want to see that happening around these parts.
Meanwhile, back here in the PNW, I'm wondering how much this will affect Spokane since it has one of the purest and most abundant water aquifers in the country, if not the world. Oh, and they put a train refueling and repair station right over it and then diesel started to leak down into it. Hooray!
At least maybe diesel will clean that ginger color out of my hair.
"I'm wondering how much this will affect Spokane since it has one of the purest and most abundant water aquifers in the country, if not the world."
ReplyDeleteI believe at one point in our brief history of civilization that same thought was prevalent when people talked of trees, clean water, land, natural resources, food, fossil fuel...
The point is - we have to conserve, even when it doesn't seem that conservation is needed. One of our ignorant city council members, Nancy McLaughlin has that same thought, "why conserve water when we have the aquifer beneath us" - because if we don't conserve it now - it won't be around forever
Check out studies on the Spokane Valley / Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer. It's the sole-source of drinking water for 450k people. But we don't have to worry about it because it's underground. Ignorance is bliss. Plus, if we have to start water rationing then we can always blame Idaho.
ReplyDeleteToo bad those suckers at "Lake" Roosevelt are bottoming out their 30' boats. Next they'll be asked to take 15 min. showers.
If it's brown, flush it down. If it's yellow, let it mellow.