It could not be clearer to those who can see– we Californians will never have enough water. What is completely muddy to me is why our politicians and leaders don't see that and thus decline to do anything about it EXCEPT add more usage restrictions. Yesterday's Chronicle notes
Recognizing California’s increasing propensity for parched weather — this winter being no exception — state water officials are planning to resurrect many of the temporary water restrictions that were enacted during the recent five-year dry spell and make them permanent. “These rules are about a larger suite of actions designed to build resilience to future droughts and climate change,” said Max Gomberg, a senior environmental scientist for the state water board.
Translation: Get ready for even more draconian restrictions. Here are the proposed restrictions:
- Watering lawns in a manner that causes runoff
- Using a hose without a shut-off valve to wash a car
- Hosing down driveways and sidewalks with potable water (like any of us have much access to any other kind of water!)
- Using potable water in a fountain or decorative water feature (like I said…..)
- Watering within 48 hours of rain (So you all stay home and manage your sprinkler timers)
- Irrigation of median strips by cities and counties (Nice for a City of Trees…NOT!)
- Laundering of towels and linens at hotels without first asking guests (Waste of time, it happens all the time)
- Residents being punished by homeowner associations, cities or counties for practicing water conservation
And in the meantime, leaders cannot figure out how to restrain over-development even when they know it's the right thing to do for the community even aside from a lack of future water as noted here. Creating mock affordable housing to squeeze even more people into the Bay Area makes even less sense.


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