State officials say the urgency to store more water has vanished as storms swell reservoirs. The reversal is a victory for environmentalists, but they say the damage to salmon and native fish is already done.
After record-breaking snowfall in December, January and February were likely the driest on record, prolonging California’s drought. In Silicon Valley, the conditions could mean tightening restrictions and increasing rebates to reduce water use.
The District Attorney’s office confirmed Friday it has launched an investigation into conflicts of interest and allegations of fraudulent billing involving the Santa Clara Valley Water District and consultant RMC Water and Environment.
Agriculture consumes a staggering 80 percent of California’s developed water, even as it accounts for only 2 percent of the state’s gross domestic product. This model is simply unsustainable.
While Silicon Valley copes with its dependence on imported water, our neighbors in Santa Cruz are striving to rely entirely on their local water supply.
San Jose Water Company proposed in 2012 to increase water rates nearly 40 percent over three years. A report on the proposed rate increase shows that, to a large degree, the project is tied to a a worthwhile expansion of our water recycling infrastructure.
Future droughts will become increasingly frequent and severe, according to climate predictions. Officials are so concerned about the current shortage that many are now looking for new sources of water, including the use of treated sewage discharge for—gulp—drinking water.
