Conservation is Critical: California Water Crisis

Conservation is Critical: California Water Crisis

This week I had the opportunity to attend our March Orange Belt Board of Realtors luncheon and listen to Elva Beltran of the Porterville Area Coordinating Counsel give an update on the California Water Crisis and how it is impacting Porterville and the surrounding areas.  Porterville seems to be the epicenter of the crisis, but sadly the radius that this drought is affecting is growing daily.  

The Porterville Area has more than 700 families that do not have running water.  This means 700 FAMILES, men, women, children, elderly and pets, do not have access to bathe, cook, wash or even flush the toilet.  Elva and her team of volunteers spend their days trying to get water to these families. But it is not enough and sadly there are more families showing up everyday that need water.  This video details exactly how bad it is in Porterville.

However, Porterville is only the beginning.  This drought is expanding throughout our farmland in all of California.  And this drought will impact the nation.  If California doesn't have water, then the nation will not have produce. 

California produces a significant amount of our nations food.  With out water we can not grow our food.   In a NASA report released this week it is stated that California may only have one year of water left.  "Data from NASA satellites show that the total amount of water stored in the Sacramento and San Joaquin river basins — that is, all of the snow, river and reservoir water, water in soils and groundwater combined — was 34 million acre-feet below normal in 2014. That loss is nearly 1.5 times the capacity of Lake Mead, America's largest reservoir."As difficult as it may be to face, the simple fact is that California is running out of water.

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This is a big problem we are facing but you can help.  There are steps we can all take to help everyday with conservation.  Conservation will be the key to getting through this drought.  Simple things like turning off the water when brushing your teeth can save gallons of water.  Here is a list of great ideas you can implement in your life to conserve water.

If you want to help more with this situation then please contact Elva Beltran of the Porterville Area Coordinating Counsel.  559-793-0213.  You can help with donations, delivery of water, and coordination. If you can't volunteer then share this information. Get the word out. We will keep you posted on more information as it comes.

Pray for Rain and Conserve Water.