By: Alexandria Addesso
Water. It is what keeps us alive as well as other animals and all vegetation. Without it the Earth as we know it would cease to exist. Although oil has been the main liquid fought over in hundreds of wars and conflicts around the world for the past century, water seems like it may be a new cause for nation to rise up against nation. There are currently 36 countries under high water stress according to the World’s Resources Institute.
Although the United States is considered to be a medium water stress country, there are currently significant droughts happening across 45 percent of the mainland of the country. There has been a record breaking drought in the state of California for nearly six years straight according to the government’s figures although it is believed to be part of a larger drought that has lasted decades. Yet, the drought period for the winter of 2016-2017 may have even more major ramifications.
The winter of 2015-2016 was an El Niño year, which is a climate cycle characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific which usually brings about cooler and wetter weather to the southern tier of the U.S. While there was slightly more rainfall last year than previous years, it was not enough to break any significant droughts, and to make matters worse the winter of 2016-2017 will be exhibiting the La Niña climate cycle which is the opposite of El Niño being that it is characterized by warmer and drier weather for the southwestern parts of the country currently experiencing the most drought.
Aside from possible water regulations that limits the regular daily use of water by individuals and corporations, the hardest hit will be irrigated land. In severe drought states such as California, irrigated land already consumes the highest percentage of water. Further restrictions on such irrigated lands, which already have to funnel water from eight other states, will definitely negatively affect the produce industry in the U.S. One can only imagine what the dry season during the summer months will bring.
So what can be done? Although the water conflicts currently between the downstream Nile River countries Egypt and Sudan, and the upstream countries which includes Ethiopia, Eritrea, Uganda, Congo, Burundi, Tanzania, Southern Sudan, Rwanda and Kenya, are far more immediately alarming than anything happening in the U.S., does not mean Americans should not take action. Showering less, letting nature water your lawn, swimming in lakes, rivers, and oceans instead of filling man-made pools are all viable options. The age-old phrase “take no more than is needed” needs to be in the minds of every individual concerning the conservation of everything. The fact that Los Angeles, which is highly affected by drought, has more fountains than any other U.S. city I have ever seen is definitely alarming. The revolution must first take place in the mind.
Water. It is what keeps us alive as well as other animals and all vegetation. Without it the Earth as we know it would cease to exist. Although oil has been the main liquid fought over in hundreds of wars and conflicts around the world for the past century, water seems like it may be a new cause for nation to rise up against nation. There are currently 36 countries under high water stress according to the World’s Resources Institute.
Although the United States is considered to be a medium water stress country, there are currently significant droughts happening across 45 percent of the mainland of the country. There has been a record breaking drought in the state of California for nearly six years straight according to the government’s figures although it is believed to be part of a larger drought that has lasted decades. Yet, the drought period for the winter of 2016-2017 may have even more major ramifications.
The winter of 2015-2016 was an El Niño year, which is a climate cycle characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific which usually brings about cooler and wetter weather to the southern tier of the U.S. While there was slightly more rainfall last year than previous years, it was not enough to break any significant droughts, and to make matters worse the winter of 2016-2017 will be exhibiting the La Niña climate cycle which is the opposite of El Niño being that it is characterized by warmer and drier weather for the southwestern parts of the country currently experiencing the most drought.
Aside from possible water regulations that limits the regular daily use of water by individuals and corporations, the hardest hit will be irrigated land. In severe drought states such as California, irrigated land already consumes the highest percentage of water. Further restrictions on such irrigated lands, which already have to funnel water from eight other states, will definitely negatively affect the produce industry in the U.S. One can only imagine what the dry season during the summer months will bring.
So what can be done? Although the water conflicts currently between the downstream Nile River countries Egypt and Sudan, and the upstream countries which includes Ethiopia, Eritrea, Uganda, Congo, Burundi, Tanzania, Southern Sudan, Rwanda and Kenya, are far more immediately alarming than anything happening in the U.S., does not mean Americans should not take action. Showering less, letting nature water your lawn, swimming in lakes, rivers, and oceans instead of filling man-made pools are all viable options. The age-old phrase “take no more than is needed” needs to be in the minds of every individual concerning the conservation of everything. The fact that Los Angeles, which is highly affected by drought, has more fountains than any other U.S. city I have ever seen is definitely alarming. The revolution must first take place in the mind.
