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How much development can our available water supply support?

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on August 20, 2007 at 8:22 pm

An excellent commentary by Gerald R. Walson, that points out that the California water supply is not endless, but finite at some point. Just how much development can our water supply support? From the article:

California’s Water Plan, prepared by the state Department of Water Resources and currently being updated, always seems to imply that our supply of water to support development is endless. Clearly, all of our water problems are exacerbated by development. But the California Water Plan never addresses the crucial questions of what are the limits on our supply of water and what is the ultimate population that can be supported.

Current law says the state must prepare a Regional Housing Needs Assessment that requires local governments to provide their “fair share” of housing of various types to accommodate the state’s population projections. Unfortunately, our water purveyors always seem to step up blindly and say they can supply the necessary water. If this is true, then why is there a growing cry for conservation and current threats of water cutbacks?

If there is not an endless supply of water, at some point there will not be enough water to support additional development. For example, note the agriculture water cutback now projected for 2008. Inevitably, we really will run out of water, and the state’s policy on endless housing to support further population growth will have to be redefined. At some point, “the inn” will be full!

The California Water Plan needs to address this crucial issue now. We need a “water carrying-capacity analysis” to determine what our limiting water supply really is. Then we can analyze the impacts on housing and population. This will enable us to properly plan for the future of our state. Population growth is not an immutable fact of life.

This commentary brought to mind the recent news out of Las Vegas that the water agency now believes Las Vegas will run out of water in three years. In Southern Nevada, there really is little other sources of water to turn to, and the pipeline projects won’t be complete until 2012, at least, and even then, if population trends continue, there is the possibility of a shortage. All of this on a news website featuring ads for brand new Las Vegas condos for $99,900. Does anyone want to bet that this news will bring about a moratorium on new housing permits?

To read the full text of Mr. Walson’s commentary at the North County Times, click here.

August 20, 2007 · Filed Under Water & Development

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