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Many ways to fix water crisis, says commentary

Posted by: Maven on June 1, 2009 at 6:38 am

In the North County Times, there’s a guest commentary written by Glenn Alan Zajic, a resident of Fallbrook, which discusses a number of different things related to the water crisis. He also has an idea for a way to draw water for the pumps:

If we really can’t build channels to prevent the Sierra Nevada snow melt from entering the smelt territory in the first place, then obviously we need to filter the smelt out before the pumps. We have the technology to remove microscopic particles of sodium from our ocean water to make it drinkable, but we can’t keep a 1- or 2-inch fish out of the pumps? I know the desalination process uses a pressure higher than the fish could withstand, but given different technology, it can be done.

Example: Take a square mile of land near the delta and dig a deep pit.

Lay a grid of pipes about 40 feet apart, all connected to larger pipes leading to the pumps. These smaller pipes would have thousands of holes or slits in them to allow water in, just as wells do. Cover this grid with 40 feet of gravel and allow the delta water to flow into this pit. This would substantially increase the surface area that water is drawn through and allow this little fish to survive. The pumps could be reversed a few times a day to blow off the weak swimmers.

I do not claim to be an engineer, but there are several of them seeking work.

Will this be expensive? Yes, but so will the loss of the agriculture industry if we don’t do something. This could be a worthwhile bailout and create as many jobs as it saves.

Interesting idea …. but I’m not an engineer either. Read the full text of Glenn Alan Zajic’s commentary by clicking here.

June 1, 2009 · Filed Under Uncategorized

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