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The more we know about water, the better caretakers we can be. Let’s start with access. We know that water rushing down the gutter finds it way to the ocean, but how much do we know about how water arrives at our tap in the first place? Did you know that much of our current water supply comes from over 500 miles away?
Colorado River - 500 miles
Municipalities draw raw, untreated water from either surface sources like rivers, lakes and streams or from underground aquifers. Much of the Southern California community receives water from the Colorado River.
Lake Havasu/Parker Dam - 250 miles
Used as reservoir storage for Southern California and Arizona’s fresh water needs, the construction of Parker Dam created Lake Havasu and began supplying Los Angeles and San Diego in 1941.
Diemer Water Treatment Plant - 45 miles
When ordered by a municipality, water is pumped from a reservoir to a treatment facility for filtration and disinfection - both of which are accomplished with the addition of chemicals.
Faucet/Tap
The water pipes in our home are connected to the municipal system. When we turn the tap, like magic, water flows! Remember, once to our homes, it’s up to us to make the most of this precious resource.
Drain
After we’ve used it, water is then sent back through municipal piping systems and on to sewage treatment plants where it is cleaned and discharged into the ocean.
JB Latham Water Treatment Plant - 1 mile
A small portion of water is reused on golf courses or parks where it eventually seeps into an underground aquifer.
Ocean - 2 miles
Ultimately, our ocean is the recipient of the water we have used. Keeping pharmaceuticals out of the toilet, pesticides and herbicides off the lawn, oil and debris off the streets, and rainwater in the garden all go a long way in keeping our ocean clean.
What is a watershed and why is it important?
A watershed is the drainage basin of a community. A water droplet may start as snowpack, then melt away to join a tributary or soak into the soil to join the water table. Eventually, it drains to a common water way, such as a stream, lake, wetland, aquifer or, as in our case, the ocean. Along the way, we take water from the watershed and use it to water our gardens, wash our bodies and cook our food. Learn to assure the water leaving your house is as clean as it was when it arrived.
When you know your watershed, you understand your water community - where your water comes from and who you share it with.
There are over 2,000 watersheds in the continental US. Locally, there are four major watersheds to know and love: Newport Bay, Aliso Creek, San Juan Creek, and San Mateo Creek.
What other water sources supply our community?
Most Southern California communities receive their water from either the San Joaquin Delta in Northern California or the Colorado River via Lake Mathews in Riverside County. In addition, select Southern California communities also harvest ground water and use treated reclaimed water for their irrigation needs. In all cases, water travels hundreds of miles to get to your community. Visit www.water-ed.org to locate your community’s common water source.
What is the future of California’s water supply?
According to The State of California’s 2009 Water Plan, it’s looking grim: “We must adapt and evolve California’s water system more quickly and effectively to keep pace with ever changing conditions now and in the future. Population is growing while available water supplies are static, even decreasing. Climate change, as evidenced by changes in snowpack, river flows and sea levels, is profoundly impacting our water resources. The Delta and other watersheds and ecosystems continue to decline. The entire (California State water) system has lost its resilience and is changing in undesirable ways.”
Though a very complicated issue, here’s the global water access challenge boiled down:
1. Limited available fresh water.
Yes, there’s a lot of water on the planet. It covers over 70% of the Earth’s surface, representing a volume of 1400 million km3, but here’s the rub:
- over 97% is too salty for human consumption
- of the 2.5% of fresh water, 2/3 of it is “locked away” in glaciers and ice caps
That leaves less than 1% of the planet’s water in useable, accessible form.
2. Unequal global distribution.
Ten countries share 65% of the world’s annual water resources. The average American uses over 650,000 gallons annually, while nearly one billion people across the globe have access to less than 2000 gallons each year. You can do your part to balance this inequality. Find out how.
3. Overconsumption
World water consumption has increased seven-fold since the beginning of the century, and doubled in just the last twenty years. The average Southern Californian consumes 1800 gallons each day! Where does all that demand come from? Find out. (Resource: UNESCP)
The Ecology Center Programs