When Two Problems Can Solve Each Other

I’m sure you’ve all see the news lately about the dire water situation here in California:

 

 

Having lived here since 2008, I can tell you there’s been a LOT less rain over the last 3 years than when I first moved here, and I’ve heard other, longer-term Californians tell me we’ve been in a drought for the last 10 years or more.

The NASA scientist–and others who are strongly eco-conscious–think that the way to solve our problem is to enforce mandatory water rationing.  Personally, I don’t think that’s a very good idea, for a couple of reasons.

First, people don’t like being forced to do something, at least, I don’t.  I’ve learned to turn off the water when I’m brushing my teeth, and I take short, 12-minute showers, but I’m not going to be too happy if the water company decides to shut off my shower water 5 minutes in, in order to save a few gallons of water.  In fact, my soapy ass will be PISSED!

Secondly, I think those concerned with our water supply are forgetting one very important factor in this scenario; the human body is mostly water (we need it to survive), and our population is constantly growing.

Depending on which source you look at, our bodies are made up of anywhere from 60% to 80% of water (this number also fluctuates with age).  And we need to replenish that water at a rate of anywhere from 8 to 16 glasses of water a day, depending on body weight, how much water is lost throughout the day, and other factors.  That’s anywhere from half a gallon to a full gallon of water, per day, per person.  The population of California is around 3.5 million people.  And each of those people needs about a gallon of water, per day, in order to just stay alive.  And that’s not including showering, washing dishes, clothes, or watering plants.

Now, before you go thinking that I’m suggesting we evacuate half of our population, I have another, less radical idea that involves the other side of the country . . . Why not take the snow that’s dumping on the east coast and transport it over to California, to replenish our supply?

For the last few years–while California has been drying up–states along the east coast and in the Midwest have been experiencing record-breaking snowstorms.  Many scientists are attributing this to Global Warming, and I’m not arguing that. There’s been such a dramatic change in the weather over the last decade that it’s undeniable that Global Warming is affecting our world.  Where winter used to only last 4 months (ish), it’s now lasting well into spring, and–in some places–right up to summer’s door.  Boston has received 110 inches of snowfall this year, beating their record from back in 1995/1996.  Another town in Massachusetts received 116 inches of snow, and Bangor, Maine got 132 inches dumped on them this year.  And they all got dumped on again last weekend.

All that snow has shut down airports, and even several businesses over the last few months.  Some of my co-workers even had to cancel business trips to New York, because many companies were closed due to snowfall and issues with workers getting into the city.

So, why not relieve the suffering of both sides of the country and take the snow from over there, melt it, process it (to remove any impurities), and ship it over here to the west coast where we so desperately need it?  This would be so much more helpful than trucks shoveling the snow into 10-feet tall banks that just get muddy, gross and then melt down, sometimes causing flooding.

I’m no scientist, so I’m not sure what’s involved in accomplishing that task (though I’m sure it’s no easy feat), but it seems to me that it’s completely doable, and would kill two birds with one stone.  In fact, it might accomplish much more than that, because there would need to be jobs created to collect the snow, process it into water, and deliver it.

So, if any of you know that NASA scientist (or other scientists concerned with California’s drought situation), share this idea with them; I don’t even mind if you take the credit for it.  Let’s just help our fellow Americans by solving each others’ problems.