On August 3 – 12, I joined another American and a representative from the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit Jordan for assessing water treatment options of naturally-occurring radium in drinking water supplies. We also obtained logistical support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) office at the Embassy in Amman. The mission supports the Jordanian Ministry of Water and Irrigation. Jordan is listed as the second poorest country in the world for water resources so potable water is only distributed to communities once or twice per week! Currently, groundwater containing radium is either not used or mixed with surface water. Innovative new treatment options that conserves water are being considered to remove radium and manage low-level radioactive waste. My contributions include touring well fields, meeting officials, reviewing extensive hydrogeology, geochemistry, waste disposal options, and planning a proposed pilot test of a treatment facility to be built that uses ceramic filtration with hydrous manganese oxides. If we can obtain success at one well location, future planning will use this technology at numerous other locations.
I found the Jordanian people to be incredibly gracious, peaceful, well educated, and very respectful. It appears to be an island of peace surrounded by conflict. The water situation is made even worse by refugees coming from many nearby countries.
Please see the photo gallery for a few of the interesting views.
Seven Principles for Sustainable Water Management
Now that you've passed the test (or checked out the answers) to the the Chasing Water book that I reviewed in my previous blog post, here are Brian Richter's ideas for water sustainability. So what does water sustainability really mean anyway? He cites Peter Gleick of the Pacific Institute who offered this definition: "the use of water that supports the ability of human society to endure and flourish into the indefinite future without undermining the integrity of the hydrological cycle or the ecological systems that depend on it." For example, Richter suggests extracting more than 20 percent of a river's daily flow can lead to ecological harm to fish, turtles, frogs and other sensitive species. Lakes and aquifers may be even more sensitive to withdrawals due to slow replenishment.
Here are seven principles to consider for sustainable water management:
1. Build a shared vision for your community's water future.
2. Set limits on total consumptive use of water.
3. Allocate a specific volume to each user, then monitor and enforce.
4. Invest in water conservation to its maximum potential.
5. Enable trading of water entitlements.
6. If too much water is being consumptively used, subsidize reductions in consumption.
7. Learn from mistakes or better ideas, and adjust as you go.
Western water law based on prior appropriation (first in time, first in right) allows control of senior to junior water rights for people but priorities for sustaining natural ecosystems depends on people advocating for the environment. Obstacles to water conservation cited by the author include challenging social norms (people love green grass even in the desert), water providers whose receipts depend upon sales, spreading fear of shortages, and political will for unpopular projects such as dams.
Richter explains how he learned through personal connections that Australian landowners fought for the environment even during severe droughts to keep water flowing and prevent additional fish kills. A cap-and-flex system adopted in the Murray-Darling watershed enabled setting limits to priority distributions for consumptive use accounting for protecting ecosystems and being flexible with supply during wetter years. The government stepped in to purchase 400,000 acre-feet at a cost of $700 million to store and distribute water where needed for ecological preservation and areas significant to Aboriginal people.
Australia set up a market-based system to trade water rights which improved accounting systems for water management such as adding efficient technology that can measure the hydrologic cycle and consumptive use.
Ultimately, there is great power in creating partnerships that can transcend institutional bureaucracies - individuals in local communities and grassroots organizations can network with public and private groups to share in a common mission to find solutions to these challenging problems.
Colorado River Water Conference: Assigning Blame for Lost Opportunities to Take Meaningful Action
The annual Colorado River water conference held in Grand Junction, CO yesterday brought together outstanding speakers and a fully engaged audience of several hundred “experts” who shared diverse messages about our looming water crisis – as if we do not have one already but we don’t want anyone to panic – some want to blame the droughts which may get worse, or climate change and rising temperatures, and future population increases for declining water supplies. Many are focused on future risk scenarios on how the economies and livelihood of farmers will be destroyed and who or what’s to blame.
The state of Colorado can keep about 1/3 of the river supply while 2/3’rds are required to be delivered downstream based on current agreements between seven Western states. We heard that people who live in the desert are growing unsustainable crops like alfalfa and cotton that get huge federal government subsidizes due to our broken political system. No surprise there as it’s been going on for many decades. The state of Arizona may put an end to all farming and focus on the four million water consumers of the Central Arizona Project. Plans being discussed in Arizona are forcing them to reduce their water dependency on the Colorado River by about 20 times the amount for Nevada due to priority rights.
We heard that the beneficial use doctrine in Colorado permits no wasting of water -- that the “use it or lose it” mentality is hysterical thinking -- others who said in reality much water is being wasted and not put to beneficial use which is illegal but not enforced. We heard that on average each American consumes an equivalent of 300 gallons per day of Colorado River Water (based on food consumption). Given that California has the largest population in the West with significant senior rights on the River and provides a majority of food for the World, imagine how they are feeling and when push comes to shove everyone will need to become more aware of the urgency.
The Colorado Water Plan completed one year ago provides for great ideas spread over several decades and is moving into the implementation phase. The plan is currently an unfunded mandate for the most part and money is needed to take action. Here is the Grand Junction Sentinel article that focused on the taxes issue.
We heard that water efficiency for farmers is better than conservation and others said both are great as long as people get compensation for their loss of rights. Some said Americans want more with more, and efficiency is doing more with less while conservation is doing less with less -- so conservation to some almost sounds unAmerican! Arguments were made for which method is more appeasing to various interest groups.
I thought the talk by a local Hotchkiss farmer, Tom Kay of North Fork Organic Farm, provided the best example of someone taking action that we all need to learn from. He converted his farm to sustainable practices by going organic which on average pays three times higher for crops; created a storage pond to capture two million gallons of storage from his water right on the Gunnison River that can be used all year; built a storage area used by other organic farmers; rotates crops and farm practices to increase yields and maximize profits; and is willing to innovate and test new technology!
Overall, with all the highly qualified speakers and attendees, in my opinion another opportunity was lost for meaningful dialog that could lead to us to taking action. Much too little time for questions and answers was given at the conference and no time made after the final panel discussion, the meeting was very brief (from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm), and seemed to check the box for many groups.
Future meetings held in Grand Junction are needed to focus on ‘connecting the dots’: the issues of the Western Slope including being caught between the power centers on both sides – from Denver to California and including large parts of Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. The Western Slope needs much more awareness of these issues than only to hear about another fight on taxes as mentioned in the newspaper.
A renewed spirit of cooperation and creating new partnerships is needed for our children's survival - obviously water is connected to everything including the food we eat and supplies are not unlimited. Nature is truly interconnected and we are so dependent on the natural world; we need to find better ways to cooperatively solve problems through effective education and positive actions groups - we can all make a difference and work harder to achieve better sustainable outcomes.
Announcing Upper Colorado River Basin Water Forum
The Colorado Mesa University's Water Center will host the 5th annual Colorado River Basin Water Forum on October 28-29, 2015. Topics will include recent weather anomalies, managing flows for multiple purposes, and demand management. The 2015 forum is organized to be an interdisciplinary dialogue between academic, practitioner, and artistic perspectives on water issues affecting the Upper Colorado River Basin. Here is the website link for more information and to register for the forum.
The Great Divide: A Film on Colorado's Water Issues
Colorado Mesa University's Water Center held an event last Saturday night that drew about 300 people to see the film "The Great Divide" and discuss issues. The documentary provides a great history of water development in Colorado which ultimately impacts 18 other states in the US as headwaters run on both sides of the Continental Divide. With future populations increasing, water supplies will continue to be in greater demand and East Slope areas will likely exercise their water rights to draw more water out of West Slope basins. The need for education is the one thing that everyone can agree on and the hope is that negotiated settlements rather than legal battles will prevail.
East Coast Floods are in the news and West Coast Drought Continues
Our hearts go out to all life tragically affected by the raging floods currently focused in South Carolina. We also stay mindful of the prolonged four year drought on the west coast focused in California. Check out Pacific Institutes website on the drought and low reservoir levels.
A Walk for Water
Yesterday, about 50 people in Grand Junction took a walk for water. A 12-year old girl organized the event to raise awareness and donations for people who must walk daily for access to water. The event took place at the campus of Colorado Mesa University and it was great to see younger children inspiring college students and adults. The international group Unbound.org is sponsoring children in 12 impoverished countries. Here is the TV news broadcast about the local event.
News from the 2015 Colorado River District Water Seminar
At the annual Colorado River District water seminar held on September 10th, we heard numerous speakers discuss the essential need to conserve. The western U.S. is close to a crisis as the demand for water is greater than the supply! As Lake Powell and Mead reservoirs decline, we are approaching the minimum levels needed to generate hydroelectric power. Water availability affects rural and urban areas, agriculture, and the environment. These issues are interconnected and we must work together to resolve our conflicts.
Here is the Grand Junction's Daily Sentinel article on the conference.
How Precious is Water? Just ask the Navajo Water Lady or contact me!
Here is an amazing CBS news story about the struggles of the Navajo People who rely totally on groundwater. No running water and indoor plumbing. They must store water outside. Luckily many Navajo people have a saintly woman to deliver water they call the Water Lady.
Can you imagine what life must be like relying on only 7 gallons of water per day? That is like only flushing a standard toilet twice per day. That's it - all you get for drinking, cooking, washing, etc!
Click here to see the full story!
When I worked for the U.S. Geological Survey on the Navajo Reservation conducting surveys of water resources, we found that groundwater was in very deep formations and the quality of water changed depending upon location. Water is very precious - especially on the reservation!
For more information on the water quality of San Juan Basin aquifers, check out some of my old USGS reports (there are over a dozen) or contact me at info@conserve-prosper.com.
Geochemistry of the San Juan Basin
Conservation "Shade" Balls added to protect Los Angeles reservoirs
Yesterday, Los Angeles completed a $36 million project to deploy 96 million plastic balls on a reservior to conserve water and protect water quality. Estimates are that the balls will save 300 million gallons per year and comply with new EPA standards for preventing sunlight reacting with chlorine in drinking water that produces carcinogens.
Here are some news clips:
Which is the Most Endangered River in America?
Of all the rivers to choose from in America, can you guess which one is the most in danger of running dry? Here is a hint, it currently flows through nine (9) National Parks. Let National Geographic show you how and where this mighty river is drying up. For us in the arid west, we all can all help by conserving water: taking shorter showers and installing drip irrigation with native plants. Conservation Colorado and other groups have many activities and events to join.
CBS news reports that not only is this river drying up in America, groundwater depletion is occurring at an alarming rate - an estimated thirteen (13) trillion gallons in a decade. Obviously this is not sustainable.
Does this river make it to the ocean? No, not in the past 50 years - see what affect this is having on the people and the environment as documented by Alexandra Cousteau in a short film Death of a River. She says it would only take increasing the river flow by 1% to enable the river to return to the ocean.
The Nature Conservancy partnered with government scientists to conduct a pulse flow experiment to return water flow to this endangered River!
In future blogs, let's explore how we can contribute to the campaign of returning rivers to the ocean! Contact us at ConserveProsper@gmail.com to find out how we can join together to take action now.
Will Las Vegas run out of water?
While the demand for water increases and supply decreases due to droughts and other causes in the Colorado River basin, Las Vegas is a model for water recycling that many other cities will need to follow in the future. Water recycling is a process to collect and treat waste water that is returned to Lake Mead. The lake supplies 90 percent of the valley’s water and is in critical condition due to 15 years of drought dropping the lake to 38 percent of capacity.
So to help make sure Vegas can continue to quench it's thirst, the Southern Nevada Water District proposes to build a 250-mile pipeline from rural northern Nevada to claim groundwater from the Spring Valley. Efforts to take water from Utah farmers were thwarted.
So it's a very safe bet that Vegas will have adequate water supply but prices will continue to rise. You get billed for every gallon of water you use so think about shutting off the water while you brush your teeth. It’ll save you some money!
Drought in western U.S. affecting 58 million people! Where are we on the Hydro-Illogical Cycle?
© National Drought Mitigation Center
Western U.S. Drought Map and Hydro-Illogical Cycle
According to the National Drought Mitigation Center: "drought is a protracted period of deficient precipitation resulting in extensive damage to crops, resulting in loss of yield." The current drought will affect over 58 million people directly: "Record heat and dryness over the region this week as well as over the last month has quickly deteriorated conditions in many areas after a wet May."
As the map clearly shows, California -- which seems to be getting most of the media attention -- is not the only state where the effects of the drought are being felt.
The Hydro-Illogical Cycle depicts drought as a slow-moving natural disaster which may not get much attention until extreme conditions cannot be ignored any longer.
The Water Cycle and Why We Must Conserve
Nature's water cycle is very important to understand and is being broken due to many causes which we will explore in future blogs.
How did we select the organization name of "Conserve & Pro$per LLC?"
Recall in the Star Trek TV series Mr. Spock frequently said "Live Long and Prosper!" In honor of Leonard Nimoy who passed away this February, we can always remember him and the millions of fans by thinking about ways we can possess long and fulfilling lives.
To live long lives for ourselves and future generations we must be aware of our situation. How far will we get if we run out of gasoline, food, water, money - you name it? Some people act like all the world's "renewable" resources are infinite. For example, many groundwater supplies in North America were created over 15,000 years ago during the Pleistocene Epoch. This water came from glacial snow melt and is very pure quality. However, many groundwater resources using deep wells are being used up so quickly in just a few decades. So even though groundwater is considered a "renewable" resource can it take very long to recharge. Most desert environments are not gaining but are losing water.
So the goal of Conserve & Pro$per is to share information to other educators, businesses, homeowners, etc. that we can improve our balance with nature by being more aware of our situation. Most utilities promote conservation by progressively charging higher rates as we use more resources. Here in Grand Junction, we pay $20 per month to use up to 3000 gallons of drinking water. The charge for using more water costs an extra $3.70 per 1000 gallons. We typically use about 3000 gallons per month during the winter and double that during the summer growing season to water plants using a drip irrigation system. People who need to grow grass will need over 30,000 gallons per month costing about $140 or more.
The water rates are very low in Colorado as compared to other western states and we see lots of people watering on grass and streets. Let's work together to find solutions to our common problems. Contact us to learn more.
Water Use in Mining
I’ve seen the tremendous use and misuse of water associated with mining during my career and life. We all know how precious and increasingly expensive drinking water is for our survival. This is especially true in arid desert regions of the world like much of the western United States. Here in Grand Junction along the Colorado River, gravel pit mining creates large lakes. Water is lost to evaporation and the remaining water becomes more concentrated with minerals. Additional sand and gravel mines are needed to build new homes creating demand on water resources. Mining for minerals, like lithium or vanadium used for batteries and steel, can waste tremendous amounts of water. I calculate about 12 gallons per day per person in the U.S. is used just in the mining industry based on information provided below.
Looking at the U.S. map shows the largest states for water use in mining include Texas, California, Nevada, and Utah. The U.S. Geological Survey reports that:
“Mining water use is water used for the extraction of minerals that may be in the form of solids, such as coal, iron, sand, and gravel; liquids, such as crude petroleum; and gases, such as natural gas. The category includes quarrying, milling of mined materials, injection of water for secondary oil recovery or for unconventional oil and gas recovery (such as hydraulic fracturing), and other operations associated with mining activities. Dewatering is not reported as a mining withdrawal unless the water was used beneficially, such as dampening roads for dust control.”
In a 2018 USGS report, “During 2015, an estimated 4,000 Mgal/d (that’s 4 billion gallons per day) were withdrawn for mining, about 1 percent of total withdrawals. Groundwater was the source for 72 percent of total withdrawals for mining, and 65 percent of the groundwater withdrawn was saline. Of the surface-water withdrawn, 77 percent was freshwater.”
While most industrial water supply is used for generating thermo-electric power and irrigation for agriculture, before approving new mining applications it is important to determine how much water will be extracted creating new environmental impacts.