The drought that has been hammering California and the West may soon turn deadly. According to new reports, a shortage of drinking water could create a state of emergency for thousands, if not millions, of citizens.
Two days ago, the New York Times published a troubling article that focused on the terrible drought that is creating panic in parts of California. With no relief in sight, as many as 40,000 residents could be left without water in as little as two months.
This isn't just a problem for the 17 communities currently affected, it's a problem for the entire state, as New York Times explains:
"State officials said that the number was likely to rise in the months ahead after the State Water Project, the main municipal water distribution system, announced on Friday that it did not have enough water to supplement the dwindling supplies of local agencies that provide water to an additional 25 million people."
As a result, the government of California will likely be forced to import water and issue mandatory water conservation measures, as Boston Globe reports:
"State officials said that in the worst scenario, they would truck drinking water into parched communities and drill additional wells to draw on groundwater. The deteriorating situation is likely to mean the imposition of mandatory water conservation measures for homeowners and businesses, who have already been asked to voluntarily reduce their water use by 20 percent."
Still, there is some hope. Columbia professor Upmanu Lall, who predicted such a shortage in the past, spoke about how we might secure water for future generations:
"We at the Columbia Water Center are optimistic that [a future with water security] is within our reach. People across the world have come to understand that we cannot take water for granted any longer, and it is our hope that we can unite behind this cause, not just today, but every day and pledge to make real, lasting change together."
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