San Diego Combats Water Shortages
- 23 hours ago
- 1 min read
After decades of being known as a drought-prone city heavily dependent on imported water, San Diego has become an unlikely success story in water conservation and innovation—so much so that it now has excess water it can sell to other Southwestern states facing shortages. Over the past 30 years, local officials invested billions into long-term water security projects, including expanding reservoirs, building the massive Carlsbad desalination plant, securing Colorado River water rights, and encouraging residents to dramatically reduce water usage. As a result, water consumption in the region has dropped nearly 50% over the last 25 years, even as the population grew. Now, states like Arizona and Nevada are exploring deals to purchase desalinated water from San Diego to help offset the growing crisis surrounding the shrinking Colorado River. The shift is being viewed as a hopeful example of how long-term planning, conservation, and new technology can help communities adapt to climate challenges and create more sustainable water systems for the future.
Image via WSJ
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