It wouldn't be the first stupid, short-sighted, nonsensical thing they've ever done.

Cruise ships convert salt water into fresh water for their use. I don't think they would do it if it was horribly expensive. Although I don't know how they do it, it seems that wave and hydro power would be a good energy source they could use to run their desalinization equipment.

Our traditional source of fresh water was the Sierra snow pack melting through the dry months and feeding our rivers and streams. We also relied on our winter rainy season that filled our ground water. Both these resources have been sparse in the past five years and we are at a crisis right now. Our only other water source is the ocean. Until our world law makers do something substantial to reverse climate change, this could be an interim fix.

on ships they use engine cooling water for the heat source. Seawater needs to be heated to 170 deg F. It is then distilled under a vacuum.

Just sayin

another 5 percent to industrial uses.

The rest goes to Big Ag.

edit: I've floated (so to speak ) this idea before. The state could raise the rates it charges the growers. That incentivizes them to conserve and raises still-badly needed revenue for the state.

And yes I live in CA. I see green lawns and shiny cars. Do I think that industrial water waste is a huge problem? Yes! Do I see water streaming down the sidewalk from over-watered lawns? Every day. And do I think those lawns should be converted into vegetable gardens to feed families? You bet!

Personal use is 5%. Sure, we can crack down on it and get it to 4.25%, but so what?

Big Ag. is using 90% of California's water. 90%!

Growing almonds in the desert... herp and derp!

For all we save, it only takes one mains break to waste it all.

Where the hell are the infrastructure improvements to prevent this?

Where is the Keystone water pipeline from the Midwest to Lake Mead?

Screw y'all! If we go dry you go hungry!

It's that bad!

We don't have water employees going around to see who has green lawns, and I assume a lot of this watering does have to do with that. I liked the ideas of incentives for switching lawns to draught-resistant plants or table gardens if one is so inclined. That has been a major impediment for some time as cities and housing associations punished those who didn't have green lawns. I see it much more in SoCal than NorCal. And updating one's appliances to be more water efficient with rebates is also a great idea.

I don't know what the deal is with San Diego. Pockets of Republicans and I would assume old money. It really is too bad as it is such a beautiful area.

sounds every bit as cost effective as large, centralized desalinization plants.

The crisis in California has been over a decade in the making. It will take a decade or more of above average rainfall to reverse it.

Cities should have been looking at this stuff five years ago.

How do you get the H2O over to the Central Valley? Saltwater pipeline?

that would provide water to distill for drinking and cooking and sea water for things like flushing toilets.

stacked up, perhaps.

illegal in Colorado.

into fresh.

But yeah, I hear you.