The Water Grid and Water Markets

December 21, 2009

Monologue.

Sharon welcomed the listeners and talked about the importance of water in life and life in water. She said that it is imperative for everyone to realize the importance of water, to drink plenty of water and to carry water with them if they are unsure of a water source. Dehydration, or lack of water, is out of control in our world and causes or contributes to ailments from allergies to obesity.

Guest: Laura Shenkar, MBA

Laura Shenkar, MBA (San Fransico, CA), the Artemis Project. "How Water Is Sold and Distributed in California."

The Artemis Project is devoted to water technology in California, which suffers from extreme water shortages and too many interests competing for the same water. The idea was to bring together business, health and personal issues to help resolve the crisis (Note: "Artemis" is the Greek goddess of nature and fertility. In Roman, she is Diana the Huntress. Both Artemis and Diana are strongly associated with modern feminism).

Water is used for drinking, bathing, toilet flushing and lawns, as well as for agriculture, industry and recreation. Free flowing water goes into the air as humidity (which is essential for life), and ultimately becomes part of the hydrologic cycle. In California, they are running out of water both in quantity and quality (only 2% of the world' water is fresh and only a small percentage of that is safe to drink). California has been the most innovative in solving the problem but it is not unique. China experiences similar problems on a much larger scale

In California, 80% to 90% of the water goes to agriculture, as opposed to 70% for the rest of the world. California imports water from Colorado and Washington but as these states grow in population and the global drought deepens, this is unsustainable.

The Sacramento River Delta, west of Sacramento, where the Sacramento and Jan Joaquin Rivers join, is particularly threatened and must have sufficient water to sustain natural ecosystems.

The good news is that whether the user is industry, agriculture, a home gardener or an individual, there are always ways to use less … even a lot less. Every water user can find new and innovative ways to accomplish this.

Categories: Water and sanitation; 2009