Readers React: Build desalination plants now. And use smaller water glasses.

To the editor: State officials are trying to reduce unnecessary water usage. That alone won’t be enough to solve the problem. (“California approves big fines for wasting water during drought,” July 15)

We must support infrastructure improvements, including storage and conveyance as well as increasing the amount of water we have available. As the cost of imported water is on the rise and technological advances are bringing down the cost of converting seawater into potable water, desalination has become the only truly drought-proof process to deliver a new source of clean, safe, high-quality water in a cost-effective and environmentally sound way.

Lawmakers need to start taking the next steps to solve California’s ongoing water crisis. This includes necessary improvements to infrastructure and streamlining desalination efforts statewide.

Allan Zaremberg, Sacramento

The writer is president and chief executive of the California Chamber of Commerce.

..

To the editor: Reading about California’s water problems reminds me that I have wondered for some time why so many restaurants use oversize glasses in which to serve water.

I don’t think I have ever sat at a table where someone actually drank all of the water in these huge glasses. My wife and I have started asking for one glass that we share.

I know this won’t solve the problem, but downsizing the water glasses in restaurants and refilling them only when asked would certainly reduce usage from restaurants. It just seems like such a waste.

Charles M. Weisenberg, Beverly Hills

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion