Water Dispute Between Los Angeles and San Diego

I read your editorial with interest. I particularly noticed the reference to the problems that San Diego might have if a drought occurred. The Metropolitan Water District might be forced to “allocate the scarce resource (water) under existing district rules.”

An alternative method of allocating a scarce resource like water is to allow the price mechanism to do it for you. The basic reason Southern California has a water “crisis” is that water is inexpensive. There is little financial incentive to conserve water when the price is low. This is why, for example, I observe streams of water in street gutters resulting from poorly operating lawn-sprinkling systems. If the price of water were raised, people would consume less water. In fact, the water “crisis” can be eliminated by raising the price high enough to cut water consumption to a level consistent with future supplies.

I am a resident of Ohio currently visiting relatives in Orange County. The water district that sells me water in Ohio does not have a “shortage.” True, water is much more abundant in Ohio than in Southern California. But my water bill in Ohio is approximately three times higher than my relatives’ bill here in Orange County and I use less water per month.

My water district in Ohio could create a water “crisis” very quickly if it wished by using the Southern California method--simply lower the price of water enough to encourage the buyers to waste it in vast quantities.

Water is a major cause of an abundance of ill feeling between localities in Southern California as well as the North-South schism in this state. The solution to the problem in this state is really quite simple--raise the price of water and discourage consumption.

THOMAS E. HALL

Oxford, Ohio