Air, Fire, Water and Earth

Despite the fact that the feelings of the (Southern California) residents upon whom malathion was recently sprayed ran the spectrum from not-thrilled to actively opposed, they were sprayed. A few thousand farmers get their way regardless of the feelings of millions of city dwellers.

There is another arena in which the balance of power is just as lopsided. Southern Californians, who consume approximately 17% of the Central Valley water shipped south, are metered and pay for every cubic foot. Central Valley farmers, who consume 83%, receive all the water they desire, unmetered. This year, a drought year, one can still drive through the orchards of the Central Valley and see farmers spraying their crops at midday, ignoring the simplest rules of water conservation. Why? Because it is slightly more costly to use conservation techniques. Farmers will argue that consumer would pay for water conservation through higher food bills. This is true. But it would be far cheaper in the long run for everyone if farmers had a financial incentive to use the existing techniques of water conservation.

It’s time we offered a trade to the farmers. We’ll allow them to spray the cities for pests if they allow their water to be metered at a rate that will encourage water conservation.

DOUG KERR

Los Angeles