Children Show the Way

South County’s severe water shortage can hardly be solved by children. But it’s still encouraging to see that third- and fourth-graders at six schools in San Clemente study ways to save water.

Partly because of rapid growth and water-delivery problems, San Clemente has been hard hit by a water shortage. The City Council on Wednesday will consider an ordinance that would encourage--and if the situation worsens, require--residents and businesses to conserve water. Elsewhere in Orange County, the state’s drought conditions are lowering reservoirs.

To emphasize the value of conservation, the San Clemente schools are staging art and essay contests. The prizes: $50 savings bonds. It’s a small step, but an important one. Conservation is a lesson that must be learned by young people if water is to continue to flow freely for the next generation.