Cutting Back on the Use of Water

While Earth Day and the decision of the Irvine Co. to open up large portions of its land holdings to public nature walks are both good moves in the right direction, I wonder if the powers that be in Orange County have given any thought to the water situation.

Surely we possess, in this vast county, the technology required to transform a potential desert into an oasis consisting of adequate water supplies. Is it a crazy idea to consider the reclamation of what is now wasted water?

Some time ago, I suggested that it would be appropriate if a public trout park were developed within the county. This would be a non-commercialized spot that would be attractive to residents and tourists alike. Except for a few supportive responses, no governmental agency or industry picked up on this idea. Perhaps the Irvine Co. might like to consider a non-commercial counterpart to Lake Irvine?

As for water reclamation, all one needs to do in Orange County is take a look at the Santa Ana River after a rainfall. Much, if not all, of that water is being deposited in the Pacific Ocean. People who water their lawns, like myself, waste water. Why couldn’t that excess be reclaimed?

It’s easy to shut off our water supply in Orange County, but it makes more sense to apply technology to proposals for saving our water by revitalizing it--if necessary, by creating one supply for the internal home and industrial use, and another for the environment, which includes lawns and parks.

SHELDON J. KARLAN

Buena Park