Farm Water

Your July 8 editorial in praise of a bill to allow farmers to sell their water to urban users failed to consider likely damage to the environment from this experimental policy. According to your own news stories, we have overdrafted our underground water supplies already in many areas of the state. The new “free market” approach would end the present system of subsidized monopoly, but also would provide farmers an incentive to sell water supplies until all other underground water supplies are overdrafted as well.

The combination of overdrafting water for overconsumption in growing areas could be a huge ecological disaster. The bill should be amended to protect water supplies for future generations.

TOM HAYDEN

Assembly, D-Santa Monica