Our drought’s nearby solution

Re “By every measure, it’s been dry,” March 31

Reading about the concern in California and the Western states regarding the lack of rain and the low snowpack in the mountains causing serious droughts, one has to wonder why these states, with several in the enviable position of directly facing the huge Pacific Ocean, are not urgently considering building desalination plants.

Some years ago, when desalination was mentioned, the immediate reply from politicians was that it was too expensive. A small country like Israel can afford it, yet the U.S., the richest and most powerful country in the world, cannot? In California alone, consistent drought would destroy agriculture, which supplies much of the produce to the rest of the country. Not to mention the need for water in everyone’s daily life, business or private.

Let’s urge our officials in government to start serious planning for desalination solutions.

HILDA M. FOLEY

North Tustin