Readers React: Conserve water now or face a ‘tsunami of hurt’

To the editor: When it comes to water conservation, the state’s record so far indicates we’re in for a tsunami of hurt (no pun intended). I am a California native and sixtysomething father of three. I’m well aware of the fact we have managed our way through droughts in the past; however, no one I know believes we can expect the same outcome in 2015 without taking extraordinary measures now. (“Emergency 25% cut in California cities’ water use approved,” May 5)

Anyone with a pulse knows California’s rainy season is over until November. This means state officials know exactly how much water there is for the next seven months and how much each of us can consume daily. This isn’t a guessing game.

California has the eighth-largest economy in the world. The state’s growers produce fruits and vegetables for much of the nation, so there is a case to be made that America’s national security depends on a vibrant California and a steady supply of water for the state. One way to accomplish this is for Gov. Jerry Brown to name a state water czar.

I’m no meteorologist, but I know California’s drought is real. The sooner we put in place strict water guidelines, the better we will be able to stave off the tidal wave of pain heading our way.

Denny Freidenrich, Laguna Beach

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To the editor: If we collectively can’t bring ourselves to reduce water usage, we’ll have to face more onerous mandatory restrictions than those going into effect now. For example:

- Development of GMOs — genetically modified organs — by which our need to use toilets will be lessened or eliminated through gene-splicing to create bladders that are 16% to 36% bigger than they are now.

- Laws making it illegal to use non-paper or plastic kitchenware used for purposes other than to cook food. Washing dishes will be a thing of the past.

- Replacement of trees and shrubs with papier-mache replicas, so that outdoor watering is no longer needed. This has the side benefit of eliminating thorns on rosebushes.

- Similar to current turf-replacement programs, there will be a swimming pool replacement program. Options for consumers will be to build a giant sand box for the kiddies, a familial cemetery plot or a large kitty-litter area for their pets.

- Finally, showering, scrubbing and brushing teeth will be outlawed, but to more or less equalize the situation, deodorant, antibacterial liquid soap and mouthwash will be provided free of charge by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and other utilities on a strict quota system.

Jeff Pollak, La Crescenta

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To the editor: Yes, there is a “state of denial.” Look at the so-called Los Angeles River.

In another era, during wet years the river was a primary source of water for Los Angeles. Now, countless gallons a day are being lost, flowing through the river unused. Why?

In the past, the concrete control channel that shunts away flood water was dry more often than it had much water. Today, parts of it have plenty of water. How is this?

Water from the Hansen and Sepulveda Basin dams is allowed to spill over instead of infiltrating into the depleted San Fernando Valley aquifer. Why?

Expensive treated water is added to the “river” from the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in the Sepulveda Basin. This is millions of gallons of reclaimed water dumped daily into the “river”? Why?

Steve Hawes, Sunland

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