From the air, scientists map ‘fast paths’ for recharging California’s groundwater reservoirs — with water from Central Valley farms. Now, the state is looking at using other fresh water sources to meet its water demands.
Water in California’s reservoirs was at an all-time high last summer, but now the state is trying to use imported water to meet its needs.
The goal is to “piggyback” on the massive water storage that is stored in reservoirs, but it’s a difficult task. Even if water is pumped from the ground, it is very unlikely to be pure and ready for consumption by May 1.
The idea is to tap water that could be pumped from other sources. These include groundwater, aquifers underground, surface water, and water collected from streams and rivers, so far unused, or stored in aquifers.
Groundwater and surface water are difficult to tap, but there are other possible sources.
Here is what the state is looking at:
Tapping groundwater. There are enough permits to draw up to 20 billion gallons a year from underground reservoirs, where water is held close to the surface. California is permitted by the federal Bureau of Reclamation to draw up to 1 billion gallons a year from underground aquifers.
Groundwater, however, is difficult to tap for a simple reason. Groundwater is often salty, contains dissolved minerals, and the water is highly contaminated as a result of irrigation, the pumping of groundwater, oil and gas exploration, and other activities.
California, for example, imports large amounts of water from groundwater sources. It buys and sells water in the same market.
The state is considering tapping groundwater for some of its water needs.
Some California groundwater experts say California shouldn’t rely on its groundwater reserves as a water source due to the fact that the amount underground could fall so low that the water supply could be insufficient to meet California’s growing consumption.
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