COLUMN: The next age of water | BenitoLink
COLUMN: The next age of water Benitolink: San Benito County News
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The California Water Plan
This Column was contributed by Shawn Novack, water conservation program manager with the Water Resources Association San Benito County. The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent BenitoLink or other affiliated contributors. BenitoLink invites all community members to share their ideas and opinions. By registering as a BenitoLink user in the top right corner of our home page and agreeing to follow our Terms of Use, you can write counter opinions or share your insights on current issues.
The California Water Plan is the state’s strategic roadmap for managing the state’s precious water resources equitably and sustainably.
The latest update, expected mid-2024, will highlight sustainable water resource management, climate urgency, and the need to ensure that all Californians benefit from water planning and investments.
The Three Ages of Water
- The First Age of Water: This age saw the earliest efforts to manipulate water with dams, aqueducts, and intentional irrigation, as well as the establishment of the first water laws, institutions, and water conflicts.
- The Second Age of Water: In this age, we gained a better understanding of the chemical, physical, and biological nature of water. We improved our ability to understand and control the hydrologic cycle, learned about the causes and cures for water-related diseases, and built agricultural systems to support a growing population.
- The Third Age of Water: We have entered this age, which is characterized by the technology to produce clean water from contaminated sources, purify and recycle water, and use water much more efficiently. Despite a larger population and economy, the U.S. uses less water for everything than it did 40 years ago.
The Need for Improved Water Management
While progress has been made in water-use productivity, there is still a need for improved water management and more efficient water usage methods. The changing climate and growing population demand it.
Water Conservation is a Way of Life
The State of California has initiated a marketing campaign entitled “Water Conservation is a Way of Life” to promote water conservation efforts. Building and constructing more water storage facilities and implementing new technologies will take time, but every person can contribute by using water efficiently and conserving whenever possible.
Assistance from the Water Resources Association of San Benito County
The Water Resources Association of San Benito County offers several programs and services to assist the community in using water efficiently. They provide free leak checks and irrigation assessments to ensure that no water is going to waste at homes or businesses. To contact their office, call (831) 637-4378 or visit their website at www.wrasbc.org.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity | The article mentions that the U.S. today uses less water for everything than it did 40 years ago, despite a larger population and economy, indicating improved water-use efficiency. |
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 6.5: By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate | The article discusses the need for improved water management and more efficient ways of using water to address the changing climate and growing population. |
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and lakes | The article mentions the destruction of aquatic ecosystems as one of the unintended consequences of the second age of water. |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries | The article highlights the need to address climate change, which affects the waters of the planet. |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning | The article mentions the upcoming update to the California Water Plan, which will highlight climate urgency and the need for sustainable water resource management. |
| SDG 15: Life on Land | 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements | The article mentions the need to protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including rivers and wetlands. |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: benitolink.com
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