You are on page 1of 3

Murdock 2

Lauren Murdock

Mr.Van Velzer

Beginning Composition Block 1

3 October 2014

From Toilet to Tap: The Worst Of The Drought Is Yet To Come

Is California prepared for yet another year of drought? Farmers, residents, and businesses

alike must brace themselves for yet another freeze-dried winter. Cities are preparing for more

restrictions, and in extreme cases the installation of a water purification plant.

"We're pumping irreplaceable groundwater to counter the drought. When it's gone, the

real crisis begins," reports Dennis Dimick in National Geographic article "If You Think the

Water Crisis Can't Get Worse, Wait Until the Aquifers Are Drained." The groundwater, found in

underground aquifers, has been greatly depleted since the drought began. According to a statistic

from Stanford University listed in the article, "60% of the states water needs are now met by
Murdock 2

groundwater, up from 40% in years with normal amounts of rain and snow fall." Dimick stresses

conservation of this water source, saying "These aquifers typically cannot recharge, and once this

'fossil' water is gone, it's gone forever." In California, these issues are affecting more than just

homeowners, as the state is a major agricultural capital for the country. Seeing disaster looming

ahead, Southern California's Silicon Valley has been preparing to maximize water usage by

installing an advanced water purification plant. The equipment will essentially take water from

"toilet to tap."

Many public facilities near and in San Jose including airports, golf courses, power plants,

as well as San Francisco 49ers new Levi's stadium will be using recycled water. Jim Fiedler,

chief operating officer of the Santa Clara Valley Water District, calls it "A drought-proof

supply." Fiedler also owns the new Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center, where

sewage is "cleaned with micro filters, reverse osmosis, and ultraviolet lighting to remove bacteria

and pathogens," as reported by Paul Rogers in local newspaper San Jose Mercury Times. Rogers

also addresses citizen Gigi Dawsons, views on the change. Dawson reports he would be willing

to drink the recycled water. As long as its been purified and filtered. Take all the bad stuff out.

Dont give me cancer. he says.

While this new water source is now only used to flush toilets and water lawns, experts

like Tim Quinn, executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies say, "We

have the technology to make it as clean as other drinking water, or cleaner." With scientific

approval, Santa Clara Valley Water District hopes to use the recycled water to refill the

groundwater supply for drinking over the next 5 years, as explained in San Jose's Mercury News

article titled " California drought: San Jose's new high-tech water purification plant to expand

recycled water use," by staff writer Paul Rogers.


Murdock 2

You might also like