Finding Ways to Prevent Water Waste
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nTHE CURRENT STATE OF CALIFORNIA’S UNPRECEDENTED DROUGHT
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nStartling Statistics
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nCalifornia is currently in its fourth year of a severe drought. The United States Drought Monitor estimatesn that over 90 percent of California is currently experiencing “severe” nto “exceptional” drought conditions. For farmers, the increasing nscarcity of water has been devastating. According to the American Farmland Trust,n California is home to 27 million acres of cropland. Nine million of nthose acres are irrigated farmlands, requiring a steady water supply. nCrops typically requiring regular irrigation include vegetables (1.1 nmillion acres), orchards and vineyards (3.1 million acres), and forage ncrops (1.7 million acres). Roughly 7 out of 10 irrigated farms in nCalifornia depend entirely, or at least in part, on surface water nallocated from state and federal projects. In 2014, farmers received nzero water allocations from federal projects and only one-fifth of the nwater that they would normally receive from state water projects.
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nnThe shortage of water for agriculture has forced many farmers to nfallow thousands of acres of their land in order to allocate what littlen water they receive to producing a successful harvest. Some reports nestimate that in 2014 alone nearly half a million acres of California nfarmland were fallowed as a result of the water shortage. Other farmers nhave chosen to switch their crops to more drought-friendly varieties, nincluding GMO seed varieties designed to thrive in soil with lower nmoisture content.
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nnThe Governor and Local Communities Take Action
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nnFarmers have found some relief from favorable economic circumstances.n For example, decreasing fuel prices and a surge in American imports nhave provided temporary relief from the crippling impact of the drought.n In many communities, residents have started sourcing their food from nlocal farmers and agricultural producers in an attempt to keep their nbusinesses going through these tough economic times. Some local grocers nare making an effort to source as much of their produce as they can fromn local farms as opposed to importing fruits and vegetables from other nregions.
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nnThe State of California has taken action to help soften the blow of an fourth year of severe drought. On April 1, 2015, California Governor nJerry Brown signed an Executive Order mandatingn water restrictions for all California residents. This is the first timen in California’s history that a mandatory water restriction has been setn into place to combat drought-related issues. As part of the mandatory nwater cuts, residents will be required to reduce their water consumptionn by 25 percent, or face daily monetary fines. The executive order nexempts farmers from the new requirement, noting just how badly many nfarmers have already been impacted.
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nnINCREASES IN FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRICES
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nnCalifornia: The Horn of Plenty
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nnTo truly comprehend the impact that California’s drought may have on nfood prices, it is important to have an understanding of just how ncrucial California’s agricultural industry is to the nation and the nworld at large. Many people refer to California as the nation’s nbreadbasket. The rich soil and ideal weather conditions make it some of nthe most fertile planting soil in the world. It is no surprise, ntherefore, that California produces 400 different types of agricultural ncommodities and provides roughly half of the nation’s fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
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nnCalifornia is the nation’s leading producer of many food staples, nincluding avocados, broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, grapes, tree nuts, and ndairy. According to a studyn conducted by the University of California Agricultural Issues Center, nin 2013 California exported $4.16 billion worth of almonds and over $2.4n billion in dairy products. Other key California exports include wine, ntree nuts, grapes, rice, cotton, and beef. Overall, the California nDepartment of Food and Agriculture reports that California’s 77,900 farms earned over $46 billion for agricultural exports in 2013.
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nnProduce Prices are Predicted to Increase as a Result of the Drought
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nnThe extent to which California’s drought will have an impact on nproduce prices depends on the overall severity of the drought and how nthe drought affects total crop yields. When it comes to produce, the nmost critical concern during a drought is the diminishing groundwater nsupply, which is typically needed to provide consistent irrigation to nfruit and vegetable crops. In response to a groundwater supply shortage,n many farmers choose to plant a smaller amount of a particular crop, or nto plant an entirely different crop that is more tolerant to drought nconditions.
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nnnnAccording to the United States Department of Agriculture,n when it comes to fruits and vegetables, any production impacts that mayn lead to price increases typically manifest at the supermarket shelves nwithin one month. Produce is highly perishable, meaning that farmers ncannot hold onto their produce until market prices are more favorable nand consumers are more willing to buy. Other factors affecting the pricen of produce are labor wages, competitive imports, and fuel prices.
nnAs a consequence of the growing scarcity of water for agriculture, nthe prices of fruits, vegetables, and other food products are expected nto increase. For many farmers, the increasing cost of water and nfallowing of fields requires them to raise the prices of the their crop nyields.
nnHow much of a price hike should consumers anticipate paying? nAccording to the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) nreports, “[i]ncreases in retail prices for fresh fruits and vegetables nin 2014 were primarily driven by an increase in the prices for citrus nfruit.” Additionally, “[p]rices for fresh vegetables fell in 2014 after nseeing higher than average price increases in 2013.”
nnThese price increases will likely increase into 2015. USDA estimates nthat during 2015 supermarket prices will increase an additional 2 to 3 npercent over 2014 prices. In particular, fresh fruit prices should rise nbetween “2.5 to 3.5 percent and fresh vegetable prices 2.0 to 3.0 npercent.” The USDA cautions, however, that California’s status as a ncrucial food producer gives it “the potential to drive prices for fruit,n vegetables, dairy, and eggs up even further.” Ultimately, the USDA npredicts that produce prices will continue to rise.
nnOther researchers have echoed the USDA’s conclusions regarding the nescalating prices of produce as a result of California’s historic ndrought. For example, a studyn conducted by Timothy Richards at the W.P. Carey School of Business at nArizona State University predicts that the California drought could nincrease avocado prices up to 28 percent. According to the USDA, nCalifornia produces 88 percent of avocadoes consumed throughout the nUnited States. The study also concluded that the price of lettuce could nincrease between 62 cents and $2.44.
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nnnnRichards believes that the most significant produce increases will noccur with “avocadoes, berries, broccoli, grapes, lettuce, melons, npeppers, tomatoes, and packaged salads.” Additionally, the California Farm Bureau has “projected that the average American family will spend about $500 more on food this year because of the drought.”
nnOf course, estimations regarding potential food price increases are nnot evaluated in a vacuum. Many other current events and factors play a npart in determining whether consumers will pay more or less for fresh nproduce in the coming months. For example, the California Avocado Commissionn reports that part of the reason for the increased price of avocados, nwhich rose 16 percent between 2013 and 2014, is the alternate bearing ncycle of avocado trees. One year, the tree will produce a high volume ofn fruits, while producing substantially fewer fruits the following year. nIn 2013, California’s avocado yield was estimated at 500 million pounds.n In 2014, total crop yield was projected at 350 million pounds.
nnBridging the Gap with Imports from Abroad
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nnBecause California produces “nearly half of US-grown fruits, nuts andn vegetables,” finding sources from out of state to supplement the ndrought’s impact on capacity is difficult. If the price of meat becomes nhigh, grocers can turn to other sources of protein, like eggs and fish, nto meet consumers’ needs. When it comes to fruits and vegetables, nhowever, there are no comparable replacements to meet consumers’ demand nfor freshly grown food.
nnSince foreign countries that rely on California agriculture to meet their produce needs, like Canada,n have started locating potential backup suppliers.
nnDespite the logistical hurdles that must be overcome when importing nproduce from far away localities, some predict that California food nwholesalers, distributers, and grocers will have no choice but to importn food from Mexico, Central America, and South America. Current reportsn indicate that a number of fruits, like peaches, are being imported fromn Chile and are taking up a substantial share of California’s fruit nmarket.
nnSTRATEGIES TO MITIGATE WATER LOSS
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nnDespite the enormity of California’s drought crisis there are many nsolutions and methodologies that can be used to help reduce water nconsumption and to reduce the cost of each trip to the grocery store forn fruit and vegetables.
nnA New Water Paradigm Through Permaculture
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nnAt a more global level, a potential method for ensuring the optimization of water usage is Permaculture,n which integrates resources, people, land and the environment through nbeneficial synergies. Permaculture enables farmers, urban nagriculturalists, and rooftop gardeners to imitate the “no waste, closedn loop systems” often observed in diverse natural ecosystems. nPermaculture utilizes holistic approaches to restoring balance in necosystems and ensuring that environmental assets, like land, water, andn air, are revitalized, recharged, and protected.
nnWhen it comes to water management, the development and implementationn of a water management system is an necessity. According to Geoff nLawton, it is about “gravity irrigation systems, water harvesting swalesn and simple systems”, when talking about the Permaculture Research nInstitute’s site going through his shires largest drought inn a hundred years. Geoff continues on to explain that “even though the nlocal village was cut off from water and water was issued in the street,n we were able to continue to irrigate all kinds of crops, because we hadn an oversupply of water”.
nnSimple Ways to Save Water Around the House
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nnOne method that can be used to combat the current paradigm’s incredible water waste is a composting toilet.n Composting toilets require little-to-no water, which enables users to ncut their water bills drastically. A “dry composting converts human nfecal material into a soil-like humus, which is essentially odorless andn is scarcely 10 percent of the original volume.” Dry composting nfacilities are typically emptied once a year, depending on size, making nthem a low-maintenance way to fight water waste right in your home.
nnMany features of our modern water paradigm are designed to perform one-time usages ofn water. For example, “water enters a city, becomes contaminated with nhuman and industrial wastes, and leaves the city dangerously polluted.” nCurrent water systems allocate substantial amounts of water to the nclearing away of human waste, typically into a sewer system. The resultsn of this practice are devastating, and include disease, disruption of nnutrient cycles, river death, and the formation of so-called “dead nzones” in certain coastal areas.
nnMany regions have implemented water treatment facilities designed to nmake use of wastewater instead of dumping into lakes, rivers, or oceans.n In California, Orange County constructed a $481 million treatment plantn that converts sewage into water that is used to replenish local ground naquifers. As the California drought continues to affect farmers and nother water users, the “flush and forget” system may become less common.
nnOther ways to save water around the home include installing nwater-efficient showerheads, toilets, laundry machines, and dishwashers.n In some localities, newly installed appliances must comply with water nefficiency requirements. If you cannot afford a low-flow toilet, simply nplace one to two inches of pebbles inside the bottom of your water tank,n or fill two empty plastic bottles with rocks to weight hem down. This nstrategy alone can save over ten gallons of water each day. nAdditionally, do not let the water run while you clean produce. Fill then sink or a pan with clean water instead.
nnPermaculture at Home
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nnUntil legislators and policymakers adopt policies that encompass the nfull spectrum of water sources, individuals should consider implementingn permaculture practices right in their backyards, rooftops, and homes. nAt its heart, permaculture is a design science that can be applied to nany human habitat no matter how small the space may be.
nAccording to Lawton, city environments aren especially in need of the benefits that permaculture has to offer. A ncity block requires a remarkable amount of power and electricity to feedn the many businesses, homes, and utilities that cover its acreage. One nof the greatest features of permaculture is that it can be implemented nin almost any setting or environments. There are ways to integrate npermaculture practices even for folks who live in apartments, nhigh-rises, or multi-tiered condos. For example, if you live in an napartment that features a balcony, consider growing sprouts or nmushrooms.
nnWhen it comes to reducing water waste in cities, permaculture nprovides a method for ensuring that surplus water is returned to the nenvironment or redirected to another source that can make good use of nthe water. For example, some cities have implemented permaculture nstreets, which feature controlled water runoff from hard surfaces ntowards gardens and other growing plants in need of hydration. Because ncities are often burgeoning centers of design and intricate landscapes, nthey provide the perfect habitat for implementing creative permaculture nstrategies.
nnFor homeowners, front and rear lawns represent ideal opportunities nfor implementing and experimenting with permaculture methodologies. In nmany cases, the amount of chemicals and treatments applied to lawns nsurpasses agricultural activities. Homeowners should consider convertingn up to half of their lawns to gardens or back to natural habitat. One ofn the greatest benefits of planting a home garden is the readily navailable bounty of fruits and vegetables that it provides. As nCalifornians and produce consumers around the world begin to feel the ndrought’s impact on the price of fruits and vegetables, low-cost, nhome-based solutions may provide a solution. Permaculture offers an neasy, efficient, and affordable way to grow produce right at home.
nnTo achieve ultimate synergy, permaculture focuses on the habits and npractices that characterize wild habitats like forests and pastures and nmimics them in a controlled environment. Forests typically feature many ndifferent layers of vegetation growing side by side, including shrubs, nplants, and trees. Among these vegetation layers are insects and nanimals. Each of these strands operate synergistically with one another nas an ecosystem. In permaculture, the integrated relationship between nall of these living things is known as a guild.n While traditional gardening practices teach individuals how to plant ngardens, permaculture focuses on equipping individuals to create and nmaintain successful guilds right at home. Ultimately, permaculture is a ntheory of design. Permaculture guilds typically have seven key ncomponents: (1) food for humans; (2) food for the soil; (3) diggers and nminers; (4) groundcover; (5) climbers; (6) supporters; and (7) nprotectors. Each of these components work together to create a thriving nsynergistic system.
nnMany water saving strategiesn can be adopted for both permaculture gardens and traditional gardens. nFirst, only water a lawn when it needs watering. To see if your lawn is nin need of moisture, step on the grass. If the grass springs back up, itn does not need water. If it lays flat, the lawn could use a little nwater. Intermittent deep-soakings are more effective at providing nmoisture to parched soil instead of frequent light showers. Also, the ntime of day that you choose to water can have an impact on how much of nthat moisture reaches the garden or lawn’s roots. Try to water during nthe night or early morning, and avoid watering when the sun is out or nwhen it is windy. Adding a thick layer of mulch near the base of plants nand tress can help retain moisture as it saturates through the soil. nMulch is particularly helpful for gardens that rely on drip systems. nComposting is another helpful tool that can increase water retention. Itn also provides a dose of minerals and nutrients to the soil and nvegetation. Many gardeners are surprised to learn that adding just one npound of compost material can yield “40 pounds of water retention.”n Also, rain barrels can provide quick and easy surpluses of fresh water nduring the rainy season, and add aesthetic character to your lawn or ngarden.
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