San Diego Water Rules

Southern California is in the midst of a drought.  What is the city doing to conserve water?  They are resorting to new rules and ‘water cops‘. Apartments, Condos and Businesses can water: Monday, Wednesday & Friday Homes with odd-numbered addresses can water: Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday Homes with even-numbered addresses can water: Saturday, Monday &…

How did the national debt get so big?

The book Cadillac Desert discusses the development of dams, aquaducts, and irrigation canals to slake the thirst of cities and farmers in the Western U.S..  While these projects did eventually deliver the water they promised, they did so at huge costs to taxpayers.  In the words of former congressmen Robert W. Edgar: “The old-boy network…

Should Water be Free?

No matter the price, John Keesecker of Food and Water Watch argues that selling water for profit is a bad idea. Keesecker: “I think when folks see water being privatized, they see a price being put on something that’s essential.” – Marketplace. Should water be free?  Water is a necessity.  Without it, you cannot live.  In an egalitarian…

Toilet water is cleaner than bottled water?

The New York Times Magazine has an interesting article about reclaimed water (“A Tall, Cool Drink of…Sewage“).  Reclaimed water is basically toilet water which has been recycled to the point where it is safe to drink.  In many dry areas–such as my home of Southern California–the water supply is dwindling.  To counter this, San Diego…

Solving California’s Water Shortage

Forbes reports that “California is perpetually portrayed as suffering from a shortage of water. Case in point: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recently declared a statewide drought, telling citizens to prepare for rationing.”  As any economist would tell you, the solution to the water shortage problem is simple: raise the price of water. The largest culprits of…