Every drop counts

Mismanagement of our water supplies can also produce a drought. For instance, overuse of water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta has caused an ecological crisis there. The amount of water pumped out of the delta rose to record levels after 2000. As a result, the delta smelt, some salmon populations and other fish species are rapidly declining. In response, the courts have ordered the state to dramatically reduce the amount of water it pumps out of the delta, effectively creating a policy-induced drought throughout California.

Fortunately, the recent spell of wet weather has allowed the state Department of Water Resources to increase the deliveries from the delta to farmers and cities in Southern California, the Bay Area and the Central Valley. Still, these amounts are way below the levels farmers and cities desire. And the state's continued population and economic growth, particularly in hotter inland areas, will put additional stress on its limited water resources.

The fact of the matter is that droughts will come and go. Managing our water system from drought to drought, however, does little to reduce our vulnerability to fluctuations in rainfall. California can do a lot more.

First, we must find new sources of water. We could build another dam, tap the next river over the mountain or pump another groundwater aquifer. But these sources have been over-tapped already. There are more innovative ways to increase water supplies.

Every year, billions of gallons of wastewater are dumped into our rivers and oceans. This water can be treated and reused for a variety of purposes. For instance, the Orange County Water District recently completed a recycling facility that produces 72,000 acre-feet a year of high-quality water. Similarly, the Irvine Ranch Water District currently meets nearly 20% of its water demand with recycled water.

Second, we must reduce our demand for water. New front-loading washing machines, for instance, use 40% less water than their older cousins, and new toilets use one-quarter of the water used by older models.

A commitment to developing alternative supplies and using our existing supplies more efficiently -- rather than simply hoping for rain -- will help ensure that we have sufficient resources to maintain a healthy environment, a prosperous agricultural sector and a vibrant economy for future generations.