The United Nations recognized on Wednesday as part of an annual effort to emphasize the worldwide water crisis. And while leaders in the western U.S. have made some strides, many water issues still exist.
鈥淚n much of the West, we face a situation where we have to figure out how to reduce consumptive water use and do that in a way that doesn't devastate local economies and the environment,鈥� said Kevin Moran, associate vice president for regional affairs at the Environmental Defense Fund. 鈥淭hat's the fundamental challenge we face.鈥�
The Colorado River, which and is relied on by 40 million people, is facing historic lows due to continuing drought. Lake Powell in Arizona, a reservoir fed by the river, is at 22 percent of capacity 鈥� the lowest it鈥檚 ever been. Lake Mead, another major reservoir, is not far behind at .
鈥淭he Colorado River Basin is ground zero for the impact of acidification on water supplies and increasing water insecurity for communities and the environment,鈥� he said.
Other rivers are running low and drying up as well. Last summer, sections of the Rio Grande, for example, dried up for . This can not only cause problems for farmers and water users, but also for endangered species that live in the river.
鈥淚 think it's been a real wake up call for many of us in the West and certainly New Mexicans who cherish and rely on that river,鈥� Moran said.
Even with above-average snowfall this season, factors like soil moisture and increased temperatures can affect how much reaches the rivers.
鈥淚t's really easy to want to believe that one good rainy spring or a couple of big storms are going to change the story, are going to change the work we have to do,鈥� Moran said. 鈥淲e think that's absolutely not the case.鈥�
Moran highlighted Nevada鈥檚 water conservation efforts. would require septic tank users to connect to municipal wastewater treatment plants to recycle water and .
Other states are lagging behind. Moran, who lives in Arizona, said That means users can pump as much water as they want 鈥� even if it dries up neighboring wells.
Moran said more states need to be proactive and work on water conservation strategies, now more than ever. He hopes that a year from now, leaders will be negotiating details of an agreement across the seven states to reduce water use on the Colorado River.
鈥淭hat's a tall order, I sound a little Pollyannaish, perhaps by saying that, but I believe that ought to be the goal,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f we make the environment and the health of the river itself an afterthought, we risk making the entire situation even worse.鈥�
He recommends that western residents use water timing devices and lower water use appliances to conserve water, as well as support members of Congress who want to advance conservation efforts.
鈥淐limate change is water change 鈥� in many parts of the world, the first time we experience the realities of aridification and the ravages of climate change is through water,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think as citizens, we have to ask ourselves, 鈥極kay, we're going to do these things to conserve water. I'm going to be a responsible resident. And I want to contribute to solving the underlying problem.鈥欌��
This story was produced by the Mountain West 暗黑爆料 Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Media, Nevada Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUNR in Nevada, the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West in Montana, KUNC in Colorado, KUNM in New Mexico, with support from affiliate stations across the region. Funding for the Mountain West 暗黑爆料 Bureau is provided in part by the .
