Texas Drought Could Last Until 2020

[x635 4,066]

Here's the deal:

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/current-drought-could-become-worst-ever-state-climatologist-1887398.html

In modern times, this is a potential disaster. Actually, it's currently a disaster, and many disasters waiting to happen.

With all the flooding in the midwest, would it be too wacky to build a water pipeline to Texas? What about a desalinization plant on the Gulf Coast (why are they so expensive, and could the cost be reduced) and water sent to various parts of Texas.

I mean, NY built the Aqeducts from the Catskill's into the City underground in the early 1900's. They built the Alaskan pipeline.

We do have active water conservation iniatives, but those will only go so far....

I hope this lady is wrong.

[PEMO3 523]

Seth, unfortunately at the speed that government works with all the committees, hearings, etc it would probably be 2021 before the first drop of water ever was able to flow and then it would be for the monsoons and to pump all the water OUT of Texas after the ground became rock hard from 10 years of drought.

[x635 4,066]

Sadly, you are right. Why would the government actually do something to create hundreds of new jobs and pump millions into the economy proctively? They are running out of water in other parts of the country, such as Las Vegas. 2021 would be conservative estimate.

It could also prevent disaster, if we pumped water from New Orleans here, balance things out a little/. Even dirty water can be filtered and used where needed.

I don't know if you saw "There Will Be Blood", but if water was considered gasoline which I'm predicitng the price to be competitve with, it is going to be a similar situation. Except this time, the Republicans battle the Democrats and spend so much time doing so nothing ever gets done.

They say an Austin drought is always followed by Austin floods, and I hope that does happen.

Maybe we'll have our Fort Worth-Dallas-Austin-San Antonio-Houston high speed rail by then as well [/sarcasm yet remaining optimistic]

[ny10570 745]

The original Croton Aqueduct was first proposed as the Bronx River Aqueduct over 50 years before the plan for a Croton Aqueduct was finally commissioned. Even then it was another 5 years before it was completed at a proposed cost of over $4 million. Depending on who's math you use today that's about 14 Billion. The last straw was a Cholera epidemic that killed almost 2% of the city's population, or about 17,000 people today in one year. We've never been good at responding until our hands are forced by tragedy. Texas is suffering, but not like the suffering that prompted NYC's water supply or New Orleans' revamped levee system.

Then add in examples like the decimation of the Colorado river and piping water in becomes incredibly politically unpopular. LA is running out of water too, but every attempt to tap into a new source is met with fierce opposition.

Back during Bahrain's boom years the Saudis were building the worlds largest desalination plant, claiming they could finally make it affordable. Their system is nuclear powered and has no intake or discharge regulations. No one is going to allow a nuclear powered desalination plant in the US, although I think a proposed Texas power plant was planning to recycle their heat waste in a desalination plant. The largest American plant is in Florida (Miami?) and they spent years running at minimum capacity while they addressed regulatory issues concerning diluting the brackish discharge and keeping marine life out of their intakes. Their claim of success came when their price per cubic meter was around $3, about the same as NYC's. Except that the price doubles when municipalities tack on distribution costs.

[FDNY 10-75 640]

Timothy Galanryk purposed the idea of a water pipe line system on his show Inspector America on the History Channel. A great idea; but since it is, it probably wont happen.

[ny10570 745]

Timothy Galanryk purposed the idea of a water pipe line system on his show Inspector America on the History Channel. A great idea; but since it is, it probably wont happen.

So how do we get this water over the Rockies??? Most aqueduct systems utilize reservoirs uphill from their consumers. LA is currently pumping the highest climb in the world at 2,000 feet. The continental divide is a substantial challenge with its lowest point around 4,000 feet at the Mexican border. More Northern routes start in the 6 - 7,000 foot range. Then you have issues of head pressure. The Mississippi River Basin is largely less than 1000' above sea level and Vegas is 2000'. So, lets say you go further up stream to a matching elevation, you still have the fiction loss over the 2000 to 3000 miles that tunnel would have to cover. To reach a proper source elevation you're going to wind up missing out on most of not all of the flood areas you're trying to save. To make this an effective flood control and water source you're going to need a massive reservoir. Where is that going to be?? Its a great idea, but a lot harder than it sounds.

[irishfire2491 24]

With all the flooding in the midwest, would it be too wacky to build a water pipeline to Texas? What about a desalinization plant on the Gulf Coast (why are they so expensive, and could the cost be reduced) and water sent to various parts of Texas

We will start the pipeline from the Saw mill, bronx river and Hutch river parkway. We get more then enough share of water on the parkways. LMAO

[NJMedic 96]

Take a look at the construction of Water Tunnel 3 in NYC. That construction began in 1970 and its not projected to be finished until 2020. That's 50 years. I've grown up watching the construction project moved from the Bronx and into Manhattan. I was a under 10 when the project was along the Harlem River near the Alexander Hamilton Bridge and will be 57 when it is completed. While that is underground any other acquaduct might be above ground. It would take years in planning to even get any project off the ground.

[DWC295 70]

Interesting look at trying to save and work with the water you have.

My link

[x635 4,066]

Interesting look at trying to save and work with the water you have.

My link

Everybody is trying to conserve water in a variety of ways. Sadly, with this drought, you can only conserve so much water. Everything, everywhere, is drying up.

The City Of Austin will buy you new low flow toilets, and if you pull up your grass and put down decroative gravel, they'll also pay you. And their are other incentive plans as well......greywater, etc.

Brian, can was borrow that Neptune system, lol?