Image via WikipediaBy Sarah BernheimThe Californian water supply system is one of the most unique water delivery systems in the world. Not only do individuals depend on fresh water daily, farms, industries, local governments, and other institutions must have ready access to it too. Basic facts that you probably didn't know about California's water system include:
• Water demand in California is highest during summer time when the air is hot and dry.
• On average, over 190 million MAF's (acre-feet) of precipitation falls on California in the form of snow or rain, which predominantly originates in Northern California. To put that into perspective, 326,000 gallons of water constitutes one MAF - or enough to replenish two average-sized families for one year.
• A large portion of it evaporates or is absorbed into the ground.
• What's left of the remaining groundwater goes to freshwater river flows and basins, Delta outflows, and other environmental mandates (47%); irrigation systems (40%); and to the municipality water reserves and various industries (13%).
• Most precipitation in California occurs between October and April.
• California is one of the most susceptible states to water crises in terms of both flooding and drought, the latter being the most common. It is only appropriate that people would have raised awareness of this crisis waiting to happen. A proactive approach would be to instill water saving techniques in each household.
• All-in-all, California employs thousands of rivers, reservoirs, pipelines, and canals to deliver water to its residents and industries. They are a mixture local, state, and the federal initiatives.
Major Water Authorities in California
The Central Valley Project and the State Water Project are two of the largest water suppliers in California. The former is a water delivery system, established in 1950, that pumps over seven million MAF's of water to residents of Sacramento and the rest of the San Joaquin River Delta, as well as portions of the San Francisco Bay area and Southern California.
The State Water Project (SWP) infuses only about half the amount of water as the CVP does, yet it's still a force to be reckoned with. The second-largest CA water project, SWP, delivers enough water - primarily over the 440-mile-long California Aqueduct - to supply over 21 million people and over 750,000 acres of farmland with freshwater.
Finally, the California Aqueduct, the main artery of the CVP, starts its journey at the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant. From there, water is pumped in from the Joaquin River Delta and fed into a series of canals, which lead into various reservoirs, and back into canals that ultimately end near the heart of Los Angeles.
Learn more about Recycled Water and other valuable Water Saving Tips by visiting the website of Central Basin today.
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