Replies

Read my link, in San Bernardino a reservoir was built to trap mountain/storm runoff just to replenish the local aquifer instead of losing it to the ocean.

Of course on the other hand here in San Diego, concrete plants aren’t allowed to use sand from the river banks because environmentalists want the sand to wash down stream to the sea but it’s okay to import sand by train from Baja. Go figure.

Then I think in Long Beach there is a water reclamation plant (from sewage) where citizens refuse to drink reclaimed water so it is pump into the local aquifer, re-contaminated then pumped back out for use by the water department. Same with a desalination pilot plant up, the pure reclaimed water is pumped into the ground.

Not sure why you referred me to your link. Yes open reservoirs have been built to trap the rain so it can be used to replenish the basins instead of running off into the ocean. The majority of rain water during storms like the ones that are occurring still runs off into the ocean and the natural percolation that does occur is minimal. There is no doubt that the rains will improve the water situation in CA, but it may take a while for the basins to be filled to a safe level.

Citizens do not refuse to drink reclaimed water, they are not allowed to drink reclaimed water. It is used as a source to help manage the groundwater basins though. Reclaimed water that is pumped into a basin and then pumped out later for use, is no longer consider reclaimed water. There are a number of basins in CA. I am somewhat familiar with the management of the two basins in LA County and the one in Orange County.