A Transcontinental Aqueduct Could Solve the Southwest
Water Shortage
by Dan Ehrlich



Water is something many Americans take for granted. Just turn on the tap or flush the toilet and pay the bill. But, if you live in a desert town such as Las Vegas, excessive water charges can make you appreciate this life giving liquid. Did you ever wonder what would happen if our major rivers dried up? Seriously, if you're a believer in global warming, Al Gore or both, it's a possibility if the ice caps melt and the snow fall pattern changes.

What would happen to our populations centers? Would they dry up, too? Or would we be forced to build and operate costly desalination plants to use water from the sea?

President Obama campaigned on the promise of massive public works projects across the country to ease unemployment and restore facilities. Well, here’s probably the biggest and potentially most beneficial project he could undertake, one that would guarantee his name in US history other than being our first Black president... a transcontinental water aqueduct.

Every year much of southwestern America becomes more devastated by drought, wild fires, mudslides, as well as earthquakes. And yet the unprecedented population growth continues. This will mean the water supply could eventually dry up, as will the towns and their populations. Meanwhile the Midwest and parts of Texas are annually hit by torrential rains, twisters and floods, with all that water going to waste in the Gulf of Mexico.

But, it doesn’t have to be that way. Since much of the Midwest and East get too much water and the West not enough, why not send some west? Here’s one for our short-term thinking narrow-minded politicians…the greatest American public utilities project since the transcontinental railroad. Let’s build an aqueduct from near the mouth of the Mississippi through Texas, New New Mexico, Arizona and California.

It can’t be done? Rubbish…the California aqueduct and canal system traverses mountains and desert. The only people that will prevent this project are visionless politicians who feel it would take so long to complete, they’ll be out of office so why should they care.

Of course, there is also the “states rights” gang in congress that will say; this is our water not California’s. But, they’re wrong. This is America and its America’s water. And the overwhelming fact we have to face is our politicians have failed the nation and us by not planning for the distant future after WW2.

But, in addition to the aqueduct, major reservoirs would be developed in each of the states concerned to hold the seasonal overflow.

Our leaders, who have failed to provide protection for our international borders, have also dropped the ball with this vital resource. We thought water and cheap gas would never vanish. Our politicians have never brought up the subject, often because of their own vested interests. But, it’s a reality now and we had better make plans for the future.

Such a mammoth undertaking would also be an economic gold mine for the nation, with thousands of jobs created along with an enormous boost to ancillary industries supplying the project. This is such a natural idea it's surprising no one has never been investigated before. Well, maybe not such a surprise since simple and sensible solutions are often overlooked by politicians and bureaucrats.

If the Romans could build aqueducts, why not us? Hell, we appear to be going down the same path as them. Why not have something marvelous to leave for posterity. If this interests you, write the Congress and the President.