California water situation

[guynhawaii]

Aloha,

Is anyone aware of the ramifications to DLR due to the new water rationing for California? For example closing of the pools, draining DCA's water by Paradise Pier, closing of Splash and GRR, etc...

 

[mom2rtk]

Why would they need to drain anything? Don't they just treat and reuse all of that water?

 

[Gisele]

None of those things have or will happen.
If anything, when dining you may need to request a glass of water.

Enjoy your visit and don't worry about anything.

 

[Gisele]

Why would they need to drain anything? Don't they just treat and reuse all of that water?[
/QUOTE]

.

Yes, exactly.

 

[mom2rtk]

Just don't ask to water a residential lawn while you are there.

 

[Sherry E]

We had to go through mandatory water rationing in Southern California quite a while back (such fun to not be able to flush toilets or wash dishes every day!) -- but I can't remember when it was. Maybe the late '80s or early '90s? I don't remember how or if it affected Disneyland, but at that point long ago there was only Disneyland (no DCA) and only the Disneyland Hotel to deal with at DLR. Now the DLR property is much larger and the water crisis is more severe -- and now the mandatory rationing is covering all of California and not just SoCal. Also, I think the percentage that we are expected to cut back on water usage is greater this time around than it was in the past.

So it will be very interesting to see what happens at DLR!

 

[ImDMous]

Even when they drain the Rivers of America they store all the water somewhere and then pump it back in when they are done. I really don't think they would make Disney cut 25% use considering how much tax money they are bringing in with that water. But they have always been pretty water conscious anyway. Re-use your clean towels and don't ask for new sheets during your stay.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

It's not going to impact much as Disneyland. I think, though I could be wrong, that most of the park uses reclaimed water for their scenic areas. Like someone else said, you may have to ask for a glass of water. They may start using more plants that don't need frequent watering in their landscaping. And toilets might have to switch to a low flow system (though this may be pushing it for Disneyland).

I was around for the rationing in the late 80s/early 90s, too. I was just a kid, so I don't remember much. That being said, the biggest impact was for residential areas I think. We could only water the lawn on a timer once a week or something like that. "If it's yellow, let it mellow" was a household phrase. Cars were dusty as washing them was discouraged unless absolutely necessary. Pools could not regularly be drained and refilled. Parks looked a little brown. My husband recalls fondly that he "decided his favorite color was green because all he saw was brown."

We'll get through this drought the same way we've gotten through them in the past. Most droughts only last 6-7 years. With any hope, that's what we're looking at and not the "megadrought" we're apparently due for soon.

 

[MillauFr]

There is no real water shortage in California. Every house I drive past has green grass even if it hasn't rained in months. As compared to Seattle where we have plenty of water and everyone's grass is completely yellow from June to October.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

There is no real water shortage in California. Every house I drive past has green grass even if it hasn't rained in months. As compared to Seattle where we have plenty of water and everyone's grass is completely yellow from June to October.

I hope you're joking. It's hard to tell through a forum. If not, you probably haven't been through the agricultural areas and small towns to the north, or maybe you don't know the history of the great aqueduct in transforming Los Angeles from a desert into what it is today. There are families literally having to wash themselves with a coffee cup of water because their towns are out of water in Porterville. The grass is green in cities and suburbs because cities can always spend more money to ship in water and there haven't been adequate conservation efforts. The smaller areas don't have the money and resources to do that. I'd make a bet that if you look at this issue in a year, the grass won't be so green. I live in a suburb and on our street, most people are only watering the lawn once a week at this point. This is actually a really serious issue for the agricultural industry especially.

 

[Gisele]

What's up with such lackluster precipitation in California anyway? Unforgiving weather patterns? Eroding ozone layer? A combination?
Someone needs to perform a serious rain dance!

 

[MillauFr]

I hope you're joking. It's hard to tell through a forum. If not, you probably haven't been through the agricultural areas and small towns to the north, or maybe you don't know the history of the great aqueduct in transforming Los Angeles from a desert into what it is today. There are families literally having to wash themselves with a coffee cup of water because their towns are out of water in Porterville. The grass is green in cities and suburbs because cities can always spend more money to ship in water and there haven't been adequate conservation efforts. The smaller areas don't have the money and resources to do that. I'd make a bet that if you look at this issue in a year, the grass won't be so green. I live in a suburb and on our street, most people are only watering the lawn once a week at this point. This is actually a really serious issue for the agricultural industry especially.

I was not joking. You alluded to what I was attempting to infer. The vast majority of California is a desert. They attempted to build a multi billion dollar plumbing system in an attempt to convert the state to a tropical oasis. This was a huge mistake and is completely unsustainable. Last time I checked California was the #2 producer of rice in the US. Growing a crop like rice which likes to grow in wet, marshy fields and planting it in the middle of a desert is beyond stupid. Why on earth are people even allowed to water their grass?

 

[Gisele]

I was not joking. You alluded to what I was attempting to infer. The vast majority of California is a desert. They attempted to build a multi billion dollar plumbing system in an attempt to convert the state to a tropical oasis. This was a huge mistake and is completely unsustainable. Last time I checked California was the #2 producer of rice in the US. Growing a crop like rice which likes to grow in wet, marshy fields and planting it in the middle of a desert is beyond stupid. Why on earth are people even allowed to water their grass?

"Attempting to infer?"
Isn't that like attempting to try to get up from a chair? You either do or don't.

 

[MillauFr]

"Attempting to infer?"
Isn't that like attempting to try to get up from a chair? You either do or don't.

I don't see most issues in terms of black and white, but rather 50 shades of grey.

 

[Gisele]

I don't see most issues in terms of black and white, but rather 50 shades of grey.

Lol...... Quick.... hide the wet noodle.

 

[sillybaer]

I was not joking. You alluded to what I was attempting to infer. The vast majority of California is a desert. They attempted to build a multi billion dollar plumbing system in an attempt to convert the state to a tropical oasis. This was a huge mistake and is completely unsustainable. Last time I checked California was the #2 producer of rice in the US. Growing a crop like rice which likes to grow in wet, marshy fields and planting it in the middle of a desert is beyond stupid. Why on earth are people even allowed to water their grass?

But the rice fields are in Northern CA, which is distinctly not desert. (I'm not convinced the majority of CA is desert. Most of southern CA is, but there's a lot of land in the north. However, since Disneyland is the only thing south of San Francisco I pay any attention to, I don't know enough to figure out exactly what the ratio of desert to not-desert is.)

 

[iKristin]

The desert is literally 20 to 30 minutes away from DL in almost all directions.

 

[NannyBeBe]

Los Angeles gets too much rain, on average, to be a desert. It is probably classified as a steppe.
Water is a precious commodity and should not be wasted, no matter where one lives. Simple things like turning off the water while you brush your teeth, will help. If we stop and think, there are many ways we can conserve water.
This drought will cycle out eventually.
As to growing rice in CA, I am glad they do. Their basmati rice is very low in arsenic.

 

[RemainSeatedPlease]

To say that the vast majority of California is a desert is ridiculous, and only makes sense if you are only taking Southern California into consideration. What about the wetlands, dense forests, mountain ranges, or the agriculturally fertile Central Valley? You know, that whole northern 3/4 of the state? And not even all of Southern California is a desert. I don't necessarily agree with all of California's past water practices, but I don't think it makes sense to ignore a large part of the state in your argument.

 

[DisneyJewel]

To say that the vast majority of California is a desert is ridiculous, and only makes sense if you are only taking Southern California into consideration. What about the wetlands, dense forests, mountain ranges, or the agriculturally fertile Central Valley? You know, that whole northern 3/4 of the state? And not even all of Southern California is a desert. I don't necessarily agree with all of California's past water practices, but I don't think it makes sense to ignore a large part of the state in your argument.

Yes, in my part of NorCal, we are temperate/Mediterranean, not desert. And there are PLENTY of people with no lawns, including us. Drought resistant landscaping has been popular for many years, even if there are some people who have crazy big lawns. Also the reason ag is big here, despite the water issues (ag uses most of the water) is because we have so much sun and can grow things year round. When ag was established here, it was easier to bring in water than to simulate the sun in colder climates.