Water is one of the most basic of human needs. How Long Can a Person Survive Without Water? According to the article titled the same, our fragile human bodies can last only 3 days without water!
Efforts to direct water and use it responsibly date to the very beginning of human existence. In fact, archaeological evidence reveals elaborate Mayan water management techniques to direct and conserve water from heavy rains for use during dry seasons. Lives depended upon these systems. If only we could be so clever. (Figure 1)
As the United States settled, rights to water were taken seriously and given out on a first come first served basis. The State of Colorado has some of the most invasive water laws in the country.
I wonder if the "way it's always been" is the way it should be. Why do we have such strict water use laws in Colorado? Is there really a water shortage here? If so, is our water being used in the best way possible? I am suspicious that those protecting their water rights so fiercely are arguing out of fear rather than facts. I look forward to researching and exploring Colorado water law as it stands and as others wish to alter it. I also want to review solutions used around the world to reduce and reuse water efficiently. I wonder how often these solutions are used by the average residence and on what scale. I can't help but think they are underused unless forced as in the case of major drought.
Efforts to direct water and use it responsibly date to the very beginning of human existence. In fact, archaeological evidence reveals elaborate Mayan water management techniques to direct and conserve water from heavy rains for use during dry seasons. Lives depended upon these systems. If only we could be so clever. (Figure 1)
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| Fig. 1. Mayan Dam |
I wonder if the "way it's always been" is the way it should be. Why do we have such strict water use laws in Colorado? Is there really a water shortage here? If so, is our water being used in the best way possible? I am suspicious that those protecting their water rights so fiercely are arguing out of fear rather than facts. I look forward to researching and exploring Colorado water law as it stands and as others wish to alter it. I also want to review solutions used around the world to reduce and reuse water efficiently. I wonder how often these solutions are used by the average residence and on what scale. I can't help but think they are underused unless forced as in the case of major drought.
Works Cited
Binns, Corey. "How Long Can a Person Survive Without Water?" Live Science. Purch. 30 Nov. 2012. Web. 9 Mar. 2016.
Editor. Ancient Mayan Dam. Digital Image. Red Orbit Your Universe Online. Red Orbit. 18 July 2012. Web. 9 Mar. 2016.
Zralka, Jaroslaw, and Wieslaw Koszkul. "Archaeological Evidence for Ancient Maya Water Management: The Case of Nakum, Peten, Guatemala." Antiquity 89.344 (2015): 397-416. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Mar 2016.
My first impressions reading your article were actually a little disconcerting. Not because I felt the topic or presentation was poor, just the opposite actually. When you asked your first questions "Why do we have such strict water use laws in Colorado? Is there really a water shortage here?" I immediately felt concerned. Or I felt scared really, which is very supportive of thoughts that fear is a major factor when laws are passed restricting water rights. I think of California's terrible drought situation and I am scared that parts of the midwest and Rocky Mountains will suffer too. Snowfall and runoff is on a downward trend just by judging from what I've seen going up to the ski slopes. To decrease the consumption of water while still keeping the supply steady, I am in full agreement of water restriction as a lifelong Colorado citizen.
ReplyDeleteThen again, this is my gut reaction and that is specifically what you mention lawmakers may take into consideration when manipulating legal precedent. So then what are the facts? Who does control these water rights? What could we do as citizens to aid this issue and reduce restriction?
Sweet topic! It definitely struck a chord with me right away and I will be following up very soon.
Fear is a huge motivating factor without a doubt. I share your concern and wonder if it is well founded.
DeleteJennifer –
ReplyDeleteYour first blog takes a great approach to introducing your topic. I am hooked and am anxious in reading your next blog. I look forward to learning more about our water crisis. I’m not familiar with the issue and I believe you have helped in bringing it to my attention. Thanks Jennifer!
Thank you for your interest, Alicia. I was raised under severe drought conditions most of my life in California and collecting rain water to use in the garden is an encouraged water conservation technique.
DeleteIt is hard to believe that an average American could only last 3 days without water (with all of our intake), but I am not willing to test this theory.
ReplyDeleteI have worked with water managers in Boulder and I have seen firsthand how politics is a major part of it. The ditches flowing into and through the city are all spoken for and I’ve learned that if they water rights owners don’t use their allotment then they may actually lose their water rights. It doesn’t make any sense from a conservation standpoint. In Colorado, as in other lower western states, we get most of our water from snow. We are already strained enough. The Colorado River now runs dry into Mexico (most of the time).
I agree that Colorado has invasive water laws. Heck, we can’t even catch water from the sky on our own property.