There’s been a water drought in the West for years…. But how bad is it? According to an article in the New York Times, it’s the worst we’ve had in 12 centuries! In fact, a more proper name for this phenomenon is megadrought!
Which States Does the Wester Water Drought Affect?
The megadrought is affecting these states:
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Nevada,
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Arizona,
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California,
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Utah,
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New Mexico,
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Oregon,
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Washington,
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Montana and
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Idaho
Climate change IS a real thing. In fact, this particular megadrought started back in 2000. This is a drought that has lasted 22 years and there are no signs of it letting up!
Fun fact: In the year 822, the Western part of our continent was as drought-ridden as it is today.
However, it is speculated that the drought we are experiencing presently is due to human-spurred climate change.
How Bad is the Western Water Drought?
Researchers found the current drought wouldn’t be nearly as severe without global warming. They estimated that 42% of the drought’s severity is attributable to higher temperatures caused by greenhouse gases accumulating in the atmosphere. “The results are really concerning, because it’s showing that the drought conditions, we are facing now are substantially worse because of climate change,” said Park Williams, a climate scientist at UCLA and the study’s lead author. “But that also there is quite a bit of room for drought conditions to get worse.”
- Water levels at the Great Salt Lake in Utah, the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere, have dropped to the lowest levels ever recorded in human history.
- The flow of the Colorado River during 2020 and 2021 water years shrank to the lowest two-year average in more than a century.
- Lake Mead and Lake Powell also declined to their lowest levels on record.
Unfortunately, the American West is likely too far gone in terms of water to return to the way it was. There is a new term for the megadrought happening in the Western United States, and that term is “Aridification.” The question is, are we experiencing the beginning of our own eulogy? And more importantly, what can WE do about it?
What Can We Do About Climate Change in the Ozarks?
There are several things we can do to “go green” and help be part of the solution and not the problem.
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Drive less.
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Recycle more.
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Use less hot water.
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Plant trees.
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Change your light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs.
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Avoid products with a lot of packaging.
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Adjust your thermostat to more closely match the temperature outside.
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Turn off electronic devices and lights when not in use.
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Change your tires and keep them inflated so you can improve you gas mileage.
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Use environmentally safe cleaning supplies at home AND in the office.
It’s no surprise that climate change is impacting our planet. But if every person does a little bit more to chip in, we can start to change today to make a better tomorrow for our children and for the future!
About Aquasani Water Purification Systems & Filter Maintenance
Aquasani is an authorized dealer for Rainsoft, WaterLogic, & JavaSmart. Based in Springfield, Mo., and at Lake of the Ozarks / Osage Beach in Missouri, Aquasani services areas in the Ozarks including Osage Beach, Joplin, Camdenton, Aurora and even Jefferson City. In essence, we service Mid-Missouri, Southwest Missouri, and Northwest Arkansas, and have been servicing these areas since 2004. We provide home water softener systems, drinking water filtration systems, whole-house air purification systems, and problem-solving water filtration systems for homes and offices. We also service other water softeners like Culligan, Sterling, Hydroquad, Pro-Series, and Whirlpool to name a few!
Aside from our purification systems, we also sell all-natural cleaning products and household items which are environmentally friendly and low-cost.
We specialize in both air and water filtration and purification for commercial businesses and residential homes. If that isn’t enough, we provide free trials for our water cooler services. If you would like a free estimate, schedule an appointment with us by calling (417) 881-4000 or (573) 692-4009 if you are in the Lake of the Ozarks area.
Fill out the form below and one of our Aquasani teammates will sort you out!
