Water 
Did you Know...
Just 3% of the water on Earth is fresh water, and only 0.3% of it is readily available for human consumption. (U.S. Geological Survey)
The Good News
Since the Clean Water Act was passed in 1972, the nation’s water quality has improved, thanks to dramatic improvements in sewage treatment technology and a reduction in industrial pollution, as well. We no longer see rivers catching fire as the Cuyahoga did in 1969.
The Bad News
Although water quality has improved overall, nearly half of the freshwater bodies in the U.S. remain too polluted for fishing and swimming, and there were 4,249 fishing advisories across the country in 2008, mostly due to mercury contamination. As for water quality in Los Angeles, this photograph of Ballona Creek after a recent storm speaks volumes, and in 2006, Los Angeles 
had the dubious distinction of having seven of the ten most polluted beaches in the state of California. And perhaps most alarming of all, a team of marine scientists recently reported that “the world will run out of seafood by 2048 if steep declines in marine species occur at current rates.”
Here in Southern California, in addition to water quality problems, we face serious water supply problems, as well. Various factors, including recent record low rainfall in the southern California coastal plain and the continuation of an historic ten-year drought in the Colorado River Watershed, are placing a significant strain on our water supply. By June 2008, the situation was bad enough for Governor Schwarzenegger to declare a state of drought in the state. Secretary of Energy Dr. Stephen Chu, recently declared, “I don't think the American public has gripped in its gut what could happen. We're looking at a scenario where there's no more agriculture in California.” A scary possiblity considering that more than half of the nation’s produce is grown in California.
To learn more about water and how you can improve the quality and quantity of one of our most precious natural resources, use the links below to schedule a presentation.
