California could be facing a water crisis in the near future if no steps are taken to conserve and store the state's water resources, according to a report by California water officials.
The report follows the fifth and final survey conducted by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). It showed that the level of water in the state's snowcap was at its lowest level in over two decades. In the report, DWR said that the water content in Sierra Nevada range is 71 percent below the normal level for 2006-07.
Lester Snow, DWR director, said that a water crisis could be avoided due to the efforts by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has pushed for increased number of storage facilities, conservation, waste water recycling and other measures. California is entirely dependent on the water from the snowcaps to generate hydroelectricity and irrigation.
Schwarzenegger said that the state was on a critical stage, and can avoid a water crisis only is strong measures are taken. "Without planning, we will not be able to sustain consecutive drought years and severe water shortages will have a grave impact to our quality of life and California's economy", he said in a statement.
Snow said that government officials had grown lax over the conservation of water resources and a conscious effort is now needed to save the water resources. "We must increase efforts to call for a much higher level of conservation. California has gotten soft on conservation and must redouble efforts on the farms, cities and in the growing areas.", he added.
