The News Review:
- Drought to cut off federal water to Calif. farms
- Feds: Less water for California agriculture this year
- China shuts chemical plant after water polluted
Drought to cut off federal water to Calif. farms
The Associated Press -
1 agriculture state predicted it would cause consumers to pay more for their fruits and vegetables which would have to be grown using expensive well water. “Water is our life — it’s our jobs and it’s our food” said Ryan Jacobsen executive director of the farm bureau in Fresno County. “Without a reliable water supply Fresno County’s No. 1 employer — agriculture — is at great risk. “The drought would cause an estimated $1. 15 billion dollar loss in agriculture-related wages and eliminate as many as 40000 jobs in farm-related industries in the San Joaquin Valley alone where most of the nation’s produce and nut crops are grown said Lester Snow director of the Department of Water Resources. Jeff Peracchi a pomegranate and grape grower in Huron said he was laying off employees because without water there wouldn’t be much fruit to pick.
Feds: Less water for California agriculture this year
Los Angeles Times CA -
Fields are being abandoned. The unemployment rate in the community of Mendota alone has soared to 40%. "The state Department of Water Resources announced today that it would be able to allocate only 15% supply to each of its contractors. "Reduced deliveries will require contractors to rely on dry water year contingency plans to meet their needs. If precipitation were to increase and hydrologic and reservoir conditions improve it is possible the allocation could rise in coming months" water resources officials said in a statement. Laura King Moon assistant general manager of State Water Contractors a nonprofit association of 27 public agencies across California that buys water from the state said "the drought has simply drawn the regulatory noose a little tighter. "The SWC delivers water to more than 750000 acres of farmland and to more than 25 million California residents.
China shuts chemical plant after water polluted
The Associated Press -
5 million people in the country’s east state media said Saturday. Biaoxin Chemical Company caused “massive” tap water pollution in Yancheng a city in east Jiangsu province forcing the closure of two out of three tap water plants the official Xinhua News Agency said. Water supplies were restored after a five-hour shutdown Friday Xinhua said. There were no reports of immediate health problems and the Yancheng government Web site posted a notice Saturday saying that drinking water is safe.
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