Who would’ve thought that growing water intensive crops in the middle of the desert and growing cities like Phoenix with suburbs with lush green lawns at a much higher rate than rest of the country was going to be without consequences.

▲ nozzlegear 9 hours ago | parent | next [-]

How much do the lawns in Phoenix actually contribute to this problem?

	▲	satellites 9 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Comparatively very little, when stacked against the massive usage of water by agricultural irrigation. Source: https://conormclaughlin.net/2023/03/visualizing-water-consum... Using an unsustainable amount of water to grow cattle feed and romaine lettuce in one of the most arid places on Earth is a questionable choice. It seems like the choice will be made for us, soon.
	▲	adolph 9 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Everything contributes but residential use is a much smaller share in total. Arizona water utilization by class [0]: `6% Industrial 22% Municipal 72% Agricultural` 0. https://mapazdashboard.arizona.edu/article/arizonas-water-us...

▲ downrightmike 7 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Most of that is recycled waste water allowed to recharge the aquifer. People won't drink purified waste water directly. Have to pour it on the ground first.

The Saudi's 5 crop a year alfalfa is really the major problem

▲ toomuchtodo 10 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Just another form of debt we’ve been living off of, since the compact was established, knowing it wasn’t sustainable long term.