A thought while driving around the fair state of California. All those aqueducts carying water to Southern California--that water comes form northern california as well as the colorado river. In both cases, the water has to be pumped over mountains for the water hungry folks of Sothern California--Haven't heard a boo about contingency planning regarding power for those big bad pumps. Here in NOrthern California, I really don't car what happens south of Salinas, but those living in the southland might be concerned.

-- Anonymous, November 15, 1998

Answers

An excellent observation of how we have used our technology to terraform the planet. Souther Cal is a natural desert. Shut off the water and the beautiful people won't have to worry about starving. New York City also gets its water from distant sources. I've often thought these water infrastructures would make tempting targets for terrorists.

-- Anonymous, November 15, 1998

Jeffrey, there is information from the Department of the Interior at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=gao&docid=f:ai98149t.txt

Here is an excerpt about dams in this country: "In addition to these systems, the department is also assessing its communications systems and embedded computer chip technologies to determine whether they will be affected by the coming century change. Embedded systems are special-purpose computers built into other devices. Many facilities used by the federal government that were built or renovated within the last 20 years contain embedded computer systems to control, monitor, or assist in operations. If the embedded chips used in such devices contain two-digit date fields for year representation, the devices could malfunction. For example, control systems that regulate water flow and generators in our nation's dams, which produce over 42 billion kilowatts of energy each year, could fail."

Combine that information with Congressman Horn's Sept., 1998, grade for the Y2K progress of the Dept. of Interior: a C minus, with expected completion in 2005, and you have not only the potential for water supply problems, but electrical generation problems too. Besides pressing our electric suppliers for Y2K info, it would seem to be a good idea for people to also try getting more information on the status of hydroelectric dams AND the pumping stations you mentioned!

Everywhere you look, the potential for major problems pops up. If only a fraction of the possibilities happen, we are in for some very hard times ahead. In my opinion, it's not logical to believe everything will be repaired in time, and personal preparations are definitely in order.

-- Anonymous, November 15, 1998

This is a late response, but...

The southern California aqueduct systems consume the average output of one large power plant for the task of pumping water uphill over the Tehachapi and San Bernardino mountains. There are some solar power generation facilities at Daggett and Kramer Junction along with the wind farm at Tehachapi that may provide enough power to maintain operation of the aqueducts, but I do not know if there are any plans or contingencies for dedicating the power sources. Southern California might also get power priority from Boulder Dam's power output to keep the aqueducts operating.

New York City's aqueduct system is a marvel of nineteenth century engineering. It's a completely gravity flow system, from the upper Delaware River to the city. When the water reaches the city it has enough head pressure to flow five stories. Any thing higher requires pumping facilities. An interesting sidelight is that the majority of older apartment buildings in New York City are only five stories, precisely because that was the limit of running wate when the building boom of 1900 was ongoing.

Other major US cities are also dependent on aqueducts for water supplies, but the outlooks there are not as clear. Sna Francisco recieves its water fro Hetch Hetchy Resevoir, and I believe that this is also a gravity flow system. Seattle is another example of what may be gravity flow water. Chicago, St Louis, and Detroit are examples of cities that may find themselves running dry. Since as "flatland" cities, their water supplies would have to be pumped using some sort of power source.

WW

-- Anonymous, February 01, 1999