Try and imagine a world with no water. Pretty daunting isn’t it? Water shortages have already begun to spring up in California. This has lawmakers in the west coast losing sleep on how to figure out a solution to this issue. Water is the most important natural resource on earth. Everyone and everything relies on water to keep being a part of this beautiful planet. In California, the past three years have been the driest three years in its history, dating back to the 1849 Gold Rush. This is due to low snowpack, combined with 2014 being the hottest year in history of California, making the situation worse.

Residents of California have to water their lawns only twice a week. This will have the largest impact considering that the watering of lawns in suburban homes makes up 44 percent of water consumption in California.

The main reason this is getting so much national attention is because California is responsible for producing almost half of the nation’s food. It won’t be long before wed start seeing more and more states implementing laws limiting the use of water.

It is not only California who is showing signs of drought. More and more states are declaring that they have had previous shortages of water. Texas faced their driest drought in its history in 2011 when 110 percent of the state was experiencing droughts.

This water shortage is not only a west coast problem. North Carolina faced their largest drought in its history in 2008 which prompted lawmakers to make some changes.

The biggest issue I have with this situation in California is that why are only residents having to cut down their water consumption? Meanwhile, farmers are left to use water as freely as they have been?

I believe that farmers should either find ways to raise cattle and other animals while abiding by the new restrictions on water or move elsewhere. In fact, I believe the latter should be the course of action. That would restore some balance in the erratic water consumption of California.

The only issue is the stubbornness of these farmers and their inability to see the bigger picture. For them, it is all about profits. I get it, money is important. One thing they fail to see is that our planet and the well-being of the human race is much more important.

We must not let this water shortage keep rising at the rate that it is. More restrictions must be implemented to preserve our water. These farmers must relocate or be included in the water restrictions implemented to all Californians. More must be done other-wise there will be no human race. Bold statement, but someone had to say it. Water is an essential resource for the survival of not only the human race, but to all who inhabit this earth.

–Nick Ortiz