We Can’t Take Water for Granted

Recently, some of us who live in the San Gabriel Valley were warned that our water was unsuitable for drinking or cooking. We were later told that the warning was highly exaggerated and a false alarm. I maintain that we must not only concern ourselves with the quality of our water but also with the quantity.

If we are to ensure sufficient water supplies for the future, conservation is essential. Moreover, much of the effort must come from industrial users who draw on water supplies more heavily than any other group.

Industrial water users can no longer afford to take water for granted. Shortages have already occurred in many areas, and the prospect of severely diminished supplies threatens managers throughout the country who may soon find themselves competing for dwindling supplies of water.

Fortunately, remedies are at hand if managers choose to use them. By capitalizing on known techniques, including recycling, conservation measures and simple good housekeeping, prudent managers can cut their companies’ water usage and costs. By acting now, companies can stave off government intervention and prevent an otherwise inescapable water crisis as well.

Charles M. House

HACIENDA HEIGHTS