Howard Walton: Where will we get the ‘new’ water to build all these new houses

The headlines are impossible to ignore: “California’s affordable housing crisis spreads to the middle class,” from the San Francisco Chronicle. “California’s housing costs hurt economy, increase poverty, report says,” The Wall Street Journal reported. “California’s housing affordability crisis isn’t going away,” warned an article from www.HousingWire.com. Beneath the headlines and in dozens of academic studies reside the details of an unprecedented housing affordability crisis that threatens the well-being of the state’s economy.

But new housing, and the associated new residents, can exacerbate traffic congestion and parking shortages, stretch local facilities, slow home price appreciation and alter the community’s character. But most importantly, new housing means more water use and new water and sewer hook-ups. Where do we get the “new” water for all these new houses? Where is California’s new water? Answer: we don’t have any! It is a limited resource, and we will have to limit growth.

Oh, now that’s a scary conclusion. Limited housing means limited growth, limited growth means limited tax base, limited tax base means limited government – now that’s an idea. Simply put, California has a limited water supply. Unless “new” water can be found, California will run out of water. Has nobody thought of this?

This story was originally published November 7, 2016 at 5:28 PM with the headline "Howard Walton: Where will we get the ‘new’ water to build all these new houses."