In those districts that have experimented with increasing block water prices, for example, the increased prices quickly led to greater water conservation by farmers, did not substantially increase their water costs, and provided extra revenues for the district. In many areas of the West, current water use practices create a situation where there is not enough water to meet agricultural, urban, and environmental needs for water. For example, the San Joaquin River, one of the largest rivers in California, is now dry for more than 12 miles because the entire flow of the river has been diverted for agricultural uses. Many growing cities also face periodic water shortages. Conserving water will allow us to stretch existing water supplies instead of forcing development of expensive and environmentally destructive water supply projects.
Taxpayers currently pick up most of the cost of delivering water to farmers in the west.
Water creates many times more jobs in municipal and industrial uses than in agricultural uses. Switching to high value, less water-intensive crops may actually increase employment in the agricultural sector, while freeing up more water for increased industrial employment as well.