In Prescott Valley, Arizona, people now use highly treated wastewater for irrigation and to recharge aquifers. The nuclear power plant in Palo Verde, just west of Phoenix, is the first nuclear facility to use reclaimed wastewater for its cooling system. El Paso, Texas recently built the world's largest desalinization plant.
These efforts represent a new approach to life in the American southwest. And though adapting to the region's environmental realities is a daunting challenge, it's not insurmountable. As important as Manifest Destiny was to American history, it's not our only cultural legacy. We're also a nation of problem-solvers.
Image: Flickr, Alyssa.
Citation: "Roadmap for sustainable water resources in southwestern North America." By Peter H. Gleick. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 107 No. 50, December 14, 2010.
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