This is a good point, though it's not exactly simply to just compare agricultural versus urban water usage, because at least here, we don't really share the same systems. It's not just about water volume but also about storage and delivery infrastructure. The pipes are only so big and in so many places, and the costs of increased development are not incremental. It bothers me a lot to sacrifice my plants and trees and then right up the street there is a gargantuan new "garden" hotel, often water running right into the gutter during construction.

I remember the last we had a big drought in California. Same worries. Maybe it will get worse this time. However, one thing to keep in mind: Agricultural use of waters is about equal to suburban use of water on a per acre basis. If we are asking farmers to go fallow, then so should we...no more lawns, no more landscaping in general, limited use of toilets and showers, etc. This is easy for me to say, because I have already cut back, big time...any joiners?

In the end, it won't matter what any us want to whine about, if the water supply is not there. Of particular and peculiar interest is the claim by Palo Alto that it has elevated itself to 'carbon-free' energy status...even though much of that claim is based on large hydro projects...looks like we are going back to fossil fuels, abundantly. Nuclear, anyone?

Pool owners should be required to not refill their pools - or drain them.
That's a step that should take place before other measures.
I am outraged that I am supposed (if the current chatter is correct and severe limits on home landscape watering will be implemented)) to only water my high value landscaped yard twice per week (or similar), which WILL KILL MY YARD, while other people here have HUGE pools (see numerous ads of homes for sale in our local newspapers)!
A large part of the appeal and value of places like Palo Alto is comprised of the landscaping, which we (private homeowners) and city staff (city landscaping) have often carefully tended for years. It would look AWFUL and be VERY EXPENSIVE to re-create landscaping like my typical Palo Alto garden/yard. Of course, I understand that everyone should take care with watering and avoid waste and excess. In addition, for those building new homes, it is a great time to install a low-water-needs yard. However, many of us have existing yards with lawns that LOOK GOOD and add value to the neighborhood and city, and I resent that I am supposed to trash this (many thousands of dollars down the drain) while wealthier persons continue to enjoy their luxury swimming pools.
We are all in this together, but there have been many news stories about Southern California wealthy neighborhoods with very lush landscaping and very high water use as well as thousands of filled swimming pools down there.
I was a homeowner in a different nearby city during the drought in the late 80's and my yard essentially died and it was AWFUL. It is NOT "easy" to recover from.

>I was a homeowner in a different nearby city during the drought in the late 80's and my yard essentially died and it was AWFUL. It is NOT "easy" to recover from.

Imagine what the farmers have to say when their livelihoods have gone to the dry winds, and then they need to recover. Urban landscaping and gardens will need to go fallow.

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@Craig Laughton - not just the farmers, compassionate Palo Alto should be thinking about the farm workers, the true underclass of the state which are bearing the brunt of the fallow farmland. We should be willing to sacrifice the delta smelt, and our lawns for the people and farms in the central valley.

>not just the farmers, compassionate Palo Alto should be thinking about the farm workers, the true underclass of the state

I agree. I was raised in the Salinas Valley and I did a whole lot of field labor, including stoop labor. If it was not for Cesar Chavez organizing against agricultural mechanization, we might now be free of this human slavery. No human should be forced to do it on an industrial basis.

But now we have this drought. Those slaves are toss aways, as you suggest. I doubt that Palo Alto citizens know much about it, even though they easily eat the fruits of their back-breaking labors. Thanks for bringing it forward.