Drought warnings... Should they exist?

[Pilmedium]

A lot of time towns issue water restrictions when the reservoirs are more than half-full. It seems a bit ridiculous.

I have a question. Do they even watch how much water someone uses?

Off-topic, I know...

[Calhoun07]

I don't think it's ridiculous at all. They are just being cautious and careful. Droughts are not good things to go thru as it is, and taking steps to conserve can never hurt.

[Fantasie117]

I live near two resevoirs. One is practically empty, and the other is definitely lower than normal. My town and the neighboring town use well water, which are supposed to be lower than the resevoirs.

The towns in New Jersey are issuing drought warnings for 2/3 of the state, and the other 1/3 is in a drought watch.

I don't think the warnings are ridiculous. I don't want to go through a summer with no water.

[ccffan01]

We havent got any perticipation here in southern NY. Anyone fowm Westchester, Rockland or NJ would no that.

[Squall]

Here in central and southern Texas, drought warnings are an everyday part of Summer life. In fact, some years the water levels get low enough that it becomes a serious matter. In other words: Water your lawn, go to jail. Really.

It may seem silly at first thoght to issue a drought warning when the resivoir is still half full, but if the government waited until the resivoir was near empty, then it would already be too late to start conserving water.

Of course, long before drought warnings are issued, many States will raise the cost of water in proportion to how much water is available, in order to force conservation and prevent waste.

It's ironic that even in a free market economy, items of universal use (water, electricity) need an artificial market maintained by the government.