Do You Think The DroughtIs “Man-Made”?
The industrial exemption program (2018) was created years before the 2024 drought conditions, allowing industries to legally continue high water usage while residential and commercial users were subject to restrictions.
When severe drought conditions were announced in December 2024, the general public faced mandatory cutbacks, but industries with the exemption fee largely avoided restrictions.
This disparity can give the impression that the system is structured to favor industry over residents, leading some to conclude that the drought effects are at least partly “man-made” in terms of who actually feels the impact.
It’s important to note, though, that the actual water shortages were caused by low rainfall and reservoir levels, natural factors
plus the fact more new industry was permitted such as two bit-coin mining facilities and other
Industries along with pool
permits and home building
and annexations.
The “man-made” aspect is about policy design and priority by the city to protect industrial usage while residential users bore most of the restrictions.
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