By Paul Wallis
May 8, 2026
The scientists warned that 'long-lasting severe droughts like these are no longer rare events' — © AFP
Water resources worldwide are under severe pressure from demand, obsolescence, inefficiencies, and virtually comatose governance. In the US, it is, of course, worse. Politics inevitably gets in the way of actual management.
This drought is a historical monster. It’s been going on for many years. The drought map tells an unambiguous story of serious shortages. Now, just at the time grocery prices are developing a real sting, the drought will make it significantly worse.
Everyone’s on the same page to the extent that farmers can see the bullet coming. Early heat hasn’t helped.
For consumers, it’s likely to get pretty irritating as well as expensive. Water use rules are about to tighten up nationwide.
Even mainstream US media has condescended to mention the problems. Things must be pretty bad if they’re talking about something other than the Washington puppet show.
The story looks familiar. The Colorado River, which feeds the Hoover Dam, has been on life support for years with occasional mentions. The crisis is now just more bad news to go with the other bad news. The 26-year-long mega drought has effectively compromised the whole system, which is now simply trying to survive. Water overuse by seven US states and Mexico is cited as a major contributing factor. The national situation isn’t much better.
There’s much more to this horrendous, avoidable mess than just the current reality.
The future is already looking badly mismanaged before a word is said.
The Water Apocalypse is simultaneously dovetailing into the emerging plague of data centres and their huge water demands and related issues. It’s unclear how much water automation will drain from water supplies, but it’s not looking good.
What the world needs now is a rhetorical question.
Who’s going to win, the food deserts or Big Tech?
An already badly unbalanced and overloaded water supply is about to get robbed, it seems. Is anyone going to argue with the Technobratocracy? Unlikely.
The US has done itself no favors with its astonishingly blasé response to water issues over the last nearly three decades. US farmers and consumers have been on the wrong end of the gun for that long, and nothing has changed. The farmers are now in a very bad way, and consumers are likely to take the full force of inevitable price rises.
One overall general option for food suppliers is obvious but likely to be expensive. At least it’s something they can do to help themselves. Upgrading to “sky farms” and improved horticultural methods, with hands-on measures like water micro misters for watering commercial and domestic plants, and improved water systems efficiencies will help.
Recycling stormwater requires a lot of infrastructure, but will underpin macro water resources overall. Grey water recycling is also highly effective.
Getting rid of ancient leaky water mains wouldn’t hurt, either. A lot of water loss is typically in the water supply systems themselves.
Washington’s ability to manage a game of marbles isn’t even under serious discussion anymore.
This is a critical current and long-term big capital problem that could trash the wider economy progressively over the next few decades. Fixing the failing system and managing extreme demand on future water resources can’t wait till the next diaper change.
Droughts don’t take prisoners.
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Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in this Op-Ed are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Digital Journal or its members.
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