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Brown lawns, fallow fields and higher water bills are all the predictable outcomes of the California drought.
The Golden State is in the midst of its driest period on record. But all that warm, dry weather affects more than just lake levels and snowpack — it has some downright weird effects, too. From pipe-eating poop to more roadkill, here are some of the strangest results of the California drought.
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1. Pipe-eating poopPeople are still pooping as much, so each flush contains more waste with less water to flush it through the system. The waste that is broken down creates hydrogen sulfide, which eats through the concrete in the pipes
2. More roadkill
Since the drought means less greenery and animal food, animals must take bigger risks to reach food and water sources — even when that means crossing dangerous roads and highways. As a result, roadkill incidence may be increasing in the Golden State
3. Send in the snakes
With fewer water sources away from homes, rodents are likelier to venture into peoples' homes. Rattlesnakes then follow, lured by their main prey
4. Kitten bonanza!
cats react to warm weather just as people on a Hawaii vacation might — by getting busy
5. Pest growth
pests such as scorpions and spiders reproduce like crazy in the dry, warm conditions
What's the weirdest thing about the drought for you, ye Californian Soylentils?
Original Submission
(Score: 1) by elixir on Friday July 17 2015, @11:05PM
Droughts are bad, but I still do not understand the big deal. I live in Arizona, and we get far less rain annually than California does during their "driest time". I do not really think anyone lives in Death Valley, but drought there is a given.
What could be the main cause of the panic? Is it that California has a much higher population than Arizona? Therefore they use more water?
(Score: 2, Informative) by Nollij on Saturday July 18 2015, @07:32PM
There are many factors. First, the articles getting any press are just the tip of the iceberg. Plumbing issues, roadkill, and dead lawns are just clickbait in all of this. There are much more serious issues involved.
Second, the LA-area alone has more people (13 million) than ALL of Arizona (6.7 million). In a worst-case scenario, they would need become environmental refugees, and the economic effects would be devastating. Even though urban water usage is only ~10% 1 [ppic.org], the
Finally, California is an agricultural powerhouse. They supply a very substantial amount of produce for the entire country. Unfortunately, they also use most of the water. If they have no water, they can't grow a lot of these crops. This would lead to shortages nationwide, possibly even internationally. Again, the economic effects would be devastating.