“A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit,” a Greek proverb says.
As I write this today, I am less concerned with the planting of trees than I am with the water required to grow them. We must start protecting our water, and these changes must be implemented by those who currently hold power in our country.
Water waste is the number one issue facing us currently. People in power often ignore this issue because the effects will occur at some point in the distant future.
In spite of recent rains in the Southwestern United States, it is still empirically evident that we are suffering through a devastating megadrought. We must take adequate steps toward conversation immediately, or we risk forever damaging our water security. Younger generations cannot implement this level of change by themselves. We must call on older members of our society to create change for the benefit of others, knowing that they may never see the positive impact of their actions.
Currently, our nation’s power brokers seem disturbingly inert on this issue. A major source of groundwater waste is caused by the farming of water-intensive crops, however, our government is allowing overseas companies to drain our aquifers. Foreign-owned farmland is a growing trend in the U.S. In the water-scarce Western US, the practice increased from around 1.25 million acres in 2010 to nearly 3 million acres in 2020.
Fondomonte, a subsidiary of the Middle Eastern dairy company Almari, is one of the main exploiters of the Southwest U.S.’s lax groundwater regulations. Reported by Stateline, the land being farmed by companies like so faces virtually no regulation due to its location.
Arizona does not know how much groundwater is left in the region and how much is pumped out of the region. Arizona is now in a situation where if there is a major emergency—a drought—they would not be able to accurately determine how much groundwater was left untapped. Creating long-term water scarcity issues. Fondomonte also farms in Palo Verde Valley and, according to Stateline’s research, has more substantial water rights than the urban areas around Los Angeles and San Diego.
The key is meaningful legislation. In turn, this can prevent foreign governments from taking advantage of relaxed water conservation policies. Many activists are working to limit how much water is lost to these foreign conglomerates, but legislators have so far been unresponsive.
The proper steps for regulators to take are straightforward.
First, we must start limiting leases to foreign governments. Second, we must immediately install regulators strictly governing the amount of water these companies can use. Finally, we must investigate how much groundwater can be accessed in cases of emergency so that we have an accurate understanding of our needs and reserves.
Reported by CNN, water issues have recently caused Arizona to be forced to halt its new housing developments if they are reliant on groundwater. In an environment where painful choices are already being normalized, we must move from our current inaction of just letting these foreign governments take one of our most vital resources.
I am calling on our legislators to regulate these foreign companies and the groundwater in their states. Without this new legislation, you allow these companies continue to take advantage of us as Americans and continue to abuse our limited supply of groundwater. We must immediately start to regulate how much water we have in our groundwater supply. Additionally, limit foreign governments from taking our water for their crops and their gain—letting them abuse our lack of regulation and protection.
We also must take steps towards ensuring that Americans do not abuse the water. Legislation needs to be made not only to call out foreign water interests but ensure Americans are not abusing our natural resources. Water is the resource that will define the next 30 years. The current generation of the legislature is failing the youth of California, Arizona, and all of the United States. I am calling on our lawmakers to show foresight and create a great society that their children and grandchildren can enjoy in safety and prosperity.
It is time to ensure that future generations will have their own tree to sit under.
