California is well into its fourth consecutive year of drought. Governor Jerry Brown called for the state’s first mandatory water restrictions just last week, while acknowledging that “there’s been fairly inadequate conservation so far.” Groundwater management regulation, which came into effect last September, was a first step towards improving the state’s response to severe drought. However a lot of work still remains to be done. For instance, current water rights penalize farmers who don’t use all the water that they’re entitled to. The “use it or lose it” approach leads to waste. Comes in SWIIM, a technology company whose vision is to let farmers lease water to other farmers. Not only is the water put to good use, but farmers’ water rights are protected over the long-term. SWIIM is about to start operating in California. It will be interesting to see how much estimated water can be saved this way.
The sharing economy inspires a new water conservation model in California
More of Today's Solutions
How robots and drones are cleaning the ocean floor across Europe
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Most ocean cleanup efforts work on the same assumption: the problem floats. Skim the surface, collect the plastic, ...
Read MoreHummingbird migration 2026: when they’ll reach your garden and how to get ready
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Right now, somewhere over the Gulf of Mexico, a hummingbird that weighs less than a nickel is crossing ...
Read MoreThrills and chills: how horror films can improve your mental health
The mere mention of legendary horror films such as "The Exorcist" and "Silent Night, Deadly Night" conjures up images of terror and revulsion. But ...
Read MoreIrish town’s Smartphone ban offers blueprint for digital balance and ki...
The daily quandary of when to introduce smartphones to tweens resonates with parents worldwide. Greystones, County Wicklow, in Ireland, however, didn't just grapple with ...
Read More
