Adaptation is a way of life. But we humans have been building our habitats and cities in pursuit of permanence. This is an unreachable goal. Making our cities and communities and lifestyles adapt to outside influences is typically an afterthought. We do tend to react, and we often react very effectively. But solving problems before they happen has never been a strong suit when it comes to urban development. This is especially true with regard to our impacts on the environment. A recent and bizarre example illustrates this point.
The example revolves around water, and takes place in Los Angeles. The city is geographically a desert where water is naturally in low supply -- but because of the marvels of modern engineering and science it is now plentiful enough to meet the staggering demand of 4 million residents.
Reservoirs feed this demand for much of the city. These are big pools of water, often containing tens- to hundreds-of-millions of gallons of water. Like all those abandoned pools in the backyards of America’s foreclosed suburban homes, reservoirs get kind of nasty unless they're treated. The chemical chlorine is the most common treatment...
The example revolves around water, and takes place in Los Angeles. The city is geographically a desert where water is naturally in low supply -- but because of the marvels of modern engineering and science it is now plentiful enough to meet the staggering demand of 4 million residents.
Reservoirs feed this demand for much of the city. These are big pools of water, often containing tens- to hundreds-of-millions of gallons of water. Like all those abandoned pools in the backyards of America’s foreclosed suburban homes, reservoirs get kind of nasty unless they're treated. The chemical chlorine is the most common treatment...