California is at a crossroads when it comes to water management. With a growing population, aging infrastructure, and intensifying wildfires, concerns over water shortages and firefighting capabilities are mounting. Brett Barbre, a board member of a Southern California water district, provides an insider’s perspective on the state’s water challenges, the policy roadblocks, and the urgent need for reform.
The Devastation of Recent Fires
Los Angeles has endured devastating wildfires, reigniting concerns over the reliability of its water infrastructure. Reports of dry fire hydrants in Palisades left residents questioning the state’s preparedness for such disasters. Barbre sheds light on the issue, emphasizing that the problem extends beyond isolated incidents.“When a fire is raging, every second counts. If a firefighter opens a hydrant and no water comes out, that could mean the loss of a home, a neighborhood, or even lives,” he warns.
The broader issue, according to Barbre, is systemic. “This isn’t just about one or two hydrants running dry—it’s about an outdated infrastructure that hasn’t kept pace with our needs. Without investment and proactive management, these problems will only worsen.”
Barbre stresses that waiting for a catastrophe to take action is unacceptable. “California is supposed to be a leader in technology and infrastructure. We need to be proactive, not reactive.”
Why Did Hydrants Run Dry?
Barbre explains that during large-scale fires, it’s inevitable that some hydrants will run dry. “You can only move so much water through a system, and if reservoirs are empty or undergoing maintenance, the supply is compromised.”He highlights the importance of backup solutions. “Reservoir maintenance needs to be carefully planned. If one is offline, there needs to be a backup. In Yorba Linda, we learned this lesson the hard way in 2008, and we installed permanent backup generators. Every district should be doing the same.”
Local preparedness is another key factor. “Communities need to prioritize emergency readiness. We should be running regular system checks, testing hydrants, and ensuring that no single point of failure can disrupt the water supply.”
The Role of Water Infrastructure
California’s water infrastructure has remained largely unchanged since the 1970s, despite the population doubling. “Imagine if we only had two-lane highways with twice as many cars. Traffic would be unbearable. The same logic applies to water infrastructure—we need to expand capacity.”Historically, California led the way in water management. The LA Aqueduct in 1913, the State Water Project in the 1960s—these were visionary projects. “But our ability to store and distribute water hasn’t evolved since then. Why could we move water across the state in 1973, but now we’re being told we don’t have enough?”
Barbre advocates for modernizing the system. “We need more underground storage, expanded reservoir capacity, and investment in desalination plants.”
The Impact of Policy and Regulations
Environmental policies play a significant role in shaping California’s water strategy, sometimes at the cost of efficiency. Barbre highlights one major issue: restrictions on forest management. “Dead vegetation builds up, turning into fuel for wildfires. Other states allow proper land management and don’t face the same level of destruction. We need to rethink our policies.”Energy policies also come into play. “There’s a push to eliminate natural gas, but if we lose that, we lose a critical backup power source for moving water. What happens when there’s a power outage during a fire?”
State regulations have also shifted water priorities. “Of course, we need to protect the environment, but we also need to ensure communities have enough water. Right now, the balance is off, and it’s affecting real people.”
Is California Really in a Drought?
Despite frequent warnings about drought, Barbre argues that California doesn’t have a water shortage problem—it has a storage and distribution problem. “We get around 200 million acre-feet of water annually. Half of that goes back to the environment. Of the remaining 100 million, agriculture takes a large portion, but human consumption is just 5 to 10 million acre-feet.”He criticizes the current approach. “Instead of building reservoirs, we tell people to stop watering their lawns. Conservation alone isn’t the answer—we need better storage solutions.”
Other regions have found effective solutions. “Droughts come and go, but well-planned infrastructure can mitigate their effects. Other states store surplus water from wet years for dry years. Why aren’t we doing the same?”
Barbre also sees desalination as a missed opportunity. “We sit next to the largest body of water on Earth—the Pacific Ocean. With modern desalination, we can convert seawater into drinking water efficiently. Why aren’t we embracing these technologies?”
The Battle Over Infrastructure Projects
Even when the public supports infrastructure improvements, implementation faces hurdles. “Voters approved a bond nearly a decade ago for water storage, yet the money is tied up in bureaucracy and lawsuits. We’re great at approving studies, but terrible at getting projects done.”Legal battles over projects like the Twin Tunnels have stalled progress. “We’ve known since the 1960s that we needed this, but environmental lawsuits keep blocking it. We’re stuck in a loop of knowing the problem but never fixing it.”
Barbre points out the financial cost of delays. “Every year we wait, project costs rise. If we had built these reservoirs a decade ago, it would have cost far less than it will now. Taxpayers are paying the price for inaction.”
Solutions and the Path Forward
Barbre calls for a multi-faceted approach. “We need more reservoirs, better recycling systems, desalination, and smarter groundwater management.”Other regions have implemented successful models. “Look at Israel—they turned a water-scarce region into a water-secure nation with desalination and recycling. We should be following their lead.”
The real issue, Barbre argues, is leadership. “Our grandparents built the infrastructure we still rely on. What are we leaving for future generations? If we want a secure water future, we need to invest in storage, update our systems, and remove unnecessary roadblocks.”
He urges Californians to get involved. “Public pressure matters. People need to demand action from their elected officials. Water infrastructure should be a priority, not an afterthought.”
As California’s population grows and climate challenges intensify, action is more critical than ever. “We have the means to fix this, but we need to act now. Further delays will only make the problem worse.”
