Hi Rob,

In California and other coastal states with ocean access - it would be all too easy to implement a tax and build desalinization plants.

Water in the desert means survival. Few skimp on water here in Arizona. I use more for filling up the pool, etc than I did in California and my water bill is half what it was in San Diego.

You can go through a fast food restaurant here and get ice water on demand - and they are very happy to provide it. When temperatures in an area regularly are over 100 degrees for six months of the year - water moves out of the political arena and into the survival arena.

California with its moderate climate has the luxury of conservation - in some areas it just is not feasible without jeopardizing human health and safety.

The amount of water in the bowls is no longer low enough to conceal the smells of waste elimination and if you can smell something, you are inhaling it. This then becomes a public health concern.

The transmission of diseases such as cholera and Hepatitis are facilitated by such toilets which become easily clogged on a small amount of toilet paper. Public restrooms are more likely to have clogged up toilets and overflows.

It just seems that this sort of conservation is penny rich and pound foolish. If you add up all the money spent on new low flush toilets and accessories in the US - I am sure you could build desalinization plants for California, Oregon and Texas.

Short term solutions to problems seem like a waste of time. I always try to find a longterm solution. If I am going to run out of milk for a child, I do not force the child to drink a half-ounce at a time for the next week, and a 1/3 of an ounce the week after that - but instead go to the store and buy another gallon or two.

The US just has to pony up to the fact that the population is rapidly increasing and stop-gap measures are no security at all - and only lead to a false sense of achievement, making politicians more prone to put off the inevitable - building desalinization plants along our coasts, to cover the increased water usage.

I am willing to pay increased taxes for some things - water and the basic necessities for human life and health are one of these things.

Take care Rob,

SDAI-Tech1