Water Distribution

Re “MWD Delays Vote on Buying Water,” Jan. 9: There are several important reasons why the Cadiz plan to drain water from the aquifers beneath the Mojave Desert should be rejected by the Metropolitan Water District. The water from these aquifers is precious to a variety of rare plants and animals; the water will be extremely expensive to treat safely; public lands outside the area of extraction (two national parks and five wilderness areas) will be adversely affected; and the draining of the aquifers could cause toxic dust storms.

I am convinced there are environmentally sound, sustainable solutions to our current water problems. The Metropolitan Water District should be encouraged to explore these options rather than permitting Cadiz’s “quick fix” entrepreneurship.

SETH SHTEIR

Sherman Oaks