888K views · Aug 14, 2024 · 39:22 · 3 HN recommenders · 6 mentions · discussed 2024–2026
A Climate Town episode on who uses America's water, particularly Western water. It looks at agriculture such as alfalfa and animal feed, and at water-rights rules that discourage conservation.
Why Hacker News points people here: HN points to it in Colorado River and water-use threads as an accessible explainer of why the Western water shortage keeps getting worse.
“Climate Town has a good explainer”HN comment, 2026
“is great presents an even direr situation”
Explains use-it-or-lose-it water rights encouraging waste
If you don't mind the presentation style, this video is great presents an even direr situation: because water rights are "use it or lose it", we are actively encouraging water misuse, beyond just "it's cheap enough to misuse it".
“Climate Town did a great video breaking down where a lot of this ends up”
Breaks down water agreements causing the shortage
Climate Town did a great video breaking down where a lot of this ends up, worth the watch if you want some more detailed background on the agreements in place that are leading to this happening: this video
“Climate Town has a good explainer”
Shows why players are required to waste water
For anyone interested in the background behind this clusterfuck, Climate Town has a good explainer: this video . It's not just drought, it's because many of the players involved are required to waste as much water as they can - the video has the details.
Supports claim about alfalfa water use
Residential water use is tiny compared to water used to grow things mostly cattle feed, Primarily alfalfa this video The reason for the water shortages is not more people it’s a complete and utter mismanagement of the watershed
Supports claim of free water for big agriculture
Arizona and California have outdated water management laws that basically mean that big agriculture gets free water. Until recently Saudi Arabia was using these laws to grow alfalfa in the desert. In California, water intensive crops like almond trees get free water. this video link
Supports point about alfalfa and corn use
Plenty of alfalfa and corn aren't going to food production. And much of those the remaining are not efficient. this video
