Technology exists to build a network of water pipelines across the US, to channel away water from flooding rivers before it damages homes and businesses and dumps pollution in the oceans. Water can be sent to holding tanks in other areas, to replenish lakes and reservoirs that are low, and to supply water to drought stricken areas so farmers can grow crops and animals. Leadership is needed to start and coordinate this.

Every spring and summer, certain major rivers in the US, such as the Mississippi River, flood farmland and destroy homes and businesses. Every year, states in the US experience severe drought. Farmers lose income and many sell off their land and slaughter the animals they cannot feed. Residences lose landscaping and trees. Parks die. Everyone involved suffers; there is much misery and loss of money.

It’s 2011 and the technology exists to build a series of water pipelines across the US, to channel flood water to holding tanks in other areas, and to supply water to drought stricken areas. Stop letting excess water flow out to sea. Rescue the oceans from the pollution that flood waters pick up and dump into the ocean, creating dead zones.

All that is missing is the call to action and the willingness to discuss and plan the system. This petition asks the president of the US to summon the appropriate agencies and ask them to begin planning. Because it will cross state lines, this project requires coordination and impetus from the federal level.

Water is non-toxic; surely water lines could be approved as easily as oil pipelines seem to be. The pipes could be placed on existing public right of ways, such as roads and railroad easements. Such a project would take place over many years, like the great highway building program of the 1950’s. It would create a HUGE number of new jobs. These would be high end – for the engineers and system planners and operators, skilled – for the pipeline installers and manufacturers, and low end – for the laborers. It would also create jobs at the pipe and equipment manufacturing companies.

It would be green. It could also generate electricity supply for local cities and towns, as the water moving through the pipes can generate green power. It would be a true economic stimulus; these jobs could not be shipped overseas.

By 2025, when heavy snow melt engorges the rivers in one region, the excess water can be siphoned off upstream before it damages homes, businesses and farms downstream. The water can be stored in large holding tanks in desert regions, pumped to states which are traditionally water deprived like those in the southwest, or pumped to drought stricken regions. The water can be used to replenish lakes and reservoirs that are very low.
Whether you believe in climate change, or climate periodicity, El Nino or La Nina, this system solves the very real impact of too much or too little water. It’s a no brainer.

I’ve talked to a lot of people about this and everyone says it’s a great idea and very obvious. But most of them won’t take the time to write the president, so I have created this petition.