Drought Awareness – No Water No Life

Interviewee

Vaibhar Patel

Innkeeper

Interviewer

Alison M. Jones

NWNL Director & Photographer

Reedly CA - November 22, 2014

Outline

Drought Depletion of Local Water Supplies
Future Drought Impacts and Solutions

Introductory Note

Before this interview, NWNL chatted on the sidewalks of California’s Central Valley with Latino farm workers from some of the towns discussed in this interview. When asked about impacts of the drought, they said there was no drought. NWNL doesn’t know whether they didn’t understand our questions; whether they didn’t want to admit problems; or whether, relative to droughts in their homes in Central America, this was more of the norm than a crisis.

Drought Depletion of Local Water Supplies

NWNL Hello, Vaibhar. We have enjoyed staying here at your charming Reedley Inn. How long have you been here?

VAIBHAR PATEL We’ve been here since 1989 – about 14 years.

NWNL So, for your last three years here you’ve been living in a drought. How has it affected you or people you know?

VAIBHAR PATEL The drought hasn’t affected my Reedley Inn business as much, because our business is more for tourists going to Sequoia National Park. But my friends and co-workers that I work with at the hospital are affected from the drought. We live in the country, we use well water, and we have to spend about $20,000 to $30,000 out of own own pocket to dig deeper in the well. So it’s very sad.

For example, one of my friends, she would have to go shower at her friend’s house. It’s just hard. She said sometimes they don’t even have enough water to flush the toilet, so it’s been pretty bad right now in Reedly and Orange Grove.

USA: California, Central Valley, San Joaquin River Valley, Newman, dairy manure waste piles next to Newman Waste way canal, seen from Braza Rd west of North Grasslands SWA

Reedley and Orange Grove

NWNL What towns do these friends live in?

VAIBHAR PATEL One of them lives outside of Orosi. There are problems also in Cutler and Orange Cove. [All three towns are east of Reedley and directly north of Visalia on Rt. 63.] The problems are in the smaller towns that are out in the country. I call them “farm towns.” Reedley’s considered a farm town; but it’s about 25,000 people, so it has its own water supply. But smaller towns that are only 100 people or so are affected because they are on well water. They have their own well, each house.

NWNL Where does the water for Reedley come from?

VAIBHAR PATEL I honestly don’t know. I’ll tell you, I don’t know, because it could be from – I actually don’t know. Probably a well, but I don’t know which well or if it’s coming from a source such as a lake. I don’t know where the water from Reedley comes.

Future Drought Impacts and Solutions

NWNL Are you worried about the drought continuing?

VAIBHAR PATEL Yes, I am. If it doesn’t rain this winter, by April or March when everything comes, it’s going to be worse next year, since we are most [dependent on water]. This valley produces a lot of agriculture and a lot of fruit. We have a big cattle industry, so there’s a lot of agriculture that is for feeding the cows. It’s going to be tough.

NWNL Has Reedley imposed any water use restrictions?

VAIBHAR PATEL We haven’t had any restrictions on water usage, except actually there are restrictions about when you could water your lawn and stuff like that. We need to water once a week or twice a week. So we’re thinking about possibly putting this lawn into artificial lawn so we don’t have to worry about that.

NWNL Do you think the state government or federal government should be doing more?

VAIBHAR PATEL They could be doing more. They could help supply more water. They could help farmers, especially since we’re known as the agriculture valley for any types of fruits – you name it. We grow it here, many types of things. Selma for instance [ten miles away] is “The Raisin Capital.” And if they don’t have enough water to grow raisins and stuff, then maybe the government should help these farmers and give them a break on their taxes – or whatever they could do to help them grow these fruits. Because who else is going to supply it?

USA: California, Central Valley, San Joaquin River Valley,

USA: California, Central Valley, northeast of Mendota on Rt 33

Local tangerines, melons, grapes, peaches, and pistachios

NWNL That’s a tough question! Meanwhile, I like your mural with the oranges in it. Actually they’re mangoes, except for one orange.

VAIBHAR PATEL This is basically a piece of clay. There’s no color to it in the beginning, so it was just clay, and then we gave it to an artist to get this done where they painted, and they added all of the jewelry. This was all hand-done from India, and we got it shipped here.

NWNL Thank you, Vaibhar. Your tale of grey clay being turned into a brilliant piece of art could be a metaphor for the Central Valley. Once washed with water, this dusty soil becomes a lush cornucopia of tomatoes, grapes, oranges, cantaloupes and peaches. But the problem is when the artist with the water disappears, the soil goes back to its natural state.

I hope we can all be part of a solution that honors farmers and Nature.

Posted by NWNL on September 21, 2016.
Transcription edited and condensed for clarity by Alison M. Jones.

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