[Azure]

In comparison to ground wells, which are drying up at an alarming rate.

There is no alternative for California if they are to continue supporting their agriculture industry.

I support not growing items like almonds in dry areas that relies on external to California water sources, but I doubt that will end anytime soon if one reads through the ridiculous rules that allow many of those areas to continue pulling water from depleting sources.

Spain uses 22% of their desalinated water for agriculture, and they expect it to keep growing. If California were to convert 20% of the agricultural water needs to desalinated water sources, their water crisis would end.

Also, like you said, waste water treatment, drip irrigation, and MANY other water saving & recovery methods would help as well. However, despite the technology existing to capture & recover waste water, cities like Los Angeles despite being located in a state where the funding should absolutely exist to build out the infrastructure, STILL have no ability to properly treat, recover and reuse their waste water.