(31 Aug 2015) NATSOUND water in bucket
CALIFORNIA'S DROUGHT HAS HIT SOME PLACES HARDER THAN OTHERS.
SOUNDBITE (English) Tino Lozano, renter, father of 3
"At this time of day people are cooking, washing, showering. The water goes way down."
IN PARTS OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY, FILLING BUCKETS FROM A HOSE HAS BECOME ROUTINE.
TINO LOZANO'S WELL DRIED UP ALMOST A YEAR AGO.
SOUNDBITE (English) Tino Lozano, disabled veteran
"We have 6 people who run off these lines."
SO HIS LANDLORD RAN A HOSE FROM A DIFFERENT WELL HALF A MILE AWAY TO TINO'S HOME AND FIVE OTHERS. THE SUPPLY ISN'T RELIABLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE AFTERNOONS.
SOUNDBITE (English) Gilbert Arredondo, neighbor and landlord, talking to Tino (pan from Gilbert to Tino)
"My wife called me about 3 hours ago and we ran out of water completely."
BUT IT'S ONE OF MANY IMPROVISED SOLUTIONS THAT ALLOW FAMILIES TO WASH, COOK, DRINK…
NATSOUND water being poured into toilet
...AND FLUSH A TOILET
SOUNDBITE (English) Tino Lozano, standing in the bathroom with a bucket
"Get another. Have it ready for the next round. That's how we do it here."
IN THE TINY TOWN OF OKIEVILLE, MOST PEOPLE CAN'T AFFORD TO DIG THEIR PRIVATE WELLS DEEPER TO REACH THE RECEDING GROUNDWATER.
ACROSS TULARE COUNTY, ABOUT 13-HUNDRED WELLS HAVE RUN DRY, MORE THAN IN THE REST OF THE STATE COMBINED.
SOUNDBITE (English) Leo Arreguin, diesel mechanic
"I think it's hitting us the worst – the low-income people, the farmworkers. Smaller towns, smaller communities. The cities don't have this problem. The farmers don't have this problem."
AGRICULTURE IS THE MAIN INDUSTRY HERE. AND DESPITE THE DROUGHT, THE BIG FARMS ARE STILL GOING STRONG.
SOUNDBITE (English) Leo Arreguin, father of 3
"They drill deeper, our wells go drier first because ours are smaller."
JUST ACROSS THE STREET, A NEW PISTACHIO ORCHARD IS GOING IN...
AND DOWN THE ROAD, DAIRY COWS COOL OFF UNDER SPRINKLERS.
SOUNDBITE (English) Gilbert Arredondo, 30-year resident of Okieville
"They use quite a bit of water to irrigate their corn and their hay. But that's what feeds the cows and that's what gives everybody jobs too." (cover last half)
SOUNDBITE (Spanglish) Francisco Zuniga, dairy worker
"Aqui esta, el shower."
BUT THE PEOPLE WHO DO THOSE JOBS, LIKE FRANCISCO ZUNIGA, CAN'T SHOWER OFF AFTER WORK. BECAUSE THEIR BORROWED WELL WATER HAS BEEN SITTING IN THE SUN ALL DAY… GETTING SCALDING HOT.
SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Jose Vazquez, farmworker
"Me siento triste porque me gusta estar haciendo algo."
("I'm sad because I like to be keeping busy, keeping the house looking nice.")
JOSE VAZQUEZ STOPPED TENDING HIS BACKYARD GARDEN, BECAUSE THERE'S NO WATER FOR HIS ONIONS AND TOMATOES.
BUT SOMETHING ELSE IS SPROUTING UP — WATER TANKS, COURTESY OF STATE DISASTER RELIEF.
NATSOUND hose and pump
THANKS TO JERRY-RIGGED PLUMBING, PUMPS, AND TANKS, MARIA MARQUEZ CAN GIVE HER GRANDDAUGHTERS A BATH.
SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Maria Marquez, homeowner
"Pues, esta uno preocupado porque por eso nada mas. Todos estamos igual. Porque si no hay agua, no hay agua."
("Everyone's worried about this, that's all. Everyone feels the same. If there's no water, there's no water.")
EVERYONE'S WORRIED, SHE SAYS…
NATSOUND Maria washes the girls
SHE AND HER DAUGHTERS CAN'T AFFORD TO MOVE BECAUSE NO ONE WILL PAY A FAIR PRICE FOR A HOUSE WITHOUT RUNNING WATER.
SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Maria Marquez, homeowner
"Y la gente que tienen dinero pueden comprarnos pero bien barato."
("And the people with money will be able to buy us out for really cheap.")
SOUNDBITE (English) Gilbert Arredondo, homeowner
"Will it take a year? Two years?"

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