Episode 17 - Current Events and Water in 2017

Episode Highlights:

• [3:57] John builds off our last podcast on workforce development - attended manufacturing conference early this week and workforce was a big topic of discussion.
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  • Workforce shortage in manufacturing: the messaging coming out of associations representing manufacturing businesses is that jobs are available and they are looking for a qualified workforce. 
    
    
  • Bringing more jobs back to the United States may not actually be the issue. There are jobs but they may not be in the right areas of the United States. 
    
    
• [8:50] Update on President Trump Administration -  going through confirmation process for cabinet nominees now.
  
  
  • Both EPA Administrator and Interior nominees should be confirmed.
    
    
  • As of today, there is also an official nominee for agriculture secretary: Sonny Perdue.
  • [12:44] During Scott Pruitt's confirmation hearing the Waters of the United States Rule was part of the questioning. Pruitt understands people's concerns with the rule.
    
    However, he did mentioned the fact that the Supreme Court did take up a matter of jurisdiction may add complications to ending the rule. 
    
    
• [15:15] Nearly half of California is now out of drought - water suppliers seek end to emergency conservation regulation.
  
  
  • No place in California is in exceptional drought.
    
    
  • Snow pack is at a great level for this time of year.
    
    
  • Balancing how to keep long-term drought solutions without keeping the regulations that did not help conserve water. 
    
    
    • John uses the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance as an example.
      
      
• [25:00] Coca-Cola replenishes all the water it uses globally - company and its bottling partners meet 2020 water replenishment goal five years early​

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