VOA慢速英语2014 加州持续干旱,生活用水短缺

 

AS IT IS 2014-10-13 Hundreds of California Homes in Need of Water 加州持续干旱,生活用水短缺

Severe drought has struck California for a third year. The lack of water is affecting farms, cities and small communities. California’s Central Valley is usually fertile. But the lack of rainfall has left hundreds of homes without water.                                                  

The Porterville Area Coordinating¹ Council provides food and other help to needy² families. But right now, the families badly need water. Some of the land has not been planted because of lack of water. A man drives up to an old food-package house. The building serves as the headquarters of the Porterville Area Coordinating Council. The man’s pick-up truck is loaded with plastic barrels. A volunteer fills these containers with water. Nearby people are loading cars and other vehicles with cases of drinking water. 

Debbie Martinez lives on a ranch³, a large farm that is not connected to the local water system. She has a water well. But she says it is dry.

“Yes, it’s been (dry) three years. My neighbor had given me water, but their wells are going dry, too.”

California’s system of aqueducts carries water to cities and small towns. But this part of Tulare County is far from any city. A lower than normal amount of water under the ground has left some wells with little or no water. Council volunteer Fred Beltran says this situation has affected⁴ more than 300 homes in this neighborhood.

“And these are all individual wells that are drying up or they’re pumping poor quality of water, which is either sand, dirt or high nitrates.”

California Governor Jerry Brown recently signed bills to regulate ground water to prevent shortages. He ordered delivery of emergency drinking water for people who have none.                                  

Tulare County water expert Denise England says people need clean water for drinking and cooking. 

“But the bigger challenge we’re facing now is what we’re calling sanitation⁵ water, so water that’s not potable, that’s not drinkable, but you can take a shower with it or do your dishes with it or bathe.”

Elva Beltran directs the Porterville Area Coordinating Council. She says her group has provided large open-air water tanks for many people. She says, “We have 54 tanks right now.”

The Council gets its money from area residents and religious groups.

Much of the work here involves giving water to people like Michael Burrough.

“I don’t know what else to do. All the water we can get is from the sources like right here. Other than that, I have to buy water and I don’t really have the extra money to buy cases of water.”

Officials say providing these families with water is highly important. But for now, the people depend on their neighbors, local government and private agencies to get the water they need to survive.

Words in This Story

right now – idiom, immediately

well – n., a deep hole in the ground through which water can be removed

ranch – n., a large farm for raising horses, beef cattle or sheep

delivery – n., the act of taking something to a person or place; something taken to a person or place

regulate – v., to make regulations (rules) for

aqueduct – n., an artificial channel for conveying water

resident – n., a person who lives somewhere permanently or on a long-term basis 

1 coordinating   

v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的现在分词 )；协调；协同；成为同等

参考例句：

• He abolished the Operations Coordinating Board and the Planning Board. 他废除了行动协调委员会和计划委员会。 来自辞典例句
• He's coordinating the wedding, and then we're not going to invite him? 他是来协调婚礼的，难道我们不去请他？ 来自电影对白

2 needy   

adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的

参考例句：

• Although he was poor,he was quite generous to his needy friends.他虽穷，但对贫苦的朋友很慷慨。
• They awarded scholarships to needy students.他们给贫苦学生颁发奖学金。

3 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。