Country's Largest Reservoir, Lake Mead, Is At Its All-Time Low

The receding water levels at Lake Mead have become one of the prime concerns of the authorities in the US. It is estimated that the country's largest man made water reservoir is currently at the lowest level as it has even been in the history of its existence.

According to the officials, the man made water body currently has only 37 percent of the water that it can actually possess. What is more concerning is the fact that the water levels are further expected to recede in the coming months.

Lake Mead, which exists near the Nevada-Arizona border, supplies water to Mexico, California, Nevada and Arizona. The reduction in the water levels is bound to affect the supply of water to these areas. Moreover, if the water levels do not return back to normal by the end of the year, the West could be deeply affected by the shortage and this could have major consequences for the region.

As of now, the water level is above the mark that triggers mandatory water restrictions. According to Dave White of Arizona State University, if water restriction is put in place, the cuts to the states of Arizona could deeply affect the farmers and industrial and municipal users.

White further blames the continuing drought conditions for the fall in the water levels. Significant drought conditions have been prevailed in the western United States for more than 15 years now. Moreover, California has been hard hit by acute drought in the past four years.

In addition, the water deficit could also have resulted because of the increasing demand and decreasing available sources or supply of water. Finally, climate change, increasing temperature and decreasing surface water supply into the system are the other factors.

Lake Mead, along with Lake Powell, is considered to be the two major water storage reservoirs on the Colorado river system. The entire river system, including the lakes, provides drinking water to at least 40 million people in the western United States.