PART IV- RECREATION
Splash Mountain
When you wish upon a star. Source: Tumblr
What happens to amusement parks during droughts? They use up a lot of water for attractions, landscaping and visitor amenities (every toilet flush uses water!). Let's focus on Disneyland Resorts in Anaheim, California as it was the world's second largest, and the Southwest's largest, amusement park by attendance in 2012 with nearly 16 million visitors (Themed Entertainment Association 2013).
Disneyland is located here outside Los Angeles in Orange County:
Get on the freeway. Disney's location in SoCal. Source: Travelocity
When calls to use less water are made, they usually exclude Disneyland. And why's this? Because it is a big employer and big business that brings in tourists to Southern California (and their money). Keeping these parks open are so important it's even suggested that Federal water could be taken away from agriculture for Disneyland if the state regulation fails (The Sacramento Bee 7/10/14). In fact as a business Disneyland can get around potential water saving ordinances like the anti-pool draining measures (Orange County Register 9/09/14). In times of drought Disneyland has a history of business as usual. In the drought of the late 1980's, the park maintained operations despite water stress (LA Times 5/05/90). So is Disney a water drinking monster with no concern for droughts and a drying climate?
Disneyland has taken some steps to improve their water usage. Here are some of the measures outlined on their Disneyland Public Affairs website:
- Storing drained water through the Orange County Water District Groundwater Replenishment System to recycle when filling Disney water attractions.
- Using low-flux toilets to reduce water usage.
- Building with porous asphalt to allow water to enter the groundwater system.
- Below ground irrigation to reduce evaporation rates.
- Using drought-tolerant plants for landscaping.
Disneyland isn't ignorant to the challenges facing Southwest 'thirstification' but is what they're doing enough. If the climate is going to get drier is the park sustainable to run with all the water is needs? It appears as if the government has taken the side of the park to keep business and maintain tourism and recreation. Yet by shutting down the park or closing water-consuming attractions the park could be more environmentally friendly. What do you think? Should the park adopts a policy of continued perseverance or measures of aquatic austerity? Should Disneyland be required to publish its total annual (tourist bathrooms included!) water usage for public access?
It will be interesting to know if visitor numbers from local residents has increased to Disneyland as a result of the recent drought due to its status as a desert watering hole! Or if local residents are angry at the parks ignorance to responsibly using water whilst they have many restrictions imposed upon them!?
ReplyDeleteI doubt many local people will be going to Disneyland for a drink out of the log flume!? But local resistance would be an interesting! Theres use to be a bit at Thorpe Park in the UK but now they just use dirty lake water instead!
DeleteSorry I should have said as it has become a bit of an oasis in the desert! Like if more local people are going there for recreational purposes than usual because of restrictions placed upon them, like hosepipe bans etc.. Or if they are getting more annoyed?
DeleteDisneyland is a big employer in the Los Angeles region both directly and indirectly because it helps maintain the local restaurant and hotel businesses surrounding the park! Most of the water restrictions are placed on wasteful residential water usage.
DeleteI think Disneyland should make more serious efforts to tackle their water efficiency and reduce their usage. Although they have made some important first steps, I don't think that this is enough. Using recycled water is a good approach - this should be applied wherever possible
ReplyDelete