Why can’t we pump flood water from Texas into tank cars and ship it to California to help alleviate the drought?
Because quite simply, they need a lot of water. Far more than the carrying capacity of a freight train. When dealing with large bodies of water, the water is measured in acre-feet.
The Short Answer
Because quite simply, they need a lot of water. Far more than the carrying capacity of a freight train. When dealing with large bodies of water, the water is measured in acre-feet. One acre-foot is approximately 325,000 gallons. California would need tens of thousands of acre-feet of water in order to even make a dent in the drought. Also, consider the transportation costs. You would need to pay for all the loading, unloading, distribution, fuel, etc. It's simply not a practical idea to transport massive amounts of water by rail like that.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Water, need, simply
This explanation focuses on water, need, simply and spans 91 words across 8 sentences. At 28% above the average Nature explanation (71 words), this is one of the more thorough answers in this category, reflecting the complexity of the underlying question.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “Because quite simply, they need a lot of water.” It then elaborates by explaining the root cause, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 8 connected points.
How This Compares in Nature
Ranked #149 of 500 Nature questions by answer depth (top 31%). This falls in the detailed tier — above average depth. The explanation goes beyond surface-level but keeps things accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why we pump flood water from texas into tank cars and ship it to california to help alleviate the drought?
Because quite simply, they need a lot of water. Far more than the carrying capacity of a freight train. When dealing with large bodies of water, the water is measured in acre-feet. One acre-foot is approximately 325,000 gallons. California would…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Nature questions?
This is an above-average answer at 91 words, ranked #149 of 500 Nature questions by depth. The key concepts covered are water, need, simply.
What approach does this answer take to explain we pump flood water from texas into tank cars and ship it to?
The explanation uses root cause analysis across 91 words. It is categorized under Nature and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.