Water & Power: A California Heist (2017) User Reviews

A great documenatary on the water situation in California

[greenmesamountaina · 10/10 · 3 September 2018]

The documentary views the practices of 'The Wonderful Company', aka Paramount Farms, a mega-agribusiness that uses large quantities of water to irrigate acre upon acre of almond trees (a luxury crop that uses lots of water) while in a nearby town the residents have no water. Whole counties, such as Kern County are in their pocket.

Nothing like it has been seen here since the (debated) Southern Pacific Railroad running of California State politics pre-1910. Or seen here since the film "Chinatown" was released in 1974, which documented a previous water theft, but is still relevant today.

Good, But Missed Points

[escmray · 5/10 · 25 March 2018]

The Wonderful Company is definitely not an upstanding company, especially when it comes to water and oaks. Look into them to not support their products. But it's not just the greedy 2% of the ag (really more big investors), the State is really at fault for our current situation. There has been nothing done for preparation of droughts as we live in a state with regular droughts. Storage would have been smart. They have allowed the water ways to dump into oceans to "save" certain fish. Major cities did not decrease usage, while rural had no choice but to. Some like poor Porterville have no options...they are dry. It's a mess. I believe the State is using this water crisis and the 2% as a reason to gain control of the actual ag industry (backed by families) to regulate your food & water...your livelihood. Power is money.

No mention of the beef or dairy industry

[andreamichellekennedy · 1/10 · 27 February 2018]

1 gallon of water to make 1 pound of almonds... this is the huge argument in this documentary... "we don't need almonds..."

What about the fact that it takes 1800 GALLONS of water to make ONE POUND of BEEF??? Guess what folks, beef and dairy products are not healthy for humans to consume, or the world to survive, and we flat out don't need them.

No mention of the beef and dairy industry in this documentary. Which is absolutely insane given that they are the reason for the water shortages and deforestation all over the world.