… While water shortage is certainly a valid concern as California faces historic droughts, it turns out the most pressing issues surrounding the Los Angeles water system may have less to do with lack of water than where it’s ending up, with residents going without as big agriculture and water investors extract or privatise what short supply there is. According to studies by the University of Southern California, just 10 percent of state water goes to residents, while the bulk – 80 percent – is used for irrigating crops. This dynamic is a continuation of a series of events that dates back to the water system’s creation a century ago, which instigated a pattern of resource theft, political corruption and ultimately death due to the collapse of the (St. Francis) dam. The result: An uncertain future in which vulnerable residents are increasingly parched by powerful business interests.