The Environmental Protection Agency issued new pollution control requirements for large livestock feedlots Friday that would allow farm operators to avoid having to get a permit if they claim the facility will not put harmful discharges into nearby waterways.

We need big-time water efficiency and conservation solutions, and we need them now. The good news is that scientists have found an area of water inefficiency, where a basic change in our habits would free up huge quantities of water. The change? Stop eating meat and other animal products. Even cutting down would significantly save water.