ELi5: Why can’t we build a giant water pipeline across the US? I live in north east US and we get an insane amount of precipitation. Can’t we help out the west by moving some of that to them?

Question

ELi5: Why can’t we build a giant water pipeline across the US? I live in north east US and we get an insane amount of precipitation. Can’t we help out the west by moving some of that to them?

In: 3

Answer 1

It is expensive to pump water uphill. And the Rocky Mountains are big hills.

CA already spends an enormous amount of money moving water around. In fact, according to the state‘s own government, the State Water Project is California’s single largest purchaser of electricity (needed for pumping water uphill even though they also generate power when that same water runs downhill). Source: https://water.ca.gov/What-We-Do/Power