Posted on Apr 29, 2015
Why didn't California use desalination plants before the drought got this bad?
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With the California drought going on year 3, why haven't they looked at using desalination plants earlier? It would appear that the plants would provide some relief and help the farmers.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/california-drought-forces-santa-barbara-to-reopen-mothballed-desalination-plant-1.3045799
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/california-drought-forces-santa-barbara-to-reopen-mothballed-desalination-plant-1.3045799
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 7
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The reason they didn't look at using them before, is because Desalinization is a "stop-gap" measure, not a solution.
Pardon the phrase, but it's "#$%^#%^ where you live/eat." From the article, each gallon of fresh water produced, produces a gallon of brine which is dumped back into the ocean, which in turn threatens the marine life.
California is an Arid Plain. Though it can support a lot of people it really never should have supported as many people as live there now. It has hit "viral" levels of humanity, and areas like San Francisco/ Oakland & Los Angeles / San Diego are just too populated.
Add in the farm crops, industrial, etc, and we have the "boat with a hole" issue. You can only bail water so fast. Or in this case, we're using it far faster than we can recover.
Pardon the phrase, but it's "#$%^#%^ where you live/eat." From the article, each gallon of fresh water produced, produces a gallon of brine which is dumped back into the ocean, which in turn threatens the marine life.
California is an Arid Plain. Though it can support a lot of people it really never should have supported as many people as live there now. It has hit "viral" levels of humanity, and areas like San Francisco/ Oakland & Los Angeles / San Diego are just too populated.
Add in the farm crops, industrial, etc, and we have the "boat with a hole" issue. You can only bail water so fast. Or in this case, we're using it far faster than we can recover.
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Lack of foresight?
Solar desalinization would be even cheaper than fuel-fired plant, albeit slower.
Solar desalinization would be even cheaper than fuel-fired plant, albeit slower.
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I had always heard that desalination was way too expensive to be a reliable option. I never bought that excuse. Quite frankly, I would be willing to bet that if they did try and use desalination plants, the EPA would come in and stop them because they were endangering some form of wildlife like the spotted elfen whorehound, or some other such thing.
In the end, I believe this was foreseeable, and I think California only has itself to blame for not funding water replenishment projects. They could have spent their money in more deserving programs like this than throwing all that money into what they did to put them in their financial dire straits.
In the end, I believe this was foreseeable, and I think California only has itself to blame for not funding water replenishment projects. They could have spent their money in more deserving programs like this than throwing all that money into what they did to put them in their financial dire straits.
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Money money money. CA is in debt, unlike the oil nations in the Middle East. Just wait, they will ask the federal government (meaning, us taxpayers) to pay for desal plants.
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PO1 Glenn Boucher
Politics, pure and simple. The politicians couldn't squeeze enough kick backs or pay offs to make it worth while.
The Navy uses desalination onboard ships and I am no engineer but I would like to think that it could be a very cost effective way of making water and there may even be side benefits of extra power being generated in the process, maybe enough to run the plan as self sufficient.
The Navy uses desalination onboard ships and I am no engineer but I would like to think that it could be a very cost effective way of making water and there may even be side benefits of extra power being generated in the process, maybe enough to run the plan as self sufficient.
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CPT Zachary Brooks
Col (Join to see)
Likely there were other builds for crony deals to fix the issue and if/when those failed they would have to fall back on this. The other possibility is that this makes people think that they need the government in order to function.
I'm a bit cynical on this, but it would not surprise me.
Likely there were other builds for crony deals to fix the issue and if/when those failed they would have to fall back on this. The other possibility is that this makes people think that they need the government in order to function.
I'm a bit cynical on this, but it would not surprise me.
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CPT Zachary Brooks
Col (Join to see)
You could also imply control in the way that SPC Carl K. stated it.
Therefore I would say "Control" and you would ask "By?"
You could also imply control in the way that SPC Carl K. stated it.
Therefore I would say "Control" and you would ask "By?"
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This is a symptom of a much larger problem both for the US and the world. Fact is the world is not coming to an end and since %70 of this blue marble is covered in water mankind will overcome this just like other challenges faced in our existence. We are making continually rapid advances on every front. While this will be a challenge and water rights will be fought over vehemently we will find and apply solutions when forced to. Then we will help our neighbors around the world solve the same problem, that is what we do.
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/21494919/ns/us_news-environment/t/crisis-feared-us-water-supplies-dry/#.VUId3iFVhBc
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/21494919/ns/us_news-environment/t/crisis-feared-us-water-supplies-dry/#.VUId3iFVhBc
Crisis feared as U.S. water supplies dry up
Across America, the picture is critically clear — the nation’s freshwater supplies can no longer quench its thirst. The government projects that at least 36 states will face water shortages within five years.
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