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Usually the problem with Desal is not the energy, it's the fact that there just isn't enough coastline. California could cover every inch of coastline in Desal
by jedberg 3y ago
Usually the problem with Desal is not the energy, it's the fact that there just isn't enough coastline. California could cover every inch of coastline in Desal plants and not have enough fresh water.
If they could build platforms in the ocean with some way to get the water to land, maybe this could work, but the Western US is screwed unless we can find other ways to save water, even if this tech were totally free.
- jeffbee 3y agoShow your work? Urban Californians use 6.6e6 acre-feet/year and that implies we would need about 100 of these tiny little facilities. https://www.google.com/maps/place/Claude+%22Bud%22+Lewis+Carlsbad+Desalination+Plant/@33.1403311,-117.3372201,1825m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x80dc725db498ce85:0xc0f4a073da2cb9f2!2sClaude+%22Bud%22+Lewis+Carlsbad+Desalination+Plant!8m2!3d33.1385349!4d-117.3347139!16s%2Fm%2F09k70w6!3m5!1s0x80dc725db498ce85:0xc0f4a073da2cb9f2!8m2!3d33.1385349!4d-117.3347139!16s%2Fm%2F09k70w6?entry=ttu https://www.google.com/maps/place/Claude+%22Bud%22+Lewis+Car... That's only if you intend to supply 100% of water from desal, which nobody is suggesting.