Water, Water Everywhere & Not a Drop to Drink

Can't We Solved This Problem?

[King_Fisher]

Changing weather patterns have seemed to spawned areas of drought all over the globe.

Long existing lakes, rivers and springs are drying up at a rapid rate.

Farmers and stock men are facing economic hard times. Wild life in many areas are threaten and could go extinct

Yet when you look at the world globe you can see that 75% of the surface is made up of oceans.

I would like to ask those who are smarter than me (that's ever one on this forum and probably 98% of the general population)why can't we tap this abundant resource?

If we can fling space probes into deep outer space. If we can land working robotics on the face of Mars. Why cant we figure out a way to remove the salinity from ocean waters.

Is reverse osmosis on a large scale possible in this scenario? Could be nuclear
powered?

Well I am going to get a bottle of Arrowhead water out of the fridge and wait for some answers!...KF

[Habtom]

Capital investment and operations are expensive for all desalting options because pipes and equipment require corrosion-resistant materials, while special pretreatment filters and cleaning membranes require frequent backwashing to remove the rapid accumulation of solids.

It is very costly, probably less expensive than going to Mars, but it requires political willingness. I am not sure if I support desalination myself though.

And . . .

15-50 gallons of potable water are produced for every 100 gallons of seawater.

Desalination- Producing Potable water [resources.ca.gov]

[lawman]

The scarcer it becomes, the more you're willing to pay. As to political will, when the masses are thirsty, you can bet they'll vote the scoundrels out whom they perceive as not anticipating the crisis.

[lynder]

People who use too strong showers are very bad for the environment

[Habtom]

People who use too strong showers are very bad for the environment

No body said I was bad for the environment before :)