DESALINATION DISTILLATION ECONOMICS ENVIRONMENTAL REVERSE OSMOSIS

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Abstract

Approximately two thirds of the earthﾒs surface is covered with water. We call it Earth, but we truly live on the ﾓWater Planet.ﾔ But the media keeps reminding us that there is a growing problem with water shortages throughout the world. How can that be? As you may know, we donﾒt have a problem due to a lack of water. We have a fresh water distribution problem. Only 3% of the worldﾒs water is fresh. And of that, approximately 90% of the fresh water is locked up in the ice in Greenland and Antarctica. Further, 20% of the available fresh water is contained in the Great Lakes region of the U.S. The remainder of the world must obtain their fresh water from local sources such as wells (groundwater) and rivers or lakes (surface water). And with the growing population in the more arid parts of the world, this puts a tremendous strain on local and regional supplies. That is unless we can tap into the unlimited supply of seawater. The vast oceans can satisfy mankindﾒs thirst for water for an eternity. But, as is, seawater is unfit for human consumption and agriculture. Seawater contains a high concentration of dissolved salts that make it toxic to drink and unfit for irrigation. As far back as the 4th century BC, Aristotle designed a successive series of filters to remove salt from seawater. Later, around 200 AD, sailors removed salt using simple boilers and condensers aboard their ships. Today, we have much more efficient and effective ways to desalinate seawater by distillation and membrane separation. And yet, only 15 billion gallons (about two-tenths of the fresh water consumed in the world) is desalinated salt water. As the worldﾒs growing population continues to put increased pressure on local water supplies, however, the incentive to produce more fresh water from the sea continues to grow.

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