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Comment on Desalination system could produce freshwater that is cheaper than tap water

Considering how many people live near the coast it would still be a huge step forward. Right now even for most coastal cities desalination isn't cost effective and they have to import water from inland.

And by not having to deliver as much water from inland to the coast that water can be distributed more for people living inland.

Yes, it's not going to make inhospitable areas liveable but it's not just "cool".

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jcit878@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
the issue with water networks is they work great when you have the source (usually dams) upstream, water essentially is gravity fed throughout the network with only some localised pumping for certain elevated locations. wastewater again gravity fed towards treatment plants at the lowest point (usually the ocean), so usually, its fairly efficient, despite still requiring enormous amounts of energy.

this doesnt solve that. it has the source where the end point is. the desalinated water needs to be pumped up, to then be gravity fed through the network. In some places, it is worth the cost and energy due to water scarcity, and im not knocking the technology. but claiming its cheaper than tap water is patently false because the distribution cost is far higher

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- Dkarma@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  They do this anyway…what do u think a water tower is???
  
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  - raptir@lemdro.id ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Water towers are designed to provide steady pressure through demand spikes. That’s completely different from transporting the water.
    
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  - jcit878@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    you are completely missing the point mate.
    
    desalinated water STARTS at the lowest possible point in the catchment. Rain water does not.
    
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    Dkarma@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    Bruh where I’m at the water starts underground what are u talking about???
    
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- Haywire@lemm.ee ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  Ground water rarely doesn’t require pumping.
  
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- BeautifulMind@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
  [deleted]
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  - jcit878@lemmy.world ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
    if its a relatively flat coastal location, its possible. FWIW I work for a water utility in a coastal city and we have a desal plant. Ive seen the figures. the cost of desalinated water compared to the catchment water is an order of magnitude difference. Sounds like LA it would be ideal for the environmental reasons alone though
    
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Spzi@lemm.ee ⁨9⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
A suitcase-sized, passive desalination device also sounds like a must-have for boats of all sizes, if they spend more than a few hours on sea.

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