Philippines
January 2, 2015
Climate change reveals that even in USA, as featured in National Geo, there is widespread drought. There are farming communities in California that died simply because there is no more water to grow plants with, or drink, and even to wash and bathe.
California Drought
The solution that is seen is desalination since California is a coastal state and near the Pacific Ocean. However, desalination is costly since this both capital and op ex intensive. Operating the plant is costly with the two methods currently employed: thermal and reverse osmosis. (SWRO - Salt Water Reverse Osmosis) The process too uses a lot of energy since salt water is pumped at high pressure 1000 psi through the semi permeable membrane to separate salt from pure water; brine is then pumped back to the sea water, the pure water is stored and then pumped to the waterworks system.
Privately owned desalination $1 billion Carlsbad desalination plant in San Diego CA to ease CA drought? This plant will add $5 to $7 per household in their monthly water bill
From KQED -why desalination plants are not the only answer to CA drought? - The OK process takes too long.
From Al Jazeera - CA turns to ocean to solve drought problem
