Desalination to Solve Water Shortage?
One
possible solution to the water shortage experienced by California’s agricultural
industry is desalination. Desalination is not new, but current methods such as
reverse osmosis (RO) and flash distillation are expensive. If a cost-effective
way to extract the freshwater from ocean water could be found, farms and communities would benefit.
“Reclamation
Commissioner Michael L. Connor announced that nine entities will share more
than $1.1 million in awards in support of laboratory and pilot scale research
studies in the field of water desalination and purification. Through required
cost shares of up to 75%, Reclamation’s funding will be leveraged to support a
total of $3 million in research.”
“‘Desalination
and other advanced water treatment technologies have the potential to provide
new water sources for communities,’ Commissioner Connor said. ‘This research
effort will examine innovative technologies that have the potential to reduce
the cost of treating brackish water – helping to create new tools for
addressing future water challenges.’”
The projects in California selected for funding this year
are:
-
Evaluation of
a Zero Liquid Discharge Desalination System by Trussell Technologies of Pasadena, Calif.
-
Sephton Water Technology, Inc. of
Kensington, Calif., will test a prototype barometric evaporator at the existing
pilot facility in Imperial County, Calif., to treat water at the Salton Sea.
-
University of California, Los Angeles
has proposed a new technology concept of cyclic reverse osmosis to enable a
wide variety of water sources over a wider range of salinities while using
optimal energy.
The Bureau of Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier and the second largest producer of
hydroelectric power in the United States, with operations and facilities in the
17 Western States. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control,
recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits.
Labels: bureau of reclamation, California Desalination Research Awards, Michael L. Connor, reverse osmosis, Sephton Water Technology, Trussell Technologies, UCLA, Water Desalination