It is estimated that a ound 2012, 36 states experience water shortages. Some states, such as Florida are turning to dedsalination plants. The Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination Plant produces 25 million gallons a day (about 10% of the regions water supply). Some critics say however that these plants have a negative effect on coastal marine life. Therefore, many places around the world are turning to the idea of offshore desalination platforms or vessels. The benefits are that offshore, the water can be extracted from depths where sea life density is low and the water is cleaner; also, the cost of an offshore plant is less because it doesn't need third party power, it can produce it's own. India and Spain have built tests plants but these approaches make a small production of only about 5 million gallons or less per day. The Water Standard Company intends to build a Seawater Desalination Vessel (SDV) which could produce 5 times as much (3 times as much as the production of the Tampa Bay desalination plant). This vessel would be about a mile offshore and would generate its own power with gas turbines (biofuels could be used). The process used would be Osmosis, the same procruise ships and military ships for decades. The company plans on building the first ship in Israel, Australia, China, or the Middle East; all areas with a high demand for water.
The aticle is discovery based because the plant has not yet been tested (as of 2008). Expected results have not been proved to be effective (cost, safe efor marine life, etc.)
This is important for humans because water is one of the many resources on earth which is scarse, yet it is vital for all forms of life. Humans need to start finding effective alternatives to meet the demands of people. This is especially important to countries which are in dire need of water such as the Mddle Est, etc.
Patrick Huyghe, "Water, Water Everywhere, So Let's All Have a Drink", June 11, 2008, www.discovermagazine.com
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We are already seeing the effects of these water shortages. For example, in Texas this summer, there were various places with droughts and water shortages. As water levels decrease, governments are passing laws to regulate water supplies within the US and various other countries. The problem nowadays with water desalination plants is how expensive the process is. I hope that this method is tested and aids our efforts of conservation of water. Many third world countries, which are the ones who suffer the most from these droughts, cannot afford desalinating the water supplies, or they are landlocked.
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