ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES?
Of course there are alternatives. Some of these alternatives are either currently in use or in an experimental stage. But, as with most new technology, they are extremely expensive.
Southern California brings most of its water from hundreds of miles away in open canals; therefore, this State must start with twice as much water as they need to allow for evaporation along the way.
Saudi Arabia has experimented with towing icebergs from Antarctica to provide needed freshwater.
Most of the world's navies have on-board desalinization plants which convert saltwater to freshwater while underway. Use of this freshwater is severely restricted. Water runs less than a minute during a "navy shower," but there are still an equivalent 80 hours of showers each day aboard our largest aircraft carriers.
WATER CONSERVATION - The Most Practical Alternative
Water Conservation is:
intelligent, equitable, efficient use and reuse of water so that we will have sufficient water for our current and future needs;
new types of turbines and reuse of water at hydro or steam generating plants;
industries cleaning and recycling water many times, then cleaning it again, before returning it to our streams;
farmers investing in underground irrigation systems so crops can get the moisture they need, where they need it, without wasting water; and
water conservation is people- South Carolinians- saving millions of gallons of water each month just by not wasting so much!
The need for water conservation is urgent. And the time for water conservation is now.