Desalination Proposal

One point not mentioned in this article and most discussions of desalination is that this is the process by which Mother Nature has provided fresh (unsalted) water to this Earth since the beginning of time. It is said that every drop of water that ever existed is still here.

Man and nature do not consume water, they use it and return it, hence the hydrological cycle. Water is evaporated from the seas, plants, animals, etc., and forms into rain clouds and once again the pure evaporated (desalinated) water falls to the Earth for man, animal and plant use.

Yes, it is true, man in his siting of desalination plants to help nature may disturb the local balance. This is an area we must be aware of, but at the same time recognizing that Mother Nature does have the ability to correct for man’s mistakes.

As one member of the Metropolitan Water District board of directors who has been intimately involved in the desalination issue, I feel that the current approach being taken is half-hearted and will not result in an economical approach to desalination. The current work being conducted by MWD emphasizes a possible breakthrough in the use of materials and techniques to accomplish greatly improved efficiencies in the thermal desalination process. Thermal processes demand around-the-clock operation and must be located near the heat and water sources, hence the creation of additional air pollution in coastal regions. Today electrical utilities only utilize their coastal facilities on a peak requirement basis.

I believe desalination is a future supplemental water supply and should be treated only as such. A good example is Santa Barbara where a temporary desalination plant was constructed by Ionics Inc. to meet emergency water needs, capable of furnishing up to 30% of the area’s requirements. Fortunately, it was not required as a result of the March ’92 miracle. However Santa Barbara area residents now are “drought-proofed.” MWD has recently embarked on a similar program with the East Side Reservoir that hopefully can be filled in years of plenty.

MWD must answer the following questions before proceeding with a desalination construction program:

* The need for desalination must be demonstrated, particularly now with the East Side Reservoir Project under way. Questions must be asked and answered as to how desalination fits into the overall supply; other supply sources, water marketing, etc., must also be part of the study.

* If it is found that desalination does have an application, is this a full-time supply or is it to be used only for drought-proofing?

* If desalination supplies are indeed found to be necessary, should MWD provide these or should they be furnished by others through contract? (MWD is wholly dependent upon others for energy supply.)

4. If MWD does decide to go ahead with desalination, should the plant be designed as a turnkey, guaranteed performance plant by experienced desalination plant designers, or a new MWD design?

Until these concerns are satisfied, it is this director’s opinion that at MWD, desalination is a very questionable answer.

WILLIAM F. DAVENPORT

Director, MWD

Fountain Valley