Uses for Desalination
Desalination processes seawater to remove salt and dissolved minerals in order to allow the water to be used as fresh water. The main process used to desalinate seawater is reverse osmosis, an expensive process on a large scale due to high energy costs. However, as technologies advance, desalination becomes even more feasible for a variety of uses.
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Water Shortages
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Water shortages are occurring in many areas of the world. Meanwhile, much of the earth is covered by salt water oceans, which is driving the desire to convert the salt water into fresh. The urgency will increase along with population growth, droughts and more limited available fresh water sources.
Drinking Water
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The primary incentive for desalination occurs in areas where fresh drinking water is in short supply. Desalinated water can supplement municipal water supplies.
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Agriculture
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Irrigation for crops and drinking water for livestock require fresh water, which is in short supply in many areas of the world. Thus, desalinated water has been used. Since the minerals have been removed from desalinated water, its suitability for irrigation has been questioned. The low mineral content may damage the crops, especially in areas where the soil does not supply them.
Submarines and ships
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The availability of sea water, and limited storage capacity on ships for fresh water, encourages the use of desalination as a means of supplying water needed for drinking, hygiene and other uses at sea. Desalination is mainly used for submarines and oceangoing ships, especially those with nuclear power to provide the large amounts of energy required for the process.
Industrial Uses
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Many industries rely on water as part of their production process or to produce hydroelectric power. Those manufacturing or hydroelectric plants that have the location and capability to efficiently acquire and process seawater can use desalination to create the fresh water they need for their manufacturing or other production.
Primary Geographical Use
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Due to the arid climate plus the oil-rich reserves, the Middle Eastern countries including Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, have been leaders in adopting desalination. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Middle East has the highest usage rate for desalinated water, using approximately 70 percent of worldwide capacity.
Considerations
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The desalination process, especially for major uses such as metropolitan drinking water, agriculture or industry, requires heavy investment in the technology and ongoing expenses of large amounts of energy. As a result, water from the process is more expensive than natural fresh water. The high cost has limited the use of desalinization. However, as technology improves, the costs decrease.
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