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Could Drought-Stricken California Learn From The Israeli Water Solution?


Could Drought-Stricken California Learn From The Israeli Water Solution? http://www.heavenlygreens.com/blog/could-drought-stricken-california-learn-from-the-israeli-water-solution @heavenlygreensSince the early 1990's, officials throughout California have debated on how effective desalination plants would be when trying to fight the state's water issues. For the last several decades, severe drought conditions have plagued the state to the point where restrictions on water usage have been passed as actual laws. Individuals who are caught violating the new laws must pay hefty fines, much like what would be incurred if they had committed a traffic violation. Even with both citizens and businesses doing trying to conserve water, the state must still look for new and innovative ways to protect its most precious natural resource.

Israel's Contribution

Israel uses four desalination plants to help compensate for its depletion of natural water sources. Scientists from Israel have taken water conservation and production to new levels. Many of the country's cities rely solely on desalinated water. In fact, one quarter of the nation's water supply is produced at desalination plants located along the coast. Israel has been forced to deal with water shortages for several years. The use of desalination plants have helped to correct the issue and solve their water issues.

IDE Technologies, an Israeli based water desalination company, has been working with Poseidon Water in an attempt to build a desalination plant in the San Diego area. The San Diego County Water Authority began working with Poseidon in 2012. The goal is to eventually produce 50 million gallons of desalinated water every day. If the goal can be reached, the additional influx of water is expected to account for over 7 percent of San Diego's water needs. Israel's contribution to solving California's water shortage has been a long time coming. The state still has a long way to go before it can lift the water wasting laws, but if the desalination plants are effective there may be a modest amount of relief in sight.

The Cost of Desalination

Water desalination is expensive when compared to other forms of water production. It costs over $2,000 per square acre, compared to $1,000 per square acre for imported water. Desalination is also much more costly than water produced from aquifers and other natural deposits. State officials are looking into a variety of ways to solve the state's water problems, but are facing the fact that desalination is probably the best option.

Desalination offers a never ending supply of water that doesn't rely on precipitation or whether or not the Sierra Snowpack is fully replenished each year. The major drawback of the entire situation is the overall cost of the plant and how much money it will take to keep it in operation. Poseidon Water and IDE Technologies have built a $1billion desalination plant in Carlsbad, California. Israili engineers have used their knowledge and the blueprints of the plants from their country to help build the facility. Both sides are hopeful that the plant will live up to everyone's expectations without being a financial drain.

The concept of removing salt from sea water is nothing new. It has been considered an option for hundreds of years. With today's advancements in technology, the desalination process is no longer just a possibility. It is a reality. Turning a massive amount of salt water into a usable water source is now being considered the solution to water shortages that are devastating many areas in California and other coastal areas. The cost of desalination is extremely high, but when compared to the cost of having no water at all, many state officials are willing to find ways to fund the process in the hopes of protecting the state's natural water resources. If the new plant is a success, as many believe it will be, more plants may be considered in the near future.

California drought problem solutions

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