Please take a look at this useful link.

https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/news/ocean-desalination-no-solution-water-shortages

Dear Dr. Arvind Singh and all other RG colleagues,

I have read the linked article. I do not agree with the points raised in the article, as such problems always arise before introduction of any new technology. There is NO technology which does not have any negative impact. In every case we have to calculate the ratio of gain : loss. If the gain is far high than loss, then only we adopt any technology. Even after that, continuous research is needed to solve the incoming problems or the problems not identified previously.

Now, I want to respond to the points raised in the article:

1.Desalination is expensive:

It depends. Primarily, all technology is expensive, but after their widespread use, it becomes cheap.

As example, such technology may be very costly to the consumer of a city with population of a few thousands, but it will be cheap for a city with a few crores of population.

2.Desalination is bad for the environment and human health:

Definitely, it may have some bad impact on environment. But for this reason, all the plastic manufacturing industries MUST be closed from this moment.

Potable water is essential to us, but not at all any essential matter to us!

For health impact of desalinated water, separate study is required and solving of the problems may be tried. We all know that the “Necessity is the mother of invention.”

3.Desalted water also puts drinking water supplies at risk:

May be. Availability of toxic chemicals boron should be removed. As discussed in earlier point, study to solve the problem is required.

4.Desalination contributes to global warming and requires large amounts of energy:

The water footprint (loss of water during whole production process) of a SINGLE bottle cold drink 150 to 300 liter!

So, we are losing up to 300 liter potable water for production of a single bottle of plastic bottled cold drink.

As estimated, if the growth of plastic production continues at its current rate, then the plastic industry may account for 20 percent of the world’s total oil consumption of 2050 (UNEP 2018).

5.Desalination turns water into a commodity:

Do you think water is NOT A BUSINESS COMMODITY in the water deficit cities presently?

Thanks.

Business is organized the same way everywhere. There are two main types: (1) monopolizing a vital resource and selling it; (2) creation of a need and its satisfaction. Moreover, businessmen base their tactics in the second case on creating the illusion that their product is vital. The role of the state is to separate the first type from the second and actively support the first type of business (but regulating it as a payment for support, for example, to prevent monopolization and unreasonably high consumer prices, and also to guarantee a minimum level of quality), not to create artificial obstacles for the second type, but resist attempts by businesses to pass off their product as vital (for example, the so-called environmentally friendly products). The main source of corruption exists precisely here - for example, to allow free competition in the food or water market, or to declare certain products as vital. At the same time, business is actively trying to achieve a position where their profits are guaranteed by the state. In this sense, all states are similar, only the critical resources are different...

Hello All,

For an informative discussion on the business of water, especially bottled water, see the Netflix series "Rotten", Season 2, Episode 3, "Troubled Water".

Regards,

Tom Cuff

I think yes.

Dear Dr. Aparna Sathya Murthy ,

At least in one coastal Indian city, it is due to cut money and pressure of Canned Water supplier gropup (Read as Mafia, and guess the name of the city). I know it from my personal connection. Clearly it can not be written.

Thanks.

Yes. It is useful technology followed in many countries, where no other possible ways are there for them to get drinking water.

I believe that it's not only the water supply companies (Mafia as they were characterized), but also the policy of the so called New World Order "Goverment"... To discuss why this is happening would require too much of time... By the way, you could start with the well-known "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" ...