What happens if the Colorado runs dry? (home, to buy)

[crystalblue]

Originally Posted by Greatday

Well, while not yet official, it looks like there may be a "declaration" that the drought period, as it applies to Arizona, is over.

The upper lakes are FULL - so much so that water is, for the first time in YEARS, having to be released, to make room for the run off in the spring.

The rains that have happened - and the ones still coming, are recharging the aquafirs.

The Colorado areas, are filling. The snowpacks are WAY above normal.

AND, the deserts are GREEN - and the wildflowers are blooming like we have not seen in years.

umm, what about lakes mead and powell?

last i saw, they were still pretty drained...

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by crystalblue

umm, what about lakes mead and powell?

last i say, they were still pretty drained...

Mead is rising - as is Powell

[Patrick754]

People who dismiss desalination are doing so based on current technology. There are developments on the horizon that have the potential to make it very cost competitive with traditional water sources.

Technology Review: Cheap Drinking Water from the Ocean

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by Patrick754

People who dismiss desalination are doing so based on current technology. There are developments on the horizon that have the potential to make it very cost competitive with traditional water sources.

Technology Review: Cheap Drinking Water from the Ocean

Interesting.

Ken

[LordBalfor]

Originally Posted by Greatday

Well, while not yet official, it looks like there may be a "declaration" that the drought period, as it applies to Arizona, is over.

The upper lakes are FULL - so much so that water is, for the first time in YEARS, having to be released, to make room for the run off in the spring.

The rains that have happened - and the ones still coming, are recharging the aquafirs.

The Colorado areas, are filling. The snowpacks are WAY above normal.

AND, the deserts are GREEN - and the wildflowers are blooming like we have not seen in years.

Yeah, doesn't surprise me.

I know the online raingauge down near my land in J-6 near Benson has shown a steady increase in yearly rainfall totals over the last 4 years or so - more than doubling from 7 inches the first year (partial readings covering MOST of that first year) up to over 17 inches this last year - with each year being a definite improvement from the prior one.

Does that mean the water crises is over? Perhaps not, but no matter how you look at it, it is definitely GOOD news for the SW - at least for a while.

Ken

[steve22]

Originally Posted by Patrick754

People who dismiss desalination are doing so based on current technology. There are developments on the horizon that have the potential to make it very cost competitive with traditional water sources.

Technology Review: Cheap Drinking Water from the Ocean

My point of view on this is essentially based on current desalinating methods, or at least those which were being utilized a dozen years ago when I was an engineering student. So you're right about that. And standards certainly could change, that's true; in which case, my opinion would certainly change. But this is all still speculative.

Bottom line, there has to be a more energy-efficient way to desalinate mass quantities of sea water than the technology I'm familiar with in order to make it a reasonable solution. And, like this article states, that may well become a reality in the future. Either that, or much cheaper energy would also be necessary to make it more affordable. Realistically, if you think about it, the technology as we know it to construct desalinating plants has been around for decades. Logic would dictate that, if it were indeed an attractive and affordable option, then many coastal & drought-prone cities in the U.S. other than Key West and Santa Barbara would have adopted this method years ago. The reason they haven't is cost.

On a related note, the availability of cheap electric power in the future for the rapidly-growing southwest is an issue which is also coming to the forefront. Personally, I've been an advocate of nuclear and/or solar power in this region for years. There was a very topical article on this, which just appeared today in the AZ Republic. Here's a link:

APS looks for ways to power state amid rising demand (broken link)

[crystalblue]

Originally Posted by steve22

My point of view on this is essentially based on current desalinating methods, or at least those which were being utilized a dozen years ago when I was an engineering student. So you're right about that. And standards certainly could change, that's true; in which case, my opinion would certainly change. But this is all still speculative.

Bottom line, there has to be a more energy-efficient way to desalinate mass quantities of sea water than the technology I'm familiar with in order to make it a reasonable solution. And, like this article states, that may well become a reality in the future. Either that, or much cheaper energy would also be necessary to make it more affordable. Realistically, if you think about it, the technology as we know it to construct desalinating plants has been around for decades. Logic would dictate that, if it were indeed an attractive and affordable option, then many coastal & drought-prone cities in the U.S. other than Key West and Santa Barbara would have adopted this method years ago. The reason they haven't is cost.

On a related note, the availability of cheap electric power in the future for the rapidly-growing southwest is an issue which is also coming to the forefront. Personally, I've been an advocate of nuclear and/or solar power in this region for years. There was a very topical article on this, which just appeared today in the AZ Republic. Here's a link:

APS looks for ways to power state amid rising demand (broken link)

I saw these cool little man made islands that could be used for generating power http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/...-of-the-world/

they put it in the ocean/sea, its a combo solar/wind/hydro generating plant.

put a de-sal plant next to one, might provide the juice to do it!

[BillyBaroo]

Originally Posted by crystalblue

umm, what about lakes mead and powell?

last i saw, they were still pretty drained...

I'm going to start turning the water off while I'm brushing my teeth, they should fill up in time.

[crystalblue]

Originally Posted by BillyBaroo

I'm going to start turning the water off while I'm brushing my teeth, they should fill up in time.

u must have some funky teeth!

http://www.halloweenexpress.com/images/EA903.jpg (broken link)

[BillyBaroo]

Originally Posted by crystalblue

I saw these cool little man made islands that could be used for generating power http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/02/11/...-of-the-world/

they put it in the ocean/sea, its a combo solar/wind/hydro generating plant.

put a de-sal plant next to one, might provide the juice to do it!

Sounds like Fluid Karma from the movie "Southland Tales".