Fresh Water Crisis

I recently read an article on CNN about new challenges that Engineers are having to overcome.  One article mentioned our water supply so I decided to pursue that topic and look into different methods for finding fresh water.  Earth is covered with nearly 70 percent water.  Fresh water only consumes a small amount of that.  With the theories about global warming and the ice caps melting, scientists are worried that our supply of fresh water is running low.  Thanks to Engineers and their ability to think outside the box, they have came up with a new way to help that problem.  The solution is to convert sea water into fresh water, this process is called desalination.  New water treatment plants are being constructed at the coasts of the United States to help out this shortage of fresh water problem.  Desalination is a process that has been around for nearly a decade, but it costs so much money that no water company wanted to apply it in their methods.  But in recent years, the cost of desalination has greatly decreased and new plants are emerging all around the world.

How it Works:

Water Filtration

Sea water comes into the plant and goes through a rigorous process.  Chemicals are added to the water so that algae, organic materials, and particles clump together so it is easier to remove them in the filtration process.  The water then goes through multiple filters to remove sand, silt and other tiny particles.  The next process is the most important, which is reverse osmosis.  In this stage, high pressure forces and pre-treated water are applied to the existing water.  Chemicals are then added in order for the water to stabilize and it is then combined with existing fresh water in other tanks.  Water samples are taken often to assure that the water is drinkable and safe.

Current Desalination Plants:
There are many plants around the world that are creating fresh water from seawater.  In the article that I read, "Seawater and Solar Grow Crops In the Desert,"  talks of a new plant in Qatar and what Engineers are trying to achieve.  CNN is a very reliable source with strong ethos.  The author of this writing, Daisy Carrington, has written numerous articles for CNN that are of high credibility.  Qatar has one of the most challenging environments in the world with high temperatures and humidity.  Plant CEO,  Joakim Hauge, quotes that, "Our starting point was to take what we have enough of -- seawater, heat -- and use it to produce what we need more of -- water, energy and a sustainable production of food."  The goal of this plant is to produce fresh water, which will also help irrigate crops, to help communities that lack both.  The facility is looking to green the desert to create alternative, eco-friendly fuel sources.  The pathos of this article is very uplifting and is awe-striking at what technology is capable of.  Logos in this writing is very clear and straightforward, although the process is quite complicated.  Lastly, in the desalination process, seawater is used to cultivate algae.  This can be used for large-scale bio-energy production.  Algae production on its own, can be very expensive and dependent of geological constraints.  The Qatar desalination plant takes in millions of gallons of seawater each day.  Nearly half of the water is used to cool the water plant and the rest of it is turned into clean water.  Two-thirds of that desalinated water is used for human consumption, thirty percent for industrial use and three percent for irrigation.  230 million people around the world rely on desalination plants to produce their water for them daily.  With the fresh water that is available to us, only one percent of that comes from the desalination process.  This number will greatly increase in the future and more people will rely on this process for their daily water needs.

Impact on Engineering:

Before and After

With any desalination water plant, all forms of engineering are applied to provide the best outcome for everyone.  Mechanical Engineers are responsible for any mechanical system in the plant, whether its a pump or heating the water.  Because desalination is relevently new, Engineers must get accustomed to new technology and methods for water treatment.  With the current fresh water on Earth depleting, the population is going to rely on desalination more and more.  Desalination is growing rapidly, and more companies are joining the market.  The technology is only going to improve and the method will become more affordable for everyone.