"Jeßus" wrote in message
newsan.2007.01.08.22.51.23.284712@anunnakis@area 51.org...
Just out of interest, what are the cons of desalination plants? To me they
seem like a good idea - not necessarily a total solution in of itself by
any means - but still a good idea IMO. That said, I'm not up to speed on
what (if any) real debate has been on this issue.

the main problem is energy use, both in construction and utilisation.
clearly, you can't get salt out of water without using a great deal of
energy to do so, and at considerable expense. so while it "solves" one
problem ("not enough" fresh water), it merrily creates another (excess
energy use leading to more emissions, etc etc). like overusing aircon, the
perceived solution contributes to perpetuating the problem.

I think they should recycle as much water as possible too. Perhaps not
exactly a palatable idea for Sydneysiders, but frankly, too bad for them.
They want to live there (and the more that do the better IMO!)then they're
going to have to cop some more compromises instead of expecting everyone
else in the state to wear the same problems.

what annoys me almost beyond endurance, is that ALL water IS recycled
already! the precipitation cycle goes round & round - it doesn't stop when
you flush the toilet & starts again in the sky! every drop we drink has been
through people, animals, plants, gone in the sea, flowed down rivers, been
poo, been wee, been rain, been snow, been in dead bodies before it leached
out back into the soil, etc etc. for goodness sake, drinking something
that's been through a few toilets before it was filtered is nothing compared
to where it's been in all the rest of its cycle!

and bearing this in mind, i agree with you - too bad for them :-) since ALL
water has always been recycled, creating an efficient system for purifying
sewage, stormwater, etc to potable quality & redirecting it back into the
supply is merely doing the same thing on a small scale that nature does on a
large one.
kylie