Yes Monomer
The Deep North,sigh, too much sun, what can you say?
We have level 4 restrictions. No use of any fresh water outside at all by any means
I think it is possible to come up with solutions to the lack of fresh water
I think solar desalination has not had enough R&D in design and especially using new polymers and nanotechnology.
I would like to see a very cheap productive system that could be used in the Underdeveloped Countries like many in Africa. This would have the added benefit of reducing disease as solar desalintors also purify the water.
So two filtering sea and brackish water. New polymers, membranes and nanotechnology may reduce energy consumption.
Of course we could get lucky and energy costs drop. I have a friend working in this area. If he succeds he will probably have to be assassinated- the system is so good.
We could discover the
Holy Grails of
Cold Fusion or
High Tempreature Super Conductors. The future can be positive; it need not be bleak. The first step to solving a problem is identifying it.
Another interesting idea is harvesting water from the air similar to the way air-conditioners do now.
In Australia many are fitting water tanks to new houses and in fact it is mandatory in some areas for new houses. Twenty years ago it was illegal to have them!
Grey water systems save a lot of water. I am amazed how much I can recycle using a primative hose syphon just to my bath and spar.
Terra preta/bio-cahr Gardening/Farming/Horticulture could save 17%
or more water in these areas.
I am not as optimistic about getting good environmental flows in southen Oz rivers (esp Murry-Darling basin) We may have to give up growing rice and cotton and find other economic crops (salbush? gopher-weed?)
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About half of the water used in the United States is used for electric plant cooling.
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Our local (Lake Munmorah) power station has cut its water use
drastically using sea water for cooling and recycled sewrage water. Google it if interested.
Great link,fxzeu, thanks. Everyone should read it
FuturePundit: May 2006 Archives
This is a talk fest in Sydney in February
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The 5th Annual Australian Water Summit will take place at the Hilton on the Park Hotel, Melbourne. This event follows extremely successful conferences, held in Melbourne for the past two years. This is a high-level event involving the key decision-makers from state and federal governments, scientists, large water users and the commercial water industry. The 2007 Summit theme is "Can you afford to miss a drop" Read more...
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Day three looks vaguely interesting and ominous eg "What are scarcity values?" means lets charge the public more$ because we haven't planned for this.
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11.00 CASE STUDY: Everybody needs one
Mayor Clarke’s presentation will cover the following:
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Climate change
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A stable/certain bulk water source has become a necessity
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Air-to-water units will become the next certain source
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Homes should be mandated to use their grey water better
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With these steps in place there never will be a water
supply crisis
Councillor Ron Clarke MBE, Mayor, Gold Coast City Council
11.40 The establishment of the Water Grid in South East Queensland
The Southern Regional Water Pipeline (SRWP) is a fundamental part of the Government's comprehensive plan to shore up south-east Queensland's water supplies in the face of the worst drought on record. Construction of the pipeline and related infrastructure started in October 2006 and is due to be completed in November 2008, with the cost estimated to be $600 million
Mr Graham Thomson, Chief Executive Officer, SRWP Alliance
12.20 Lunch for speakers and delegates
1.30 Pricing challenges for water
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Distortion in current pricing arrangements
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What are scarcity values?
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What is a sensible use restrictions regime?
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Pricing implications of scarcity value and recycled water
Euan Morton, Principal, Synergies Economic Consulting
2.10 Climate change effects on the scarcity of water
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An update on how climate change affects the Australian water industry
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Theories, threats, issues and challenges
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Factoring climate change scenarios into Australia’s water reform
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Planning for the future – what are our options?
Blair Trewin, Director Climate Centre, Bureau of Meteorology
2.50 Afternoon tea
3.10 Analysing the WWF report: "Free-flowing Rivers - economic luxury or ecological necessity?"
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According to WWF most of the world’s largest rivers are losing their connection to the sea
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The ever increasing loss of free-flowing rivers is a disturbing trend, threatening the supply of water for drinking, sanitation, agriculture, fish and fishery products
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WWF has called on all governments to fully recognize the importance of free-flowing rivers and their biological and economic importance
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Development of water infrastructure should follow the strategic priorities and recommendations outlined by the World Commission on Dams.
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WWF believes it is now time to take stock of the free-flowing rivers and take protective action to ensure that in twenty years time the world still has free-flowing rivers.
Averil Bones, Freshwater Policy Manager, World Wildlife Fund Australia
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