Millions of people are running out of water – how desalination plants are trying to fix that

[the other mike]

The United States has of course fallen behind on this like almost everything else.

Today, one out of three people don't have access to safe drinking water. One reason is that 96.5% of that water is found in our oceans. It's saturated with salt, and undrinkable. Most of the freshwater is locked away in glaciers or deep underground. Less than 1% of it is available to us.

Millions of people are running out of water – how desalination plants are trying to fix that

 

[alang1216]

The United States has of course fallen behind on this like almost everything else.

Today, one out of three people don't have access to safe drinking water. One reason is that 96.5% of that water is found in our oceans. It's saturated with salt, and undrinkable. Most of the freshwater is locked away in glaciers or deep underground. Less than 1% of it is available to us.

Millions of people are running out of water – how desalination plants are trying to fix that

Desalination takes energy and energy has a cost. Poor countries can't afford it. Until the cost of energy comes down there are other, cheaper ways of obtaining fresh water.

 

[the other mike]

Cost is relative.

 

[alang1216]

Cost is relative.

I don't think it is human nature for the US to cut what it sees as critical to its survival to help countries it doesn't see as critical to its survival. Not saying I agree but that is the reality. Also, desalt plants are BIG ticket items, we'd do better with more low-tech options that poor countries could own and not be dependent on Big Brother.