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hunter

(40,750 posts)

31. Using natural gas to desalinate seawater is insane.

Sat Feb 1, 2014, 12:33 PM

Feb 2014

Desalinization is only viable with solar, nuclear, and other non-carbon sources of energy.

San Onofre is shut and California's hydroelectric capacity will be severely curtailed by this drought.

Desalinization as it is practiced here in California today, the Carlsbad plant included, will only be economically viable so long as the current natural gas glut lasts.

I do not give the natural gas resurgence anywhere close to the "30 years" fracking cheery natural gas hucksters sometimes claim.

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California drought: State's water deliveries to be halted [View all] Newsjock Jan 2014 OP

K and R thanks for posting Stuart G Jan 2014 #1

That's what PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #3

We need more rain Scairp Jan 2014 #17

Gov Brown warns: Take shorter showers, don't flush more than you have to ErikJ Jan 2014 #2

good advice. i always take a "navy shower" myself frylock Jan 2014 #15

Makes sense. How to Take a Navy Shower--> ErikJ Jan 2014 #16

I recall all of this in the 70's... tofuandbeer Feb 2014 #25

but let the coin operated car washs continue to operate. olddad56 Feb 2014 #36

We had a drought warning about 7 years ago... tofuandbeer Feb 2014 #41

Tell me, Cal. Du-ers...are the golf courses still being watered?? dixiegrrrrl Jan 2014 #4

You can bet Pebble Beach will be lush and green for the AT&T Open Auggie Jan 2014 #6

Pebble Beach doesn't use potable water Travis_0004 Jan 2014 #9

That's good to hear. Thanks for sharing. Auggie Jan 2014 #12

Waste water is also viable for growing vegetables NickB79 Feb 2014 #26

Come on, can't you give the folks at Pebble Beach just a little bit of credit? Lasher Feb 2014 #29

+1 tofuandbeer Feb 2014 #42

Some courses here in NM have put Astroturf down on the fairways Warpy Jan 2014 #7

In California they could plant salt tolerant grass Travis_0004 Jan 2014 #11

Nearly every public lawn has a little sign saying it's watered with non-potable water Hekate Jan 2014 #22

Many golf courses buy reclaimed water from treatment plants Brother Buzz Feb 2014 #30

Don't even get me started on golf courses. Le Taz Hot Feb 2014 #32

I think PasadenaTrudy Feb 2014 #35

Oh shit. AtheistCrusader Jan 2014 #5

They need to work over time to get that desalination plant in Carlsbad online sooner itsrobert Jan 2014 #8

Glad to hear about the plant being built. KewlKat Jan 2014 #10

ALL the costal cities should be using desalinization Plucketeer Jan 2014 #14

They are extremely expensive to operate and maintain is what I've read. obxhead Jan 2014 #19

Using natural gas to desalinate seawater is insane. hunter Feb 2014 #31

There is a huge PasadenaTrudy Jan 2014 #13

Phone them and ask if they are using gray water/non-potable water, and if not, why not Hekate Jan 2014 #23

I'm sure PasadenaTrudy Feb 2014 #27

City Parks & Recreation? Your City Council member? Someone knows. Crown jewel or not... Hekate Feb 2014 #33

I'm sure something will change PasadenaTrudy Feb 2014 #34

Yes. We are. Hekate Feb 2014 #40

I lived in Pas for several years. Beautiful city. But what a pain it was to get a parking permit. tofuandbeer Feb 2014 #43

Now it is hot PasadenaTrudy Feb 2014 #45

That was a hot January. Today's nice, though. :) tofuandbeer Feb 2014 #46

could be recycled gray water. They do that where I live. olddad56 Feb 2014 #37

They need to raise water prices to force everyone to conserve. passiveporcupine Jan 2014 #18

The only problem is.... awoke_in_2003 Jan 2014 #20

We need trees, and the leaves on our avocados are turning brown. Our trees look terrible. JDPriestly Jan 2014 #21

I feel for you passiveporcupine Feb 2014 #24

Oh they are PasadenaTrudy Feb 2014 #28

how does raising water prices force the wealthy to conserve? olddad56 Feb 2014 #38

He makes no mention of the fresh water used to extract oil in California. Todays_Illusion Feb 2014 #39

I was born in Northern California, I have lived in the Sacramento Valley all of my 65 years.. olddad56 Feb 2014 #44