Yet again, the UK water companies say "we are running out of water" Why wont they build desalination plants?
152367
Mostly, it is because desalination plants are extremely expensive to build and maintain. If there was an easier way of removing the salt, however, it would be a very good idea.
1099589
Cost would depend on the location, environmental restrictions, etc.\nA desalination plant is planned near where I live, it's supposed to start being built next year.  The projected cost (and they already own the land, so they don't have to buy that) is $500 million.\nIt's capacity is going to be 50,000 gallons per day (around 200,000 litres).  That should give you a rough idea.
702485
Though 78% of the earth are water bodies, as per a study 88% of the water available in the world is from seas and oceans and not potable. Desalination in some areas are done at a very high cost which is only 0.007%, so it is very negligible. Of the balance 12% or less 50 percent of all potable water is wasted or lost in the developing world; Pollution, with some 2 million tons of human excrement and an ever-increasing volume of untreated discharge from industry going into urban water supplies every day. The ground water table is also depleting very fast and getting contaminated or many areas have become dry. This accounts for +3%. The balance of 3 % are so is available now.\n\nIn the developing world, more than 1 billion people cannot get clean drinking water, and 1.7 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation facilities. The United Nations says that dirty water causes 80 percent of diseases in the developing world, and kills 10 million people annually.\n\nWATER CRISIS IS LIKELY TO STRIKE MOST DEVELOPING WORLD CITIES BY 2010. \n\nThus the position is very alarming and water conservation and Storm water harvesting are being implemented by many countries to save the situation.
185289
well let me tell you the first natural resorce we will run out of...it is not oil or natual gas it will be water...the most imporant...at the currant rate of polulation increase we will have to use every last drop of fresh water to surive in about 120 years...of course we can distill sea water but that will only delay the stituation...we are not going to find any more water on this planet so space is the nest best altenative...that is quiet honestly why we should keep space exploration alive...the only thing i would like to see is corpations and indivuals do it as well...\n\ntruthfully there will always be poor...sad to say...but hey look at it this way...did you get a internet connection...did you go out to eat this week...do you have cable tv...and i would be willing to bet that you have a computer as well...you could spent the money on some charity instead...it is not alway the goverment that should fix our problems...sometime we have to do it
844859
OFWAT is just another Quango set up by politicians to placate the public to let them think their is some regulatory authority protecting them, whilst allowing increase after increase in the price of a natural recourse.\nThe water companies are ripping off the UK public to satisfy shareholder demand for profits.\nThe whole thing is  a joke and the British simply pay up instead of revolting and refusing to pay. \nIn France the government would fall over such a situation.
8045
we are running out of oil it has been caluculated by knowles that we are due to run out of oil in 2021.  so basically buggar.  however seaweed farms let off methane and this can be used as a natural resource helium in not sure
657178
I don't want ot come across as a kn*b or anything but what do you mean - for use in what way? There are desalination plants that turn salt water in fresh water, marine life tends to prefer salt water...\n\nFlippantly (which no doubt will get me no points) all water is immediately available for use.
510636
Move to scotland we dont have any of these problems!\n\nNo its not due to global warming, just not enough rain!
409914
Both UK and USA are being over run by third world people. Worse they think they are doing us a favor. I still can't figure that stupid statement out yet. \nMost of the ones we get are illegal they are out numbering the legals. We also have towns that are all one race you'd think you just crossed the southern border. We do have great weather but they aren't coming for that its welfare here too.
653947
When the water supply evaporates.
1049421
The problem with that is that water wil freeze below 32 farenheit. so it would need a eletric trace(heat trace to heat it up if temp goes below 32) and insulation to keep the heat in. Also, rusting is a major issue which is bound to happen even if the most rustfree material is used. Also leaks are a major issue. Something chemical has to be mixed with water to determine exact location of the leak if one takes place. the oil pipelines in middle east use a chemical, i forget the name, for the same reason. Adding and removing the compund from water may be a major pain. Also another major problem would be collecting the water, how exactly would that be done. Drainage water maybe, but it would be very very hard to collect pure rainfall and transport it. The idea may seem easy but it would involve major reconfiguration of water systems, water collectors, pipelines within existing eastern cities, etc to provide water to the west. Its just not economical to do so. Also pumping stations to clean water at each interval are also expensive to first build and then run.
630429
Almost all countries have this problem ; some big , some small.\nIn many cities in Asia the sewage water disposal system is very badly managed. They are not treated effectively before it is allowed to be discharged into rivers or seas. Some do not have the treatment plant and in some the plants are not maintained propery.\nNear the butcheries where the hides and skins are washed and proceesed , in sugar industries the molasses, in dyeing industries the wastages etc etc are polluting the ground water resources.Earlier the film industry used to pollute the ground water ,.\nMany chemical industries the toxiv wastes pollute the water sources.\nI remember my child hood days when we used to drink the free flowing river waters with our hands. No more now.
984696
There isn't going to be a lack of water worldwide....just in poor countries.  Richer countries will be purifying ocean water to drink.  \n\nAnd about Austrailia....I think the problem is getting water to people, not having enough of it.
717758
Dear Friend,\n\nIn the US, no business can operate without running water for purposes of sanitation.  More than a momentary disruption and you'd need to shut down.\n\nYour Friend,\nFrancesois
948165
There have been proposals and designs for wave-generated electricity.  It is not the same as dams and is more difficult because of the variability of the wave motion.  I think the reason it hasn't  been done is that the mechanisms are expensive for the amount of power that can be obtained.
1179791
I'm not being awkward but the answer is easy.\n\nThe oil companies are developing the replacement.  They have far too much to lose to not cover their future.\nWould you want to explain to the shareholders?  Oh dear we've run out of oil, that's your lot & no more money.\n\nThey're busy working away at it & it's anybodies guess right now what that alternative might be.\nAny takers?
1083463
Why not have enough for both? Why not make both? Instead of using money on stupid sh*t (you can think of a lot of things are money is going to waste on), we can make more swamps to control floodings, and it will also help out our eco system.