Desalination system could produce freshwater that is cheaper than tap water::A new solar desalination system takes in saltwater and heats it with natural sunlight. The system flushes out accumulated salt, so replacement parts aren’t needed often, meaning the system could potentially produce drinking water that is cheaper than tap water.

  • corship@feddit.de
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    2 years ago

    Nothing about this is “new”.

    Evaporating water and catching it has been the way to produce fresh water since, like ever. But it’s slow, and prone to bacteria.

      • Sundray@lemmy.sdf.org
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        2 years ago

        Apparently they solved the issue of how to keep the waste salt from clogging up the system.

        • corship@feddit.de
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          2 years ago

          No they didn’t. It’s never been an issue. Just don’t evaporate all water and use a new batch of salt water before the previous one gets saturated. Availability of salt water usually isn’t the issue.

  • gnygnygny@lemm.ee
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    2 years ago

    The question with desalination is always the same what will you do with the salt ?

  • just_another_person@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    We get one of these reports every few years, and I’ll believe it when I see it. The problem with desalination is it just creates yet another ecological disaster scenario. The waste byproducts are toxic, and as Israel has already proven multiple times, prone to cause issues with the balance of ecosystems surrounding intake ports.

    • Gsus4@feddit.nl
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      2 years ago

      I tested a dry system with sand, sawdust and straw, but none of the other users was a fan :(