THE DREAM OF CHEAP WATER

摘要

At the dawn of Reverse Osmosis, a target to produce water for 50 cents/1,000 gallons was floated by the US Office of Saline Water. Everyone (except possibly the man who proposed) it knew it was impossible. Time passes, and progress progresses. Recently publications show total costs for water from seawater at 60 cents/m3. Corrected for inflation since the '60's, that is <50 cents/1,000 gallons. This is an astounding accomplishment, and has been achieved by some revolution and much evolution. This paper will review the problems and some of the amazing solutions that leave most of the "old timers" muttering "whodathunkit?" In the late 60's, Dr. Channabassapa, in charge of government sponsored membrane research for the US Office of Saline Water, stated his goal to demonstrate a plant with the ability to produce potable water from the sea for "50 cents per 1,000 gallons." I recall the number well, because it was what my family had been paying for water from a community well serving a few hundred families. At the time, my father was taking his turn as "water commissioner," so I was familiar with the cost components. I knew that Channa was, at best, articulating a rather fanciful pipe dream.