The potential of desalination as an alternative water supply in the United States

Abstract

Many parts of the United States are facing water shortages. Planners have to ensure that there will be an adequate water supply to meet the needs of the growing population. Though many places encourage water conservation, and some even enforce water restrictions, this is not always enough to make up for the shortages. Thus, alternative water sources need to be considered in some cases. The states of Texas and Florida both face uncertainties with their future water supply. To meet the needs of their current and future populations, both states have recently been using desalination at a large scale to supplement their water supplies. This report examines the desalination facilities in El Paso, Texas and Tampa Bay, Florida to determine if desalination is a feasible water supply and to explore the consequences of pursuing the development of this water resource.