Stuff You Should Know How Desalination Works
Mar 26, 2015
Explore the urgent need for desalination to tackle global water scarcity. Discover the fascinating evolution of language around water and historical attempts to make saltwater drinkable. Learn about the many desalination plants producing billions of gallons daily, with new technologies on the horizon. Dive into the complexities of reverse osmosis and the environmental challenges of brine. Get insight into the economics of desalination, including costs and sustainability strategies, all while uncovering personal stories that inspire hope in the face of drought.
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Seawater and the Human Body
- 97.5% of Earth's water is saltwater, covering 70% of the surface.
- Drinking saltwater disrupts homeostasis, leading to dehydration, organ failure, and death.
History of Desalination
- Humans have lived in coastal areas for millennia, needing to desalinate water since ancient times.
- The Greeks in the second century BC documented desalination methods.
Origin of Ocean Salinity
- Ocean salt originates from rocks on land, broken down by slightly acidic rain.
- Rivers carry the resulting ions to oceans; unused sodium and chloride ions form salt.