Can Seawater Fix California's Drought?

California faces a severe drought, raising questions about using desalination to address water scarcity. Desalination, which removes salt from seawater, is used globally, with methods like reverse osmosis and multi-stage flash being prominent. However, desalination is costly and energy-intensive, and logistical challenges limit its effectiveness in California. Innovative approaches like solar desalination offer hope for more sustainable solutions. Despite current limitations, further research could make desalination a viable option for drought relief.

What is the primary reason California cannot rely solely on its coastline for water supply?

• The ocean water is too cold.

• The ocean water is full of salt.

• The ocean water is polluted.

• The ocean water is too deep.

Which two methods produce over 80% of the world's desalinated water?

• Reverse osmosis and multi-stage flash

• Multi-stage flash and solar desalination

• Multi-stage flash and distillation

• Reverse osmosis and distillation

Why is desalination not a complete solution for California's drought?

• It is too slow to produce water.

• It is not environmentally friendly.

• It produces too much freshwater.

• It is too expensive and energy-intensive.

What is a major environmental concern associated with desalination?

• The increase in water temperature

• The destruction of marine life

• The disposal of brine

• The production of greenhouse gases

What is a potential advantage of solar desalination over conventional methods?

• It requires less sunlight.

• It produces more brine.

• It is more cost-effective and produces less brine.

• It uses more energy.