Mexico's newest export to US: Water

[IDemo]

By ELLIOT SPAGAT
updated 10/15/2011 5:20:30 PM ET

SAN DIEGO — Mexico ships televisions, cars, sugar and medical equipment to the United States. Soon, it may be sending water north.

Western states are looking south of the border for water to fill drinking glasses, flush toilets and sprinkle lawns, as four major U.S. water districts help plan one of two huge desalination plant proposals in Playas de Rosarito, about 15 miles south of San Diego. Combined, they would produce 150 million gallons a day, enough to supply more than 300,000 homes on both sides of the border.

The plants are one strategy by both countries to wean themselves from the drought-prone Colorado River, which flows 1,450 miles from the Rocky Mountains to the Sea of Cortez. Decades of friction over the Colorado, in fact, are said to be a hurdle to current desalination negotiations.

The proposed plants have also sparked concerns that American water interests looking to Mexico are simply trying to dodge U.S. environmental reviews and legal challenges.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44914255/ns/us_news-environment/

[hunter]

1. Using fossil fuels to desalinate water...

... what could go wrong?

:eyes:

This is yet another "dumber than a vat of yeast" human trick.

[JoeyT]

2. Especially when solar energy works so well for desanilation. n/t

[hunter]

3. Solar powered ammonia/carbon dioxide forward osmosis sounds like a winner.

It only requires a temperature of 40 degrees Celsius, easily obtained by simple solar equipment.

On the down side this technology might open more desert coastal areas to development.

http://www.technologyreview.com/business/21934