A little Earth System's Science and Environmental discussion
The ocean's currents are one of the major controls for the Earth's weather. The acidity levels (salinity) of the oceans are already rising due to pollution and climate change. The temperature of the water and the salinity of the water (density) help regulate the natural system of currents within the ocean... (it's called the global conveyor belt). <http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/oceanography/ocean-current.htm>
The process of desalination, extracts "clean" water from the ocean by filtering out the "brine" - that "brine" is concentrated salts/minerals/etc... the "brine" is poured back into the ocean. This article, posted by a provider of water desalination, explains monitoring and best management practices for return to the ocean and claims positive impact results for the process. As with any article, there is a bias and it is up to the reader to do research to find the knowledge behind what information is being provided. The article does confirm the link between some of the other points mentioned in my post. <http://www.watersecure.com.au/pub/community-and-environment/release-monitoring>
Israel has been developing and using desalination practices for years now and has shared it's technology with California who has a few small desalination plants in use already (so do Florida and Texas). California will be breaking ground (2016) on a new facility in light of the extensive drought they are currently experiencing. The article claims, "the plant is expected to provide up to 50 million gallons of fresh drinkable water–enough for 112,000 Californian households–every day." (how much ocean water is extracted daily to provide that amount?) <http://inhabitat.com/desperate-for-water-california-breaks-ground-on-the-largest-seawater-desalination-plant-in-the-western-hemisphere/>
Here are a few quotes and articles with more information. "Food & Water Watch advocates instead for better fresh water management practices. "Ocean desalination hides the growing water supply problem instead of focusing on water management and lowering water usage," the group reports, citing a recent study which found that California can meet its water needs for the next 30 years by implementing cost-effective urban water conservation. Desalination is "an expensive, speculative supply option that will drain resources away from more practical solutions," the group says." <http://environment.about.com/od/biodiversityconservation/a/desalination.htm>
"Of course, as supplies of fresh water dwindle, the economic cost of desalinization‚ especially in coastal areas with easy access to ocean water‚ begins to look competitive with traditional water sourcing. To date there are about 300 desalinization plants in the United States, with 120 in Florida and less than 40 each in Texas and California. Some 20 additional plants are planned for the coast of California in the coming years, unless environmentalists extolling the virtues of conservation and wielding low-flow shower heads and toilets prevail."<http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-impacts-of-relying-on-desalination/>
So, where is the tipping point? The truth is, we don't know and our actions prove we don't care. It works now, and it can be done now... this is an immediate gratification solution available and in true human form, we will develop and use that one solution as much as and as fast as possible until something breaks and then attempt a reactive fix for whatever problems arise down the road. In the back of our minds (those who try to at least pay some attention) we simply hope that a fix is possible for whatever ends up broken by our short-sighted, singularly-focused, immediate-gratification/selfish practices (anthropomorphism).
The Jevons paradox was first described by the English economist William Stanley Jevons in his 1865 book "The Coal Question". Jevons paradox is the proposition that as technology progresses, the increase in efficiency with which a resource or technology is used tends to increase the rate of consumption and practice of that resource or technology.
So, why did I take the time to post on Facebook? Because, I'm concerned - this concerns me... I am curious - this interests me. I'm hoping some of you might be curious and will read and learn something about environmental sustainability as well. Energy can not be created or destroyed - only changed (2nd law of thermodynamics). For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction (3rd law of thermodynamics). Everything is a system, everything has a balance (balance is delicate) and every balanced system works together - a balanced Earth system is important!!! *How do you feel when you get sick? If you have a prolonged fever of 106 you could lose brain cells or even die! why? because your systems are designed to function within a specific temperature range, when unbalanced - the system can not function properly!*
Humans "should be" ethical, responsible, intelligent and wise stewards of the environment which it has learned to manipulate (with great power comes great responsibility). As a whole (en masse) we have shown the inability to regulate ourselves properly in a way that respects our unique human-brains' infinite capabilities. Individually we feel secure in our lifestyles, but as a population our cumulative actions tip the scales of balance. (united we fall, divided we stand? what?? that's not right...) The connections are easy to make when connecting the dots, but the conundrum of determining solutions is mind-numbing in it's complexity.
I do not propose to have the answers (I am not perfectly environmentally sound in my own lifestyle - but everyday I actively seek out and learn new ways to do my part). In beginning discussions - enough people with ideas and actions can become answers... so, why not? There's no legitimate reason not to start the conversation - even if someone disagrees, doesn't believe or if no one replies/comments at all, hopefully someone will read and learn something...