10 Questions
What is the primary goal of desalination?
To convert saline water into usable water
Who officially opened the plant on June 21, 1961?
John F. Kennedy
When did the U.S. Congress pass 'The Saline Water Act' to support desalination?
1952
What is the main goal of converting water from oceans into freshwater according to President Kennedy's speech?
To create a sustainable source of freshwater for all homes and industries
Which government department provided funding for the initial development of desalination technology in the 1950s and 60s?
Office of Saline Water
Where was one of the first seawater desalination demonstration plants built in the United States in 1961?
Freeport, Texas
Which technology involves the heating of saline water to produce pure water?
Vapor Compression Distillation (VCD)
What is the primary purpose of desalination technologies?
To separate saline water into low and high salt concentration parts
Which company, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of the Interior, built a seawater desalination plant in Freeport, Texas in 1961?
Dow
Where does the U.S. rank globally in terms of desalination plant capacity?
Second
Study Notes
- Desalination is the process of removing salts from water and is used in municipal, industrial, and commercial applications.
- Development of desalination technology began during World War II due to limited fresh water supplies and the passing of "The Saline Water Act" in 1952.
- The first seawater desalination demonstration plant in the United States was built in Freeport, Texas in 1961, producing 1 million gallons per day (mgd).
- Desalination technologies can be broadly classified into thermal and membrane types.
- Thermal technologies involve heating saline water to produce distillate, while membrane technologies use pressure to separate salts from water.
- As of early 2000, the global desalination capacity was about 7 billion gallons per day (bgd), with thermal processes accounting for 50% and membrane technologies for 50%.
- Desalination capacity increased by about 12% per year from 1972 to 1999 and there have been over 8,600 desalination plants installed worldwide, with approximately 20% in the U.S.
- Thermal desalination technologies involve heating saline water to produce distillate, but are rarely used for brackish water due to high energy consumption.
Explore the fundamentals and history of desalination, a process that removes salts from water. Learn about its applications in municipal, industrial, and commercial sectors, and how advancements in technology have made desalination processes more cost-competitive.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
