Why can't wet countries with too much water provide it for dry places? Apart from nationalistic and competitive reasons, are there any environmental or climatic dangers inherent in such a project? Are there any truly compelling reasons why we cannot manage our water better? What are the economics of such an idea?
2006-10-06 06:27:56 · 8 answers · asked by Oisin 1 in Social Science ➔ Economics
I figure expense is the #1 issue. The basic problem is that wet places are usually a long way from dry ones, with a large semi-arid zone inbetween. Imagine for example a water pipeline from British Columbia to southern California. Assuming demand in So Cal rose beyond the level that can be supplied by existing networks. Would it be cheaper than desalinating the local ocean off San Diego? Would demand be choked off at the price people would have to pay to cover the pipeline cost?
Perhaps more credible to build a pipe from Bulgaria to southern Greece and the islands. Or from the highlands of Iran to the UAE.
Environ and climate? Surely not. We'd only be doing a tiny % of what rivers do naturally.
But there is a problem of politics, as we see when rivers cross borders. Would Syria buy Turkish water smoothly when they have enough arguments already over the Tigris? Or Morocco from Portugal? Or Israel from Lebanon???? (In this last case, would they steal it by force rather than buy?)
2006-10-08 19:18:47 · answer #1 · answered by MBK 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am in the thamees water area where they recycle every drop about 70 times - would this mean fresh SOFT water for a change? If thats the case (which I doubt) then I'm all foor it and there are no drawbacks worth talking about.
I do so miss a decent cup of tea!
2006-10-06 06:38:57 · answer #2 · answered by scrambulls 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'd say that a pipeline should be the safest thanks to shipping oil. If any leaks ensue, there are shutoffs that may quit the flow, compared to a tanker that crashes on the rocks or a truck that overturns.
2016-12-04 08:22:24 · answer #3 · answered by deparvine 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Big terrorist worry, tainting our water supply. Putting a water pipe for long distances makes a big security issue.
2006-10-06 06:37:35 · answer #4 · answered by canine582002 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
argument for it would be great for those third world countries able to grow grain in the dessert
against it would change their eco system and make them reliant on us. (scottish and a couple of buckets from manchester and ireland)
surprised they never did it in 1976 for southern england
2006-10-06 18:25:38 · answer #5 · answered by jasmrock 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
More investment and research into desalination plants would be a better option.
2006-10-12 10:45:58 · answer #6 · answered by bo nidle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
aren't they called rivers.
waste of water is the biggest problem.
2006-10-13 04:05:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
please, please, please can they build them! we've had a hosepipe ban all summer!!!
2006-10-06 06:36:08 · answer #8 · answered by cuddlymummy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋