Why don't California build a water pipeline from the melting glaciers?

Why don't California build a water pipeline from the melting glaciers? In fact I am not sure why we don't do this to fill all our aquifiers before its all melted into saltwater? I keep reading that in the future water will be as scarce as oil. why not grab it before it melts?

a reply to: Xeven

From what glaciers? I can't tell if people are crazy/dumb/or messing with me anymore.

It would be much cheaper and less red tape with desalination. Buy why would they, it's more profitable to charge you for water and ration it.

Why take a rivers' job away?

Colossal rainwater tanks would be better,wouldn't it?

I think another question would be why doesn't California invest in desalination water treatment plants along the coast? They have all the resources at their front door.

originally posted by: Xeven
Why don't California build a water pipeline from the melting glaciers? In fact I am not sure why we don't do this to fill all our aquifiers before its all melted into saltwater? I keep reading that in the future water will be as scarce as oil. why not grab it before it melts?

I was thinking along the same lines, but instead of glaciers, what about the 7 feet of snow in Buffalo, NY. At least it would work for the winter months and the collection of rainwater like Ericthedoubter posted. If there's a will there's a way right? But me thinks Cali like to keep their state in a perpetual drought situation so they can fine people for not following the water conservation laws. Hey the oil pipelines work, why not water? Of course corps value oil more than water which is ass backwards IMO.

a reply to: Ceeker63

Apparently Hawaii's desalination plants work for them! No interest in actually providing drinkable water I suppose.

One reason being that Caly is broke, really broke, so broke there is no chance of it being mended.

a reply to: pikestaff

Maybe they might be interested in a brand new (slightly rusty), unused, desalination plant we had built in Victoria Australia? Bloody thing cost us billions and is sitting there slowly falling to bits. It's odd to think the Labor government must be praying for a draught to prove it was worth it... *rollseyes

Yeah don't really get it. With the money that Cali has or had, I guess, and the importance of water...and like, the tech superiority of Cali...dude, get desalinization going.

Get it sponsored, by Google or something.

a reply to: Qumulys

Actually,a good idea would be to build a pretend desalination plant out of MDF and polysterene,attach a few LED lights and have a huge opening ceremony-Then it would rain ceaselessly forever.

Cheap,easy,ends drought.What do you think?

use nature's desalinator...coconut trees!
2nd

a reply to: Ericthedoubter

That idea has real possibilities
Or you could sponsor me to come over for a camping trip - works every time.

But a massive pipeline requiring a massive dam at the top end plus boring tunnels through mountain ranges (or pumping stations to get the water over the ridges) - not gonna happen due to unbelievable costs.

a reply to: Xeven
Could you be a bit more specific? You said "the" melting glaciers, implying we all should know which ones you're talking about. However, as we don't I can only guess you're referring to ones in California itself.

Seeing as California's own glaciers (eg in the Sierra Nevada) are some distance away from the most populated regions they'd need long pipelines, with pumping stations along the way. That requires infrastructure. Power lines, service roads for maintenance and so forth. Not to mention they'd have to build a catchment below whatever glacier/s first so they have a guaranteed water level available to pump from.

This would impact the environment. Removing large volumes of water from a glacial melt source would be devastating for the ecosystems downstream from the glacier/s.

The most populated regions of California are right by the Pacific ocean, so it would make more sense to do what other members have suggested: build desalination plants. It's still not ideal as they require huge amounts of electric power, but in the long term it's more doable than tapping into some glacial melt.

Assuming the Pacific Ocean isn't going to disappear any time soon, it's a much more reliable long-term resource.

us knuckleheads have the know-how & drive to get this stuff happenin'
(now all we need to do is rebuild our societies & relationships)
not sure if one could make a dew-pond, fog-trap (or the other one) in their backyard but it might help also

But me thinks Cali like to keep their state in a perpetual drought situation

here's a video from youtube titled "cali drought continuation" or something
it's one of those "chemtrail" type vids.. but it might be worth looking at since the guy is using some kinda satellite/radar info to state his case..
linky
i don't bother "vetting" this stuff anymore
but it'd be nice if someone could do that with this one...

Ever been to California? Palm trees everywhere. The problem is California is a desert. They don't get enough rain.



a reply to: Emeraldous

California were designing mobile desalination plants, some using nuclear power. They could be floated along any river:

www.sciencedaily.com...

This thread reminds me of the Monorail episode of the Simpsons.

Stormcell's link of the m3 is very interesting. I Found it strange that it's an old idea and it seems it was lost in time. I Always thought something like this would be the answer. And with electricity being harnessed from everywhere these days,a real potential solution seems to be on the horizon in my opinion. Thanks for that link.

a reply to: Ericthedoubter

You know what, that would probably just work!

Actually, I heard vaguely on some science radio show, that there was a method of de-sal that could be as simple as running the salt water through very long lengths of clear pipes and then the sun can 'de-sal' the water without the huge energy costs. Not sure how it all worked though or the science behind it?