LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Desalinization is a win-win for everyone

Dudley Beatty, North Las Vegas

Monday, July 21, 2008 | 2:04 a.m.

A multibillion-dollar pipeline is in the works for a water win for Southern Nevada. Unfortunately, this results in a huge loss for Northern Nevadans and the good folks of Utah. Instead of this win-lose scenario, we should spend those billions to build desalinization plants in Southern California.

For every acre-foot of Colorado River water that California gives up to Southern Nevada, we will give them 1 1/2 acre-feet of desalinized ocean water. We use Lake Mead water, they use ocean water. This is a win-win for California, Utah, Northern Nevada and Southern Nevada.

Discussion: 2 comments so far…

By mwh710

7/21/08 at 6:38 a.m.

Suggest removal

It'll never fly - it makes sense and - where's the money for the politicions?
By davidkstyler

7/21/08 at 11:58 a.m.

Suggest removal

There are a few problems with that plan.
1. What will California do with the concentrated salt discharge from the plants? Just wait until there are a few dolphins floating on the ocean to see how long the plants run!
2. Where will the large amounts of required power come from? California is already "living on the edge" every summer. The NIMBYs (not in my back yard) stop every attempt to build power plants in CA.
3. If the NIMBYs don't want power plants why would they allow desalination plants right on the coastline? The plants would have to be built on the coast to minimize pumping costs and electric consumption.