California has approved the construction of a large desalination plant.
The plant will be used to treat water for Southern California who is in the early stages of a severe drought. The water bill for this area is already being cut by low rainfall. With continued low rainfall, the reservoirs will continue to drop. Without enough water for the cities, they will become overwhelmed.
The water bill for California already includes the desalination of water. It is expected that the plant will bring in about a quarter million tons of water a year. This could help California in their efforts to save water. This may also help with the water bill that has been said to be the largest in the country.
The amount of water that is needed is based on an average of rainfall for the five districts around the state. The plant will treat the water to the proper levels that meet the requirements for drinking. They then send the water to Los Angeles and other cities that need it. There, it will replace other city water supplies that have been shut off.
Each day that the plant operates, more than one million gallons of water is processed. The water amount approved is based on the amount of water they process each day. Once the plant stops processing, that number will change. If they are approved again for another amount, that figure is going to change again.
Each day that the plants process more water than they need, they are approved for an additional amount. The approvals are based on the amount of water that can be produced by the plants operations during any one day. If there are not enough people living in the area to meet the demand for water, then there will be an extra amount approved for the residents. It all depends on how much is needed and how fast the plants can process it.
The plant works by separating the salt water from the clean water. They process both of the waters to separate the two categories of fluid. After they have separated the fluids they put them back in the container and allow the mixture to sit. The waiting time varies, depending on what the fluid is and how clean it is. Some solvents will take a longer period of time to process the water than others.
Once the water has been sitting for the proper amount of time, the water is then tested for impurities. Any solids that are found are removed from the water. Any materials that could possibly cause a health risk are also removed. These tests are performed monthly. If there is still something that is not acceptable, they are added to the growing list of contaminants for testing yet again.
Finally, the water is filtered and then the plant waters are released into the ocean. The plant produces steam to power a desalination unit. This unit is usually found at sea beds. When the water is purified, it is taken back to the plant and then is condensed and sold.
How does all of this work? There is a long process that plants go through to get water to be purified and then re-condensed to become safe drinking water. The first step is when the plant receives water from a local source. Next it sends the water through a series of steps including:
The water is first sent to an administrative office for review. This office will verify that the water meets all applicable laws and regulations. It will also make sure that the plants’ standards have been met as far as how the water is treated and if the plants follow recommended guidelines for water treatment as well. After this is complete, the water is sent on its way to plants that process it to be drinkable.
The water gets purified at one of two different plants. One plant will use high pressure to convert the treated water into steam. This steam is used to drive a turbine that produces electricity to power a desalination plant’s boilers. The second plant will use ultra-fast electric currents to convert the treated water to salt.
The water could then be sent out to various customers. While also being distributed throughout the county and state to homes, businesses, and industries. If you are serviced by a public water treatment facility, your water could come from the same plant. If you are serviced by a private facility, your water may come from a different plant.
Provided by Antonio Westley
Disclaimer: This article is meant to be seen as an overview of this subject and not a reflection of viewpoints or opinions as nothing is definitive. So, make sure to do your research and feel free to use this information at your own discretion.
