A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
To desalinate or divert? A comparative supply cost analysis for north coastal China
Seawater desalination is largely presented as a last resort to address water scarcity in closed basins. The question of whether seawater desalination can substitute for other costly measures, specifically large-scale diversion, has not been adequately assessed. To this end the full unit cost of supplying water to Beijing from the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, the largest in the world, is compared to desalination. Desalination appears to be much more cost-efficient than diversion, even when the diversion’s environmental externalities are excluded. By implementing desalination and water management options, China could substantially reduce water costs; this suggests that desalination should not be viewed only as a last resort.
To desalinate or divert? A comparative supply cost analysis for north coastal China
Seawater desalination is largely presented as a last resort to address water scarcity in closed basins. The question of whether seawater desalination can substitute for other costly measures, specifically large-scale diversion, has not been adequately assessed. To this end the full unit cost of supplying water to Beijing from the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, the largest in the world, is compared to desalination. Desalination appears to be much more cost-efficient than diversion, even when the diversion’s environmental externalities are excluded. By implementing desalination and water management options, China could substantially reduce water costs; this suggests that desalination should not be viewed only as a last resort.
To desalinate or divert? A comparative supply cost analysis for north coastal China
Li, Fei (author) / Feitelson, Eran (author)
International Journal of Water Resources Development ; 33 ; 93-110
2017-01-02
18 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
To desalinate or divert? A comparative supply cost analysis for north coastal China
| Online Contents | 2017
To desalinate or divert? A comparative supply cost analysis for north coastal China
| Online Contents | 2016
Divert stream over dam under construction
| Engineering Index Backfile | 1953
Des Joachims dam builders deftly divert Ottawa River
Engineering Index Backfile | 1949
Cut-and-Cover conduits divert Niagara water
Engineering Index Backfile | 1959