I've never seen this in Loma Linda!

[Dr. Shane]

Desalination is an often discussed topic where I live. I certainly am no expert. What I know is just what I have read in newspapers and listened to on local talk shows. From what I understand, desalination does double the cost of purifiying water. That is, the cost of making it potable. However the biggest cost that we pay for water is the distribution of it and desalination does not impact the distribution costs in areas near salt water. However if the water were to be pumped one or two thousand miles inland, then the price would be impacted significantly.

In some areas, like where I live, there is irrigation water that is not purified. If the water doesn't have to be potable, that decreases the cost of purification significantly.

In practical terms, a person living near the sea who has a water bill of $30/month could expect his water bill to increase to $40 or $45 if desalinatized water become his source of fresh water.

[Dr. Shane]

It is also noteworthy that desalination plants can incorporate power-generating plants with them. Desalination plants that incorporate a power-generating plant with them become 70% more efficient. That means they use 30% of the energy of a desalination plant that does not have a power-generating plant as part of it.

[Jeannieb43]

Today's L.A.Times had a front page article on the lack of snow in the French Alps. Most of the famous ski resorts in that French/Italian border area have had no snow whatever this winter.