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Massachusetts Considering Desalination Plants
Iphtashu Fitz writes "Despite a reservoir system containing some 412 billion gallons of water for Boston and surrounding communities, some eastern Massachusetts towns are facing water shortages and are now considering water desalination plants as a new source of fresh drinking water. The city of Brockton, 20 miles south of Boston, has plans in the works to build a $40 million plant and could begin construction as soon as this September. Currently there are fewer than 100 desalination plants in the US and most of them are in smaller communities, but that seems to be changing. The largest desalination plant in the country is located in Tampa, FL, which expects it to provide 10% of the citys drinking water by 2008. California also has at least 10 large scale plants on the drawing board. Some environmental organizations like the Conservation Law Foundation dispute the need for desalination plants however. They argue that many water shortages could simply be solved by better conservation of existing supplies."
These bozos should instead learn to conserve water. Millions of gallons of fresh clean potable water are wasted every day in typical American usage.
Do they have usage rates that increase exponentially as individual home water usage increases? Not likely.
Do they have ANY conservation program? Doubt It!
Given that this is Massachusetts the possibility that this is a giant pork project with massive 'Sopranos'-style kickbacks involved should not be discounted. If it were Rhode Island, then it would be the most-likely reason that this plan for such an expensive solution to the water shortage problem is being put forward.
Now that the 'Big Dig' project is winding up, there has to be a new avenue for big action. Massachusetts is always up for a big marginal public works project with lots of 'opportunities'.
It has been for four hundred years. Since the city fathers of Salem 'did good by doing well' selling off the conficated property of the burned witches for a toasty profit.
Fuck Massachusetts! If you live there, get a life. Get a future. Leave!
I would like to know how this is modded insightful.
Stupid libertarians using mod points. You can just call it SLUMP. Hmmm, this post will get SLUMPed down too, so better post it with my karma bonus. And don't worry, I'll repost it when this gets modded below -1.