Demineralization of Saline Waters 
SHEPPARD T. POWELL 
Consulting Engineer, Baltimore, Maryland 
It is widely acknowledged that there is a great need for fresh 
water in many areas of the world. The ability of man to provide 
food and other bare necessities of life, even on a subsistence level, 
is dependent in large part on adequate supplies of water. To raise 
his living standards above the minimum level, man must have 
water of good quality in relative abundance. From early antiquity, 
obtaining water has been one of the most pressing problems facing 
man. Regardless of intellectual, economic, and political progress 
over the centuries, the problem has not been solved in many 
areas of the world, and, in fact, has become intensified with 
population growth. 
Even a cursory review of recent attempts to solve water 
supply problems reveals a widespread consciousness of the needs. 
In this respect there are no divergent opinions. However, the 
general agreement on the need for water does not extend to the 
means of solving the problem. 
The conversion of salt or brackish water into usable fresh 
water has a strong appeal to people in arid regions. In fact, it is 
being considered as a means to increase supplies in many areas 
having reasonable amounts of rainfall. The degree of interest and 
hope of accomplishment are, in general, proportional to local 
needs and to the shortness of available fresh water supplies. 
Unfortunately, there are misconceptions concerning the com- 
plexity of the problems involved in saline water conversion. There 
are unjustified expectations of early success in this field. The 
non-technical press has been overly optimistic in dramatizing 
the developments in the conversion of saline water. This optimism 
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