258 THE FUTURE OF ARID LANDS 
has led many to believe that there will soon be ample quantities 
of fresh water, produced at a cost comparable to that of natural 
fresh water supplies. Although this belief is at present unrealistic 
for the continental United States, the production of usable fresh 
water from saline sources is neither visionary nor impractical. 
In some areas of the world, even present day conversion processes 
can produce fresh water at lower costs than those of natural 
supplies. There is every indication that demineralization of saline 
waters, through research and development backed by adequate 
financial support, and by pooling of knowledge, will help solve 
the water shortage problem in many arid regions and at a cost 
commensurate with the resulting benefits. 
Current Research Activities 
Research in desalting processes by various groups and indi- 
viduals in this country, scattered and sporadic over the years, 
is now proceeding at an accelerated rate, largely as a result of 
coordinating efforts and financial support by the Saline Water 
Conversion Program of the United States Department of the 
Interior. In 1952, the Congress of the United States, recognizing 
the need for new sources of fresh water in arid and semi-arid 
regions in this country, passed Public Law 448. The purposes of 
the act are clearly stated: 
To provide for the development of practicable low-cost means of 
producing from sea water, or from other saline waters, water of a quality 
suitable for agriculture, industrial, municipal, and other beneficial con- 
sumptive uses on a scale sufficient to determine the feasibility of the 
development of such production and distribution on a large-scale basis, 
for the purpose of conserving and increasing the water resources of the 
nation. 
For those who may not be aware of the specific provisions of 
Public Law 448, they are summarized here. The Secretary of the 
Interior is authorized to: 
(2) Conduct research and _ technical dlevelgyimen: work by 
means of grants and contracts, 
(0) ‘Teresinance methods for recovery of and marketing of by- 
products, 
