266 THE FUTURE OF ARID LANDS 
productive. In the short period of less than three years, assembled 
data have revealed the merits and estimated cost of demineralized 
saline supplies and have made it possible to predict ultimate 
costs of water production by various methods which are being 
studied. 
Constructive research now in progress gives more hope of the 
possibility of reducing costs to acceptable values than in any 
previous period. 
Application in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions 
The role which power or energy plays in demineralization cannot 
be overemphasized. Davis S. Jenkins, Director, Saline Water 
Conversion Program, Department of the Interior, has so appro- 
priately remarked, ‘‘for processes using an external energy source, 
the cost of energy alone for converting sea water will be, at the 
minimum, in the order of $20 an acre-foot (at 5 mill power). Thus 
it becomes important that nonconventional energy sources such 
as solar energy, wind power, and geothermal energy be explored 
vigorously in connection with process development and use.”’ 
There are many arid and semi-arid regions near the sea or other 
saline water sources where demineralization systems could be 
developed. Augmentation of fresh water supplies in many of these 
locations is necessary because of industrial growth. The establish- 
ment of industries in areas where existing water supplies are 
inadequate to meet the civil, agricultural, and industrial needs 
also depends on an additional source of fresh water. Conditions of 
this type are found in many places in this country and throughout 
the world. At such locations, economic salt water conversion 
offers a form of relief from water shortage difficulties. 
The conditions cited are illustrated in a number of rapidly 
growing industrial communities in this country, such as the Texas 
City area in Texas, in southern California, and even along the 
eastern seaboard. In these areas, ample supplies of saline water 
are available and at some locations within these areas, sources of 
waste heat could be utilized for desalting purposes. — 
Such conditions justify careful investigation to determine the 
cost of producing fresh water for industrial uses for comparison 
with the cost of importing water from remote sources. 
