These projects are not only desalting projects but 

 include those concerned with the disposal of the 

 effluent and its effects upon the marine en- 

 virorunent and with the behavior (scaling and 

 corrosion) of various materials in brackish or saline 

 environments. The latter studies hopefully will 

 lead to improved engineering capabihties in the 

 field of desalting and in other marine science 

 fields. 



Approximately $2.5 miUion, or roughly 9 

 per cent of the total OSW budget in FY 1968, was 

 earmarked for marine resource studies and about 

 $2.7 million is earmarked in FY 1969. Projects are 

 divided into two broad categories: 



-Pure research ($820,000 in FY 1968). These are 

 projects that are not apphcable to any specific 

 technological process but are aimed at increasing 

 knowledge of desalting processes and enhancement 

 of water quahty. The greatest emphasis is on the 

 corrosion of different materials and alloys. 



—Development of new equipment and technology 

 ($1,743,000 in FY 1968). The largest expenditure 

 is in the field of corrosion of materials and the use 

 of improved materials and alloys in the construc- 

 tion of equipment and tools. Also included in this 

 category are projects concerned with brine dis- 



posal and the design of equipment to enhance the 

 quality of desalted sea water. 



OSW has underway an economic and feasibility 

 study program involving state, municipal, and local 

 groups as weU as interagency and in-house team 

 efforts related to the study of the practical 

 appUcation of desalting in real -life solutions. Co- 

 operative studies are underway with New York 

 State, New York City, New Jersey, Utah, and 

 Texas. Work is underway to determine the po- 

 tential appUcation for desalting in the U.S. to help 

 direct OSW's development program in terms of 

 process needs, plant capacities, time-period of 

 need, and related planning parameters. The latest 

 desalting technology is being used in these studies. 



VIII. PRESENT LEVEL OF PRIVATE SECTOR 

 ACTIVITY 



Many companies are conducting engineering 

 studies on the various methods of desalting water, 

 but the total amount being spent per year is not 

 known. Most of the studies appear to relate to the 

 refinement of the basic desalting processes that 

 have been known for many years. Approximately 

 half of the existing desalination plants are pri- 

 vately owned and privately financed. 



Vn-232 



