And we moan about the weather!

[snaw]

Why is it called wastage to water the lawn when the gardener does it, but just called rain when God does it?

So to extrapolate; gardeners are God, and to question him is heresy and deserves beheading?

[expat]

Australia - the country that wastes huge amounts of it's drinking water on their lawns



http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6620919.stm

its


Why is it called wastage to water the lawn when the gardener does it, but just called rain when God does it?

[TimberWolf]

Yes, it's an expensive business.

<snip>
In the last 30 years, the amount of energy required for desalination has fallen precipitously, and along with it the price. Decades ago it took approximately 12 kilowatt-hours of energy to produce one cubic meter of freshwater using RO technology; today it takes on average between 3 and 4 kilowatt-hours of energy. Even today, however, the cost of that energy makes up about 40 percent of the total cost to produce each cubic meter of water.
</snip>


http://www.technologyreview.com/micr...ter/index.aspx

That's 3 kWh per 1000 litres though, so at 10 pence per kWh = 30p per 1000 litres. Multiply by 2.5 times to factor in other costs = 75p per 1000 litres, or 0.075 pence per litre. RO is a lot cheaper than importing water bottles I'd say, not including capital and depreciation costs, etc. Distillation would probably take 200 times that amount of energy.

[Spacecadet]

Australia - the country that wastes huge amounts of it's drinking water on their lawns

One gardener we spoke to for Costing the Earth told us that 90% of his water usage is for his garden and that it would break his heart if he ever had to stop watering and give up his beloved green lawns.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6620919.stm

[PRC1964]

A lot more expensive than importing bottles of mineral water, I suspect...

Yes, it's an expensive business.

<snip>
In the last 30 years, the amount of energy required for desalination has fallen precipitously, and along with it the price. Decades ago it took approximately 12 kilowatt-hours of energy to produce one cubic meter of freshwater using RO technology; today it takes on average between 3 and 4 kilowatt-hours of energy. Even today, however, the cost of that energy makes up about 40 percent of the total cost to produce each cubic meter of water.
</snip>


http://www.technologyreview.com/micr...ter/index.aspx

[ratewhore]

...but I seem to recall it's either reverse osmosis...

Isn't that how Coca Cola make Dasani bottled water?

[snaw]

NZ can run a hosepipe across, we have loads of fresh water. We will only charge them a small tariff

Quid pro quo for all the kiwis living in Aus on the dole ;-)

[tay]

NZ can run a hosepipe across, we have loads of fresh water. We will only charge them a small tariff

[expat]

how costly is it to purify sea water as apposed to just collecting it in reservoirs from rain fall ?

Grab an iceberg detaching itself from Antarctica because of global warming, and tow it to Melbourne.

[Board Game Geek]

how costly is it to purify sea water as apposed to just collecting it in reservoirs from rain fall ?

A lot more expensive than importing bottles of mineral water, I suspect...

[Troll]

how costly is it to purify sea water as apposed to just collecting it in reservoirs from rain fall ?

If i could be arsed I'd google that... but I seem to recall it's either reverse osmosis or evaporation /condensing technology

The first produces brackish water the second eats energy but could be viable in a hot climate

[eliquant]

how costly is it to purify sea water as apposed to just collecting it in reservoirs from rain fall ?

[Troll]

"It just reminds us, yet again, the way in which this country, Australia, is particularly vulnerable to climate change."

sounds like they need more taxes

[Diver]

Australia in desperate need of water

Linky