MIT engineers and collaborators developed a solar-powered device that avoids salt-clogging issues of other designs.

  • FooBarrington@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    I’m not saying it is impossible to do or not a potentially sensible option in certain places, I am saying it is not going to be cheaper than tap water anywhere.

    How does this work? If it’s a sensible option in certain places (those without access to tap water), how can tap water be cheaper? Why wouldn’t everybody just bring tap water to those places as well if it was cheaper?

    • AlteredStateBlob@kbin.social
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      8 months ago

      It might still be more expensive but more resilient to other external factors such as embargoes, wars, whatever might influence delivery of other water sources. Cost isn’t the only factor to decide what technology or solution should be implemented.

      • FooBarrington@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        It is usually the driving factor in our global economy.

        I don’t see how your point makes sense - transport can easily make tap water more expensive than salt water, but you’re acting like it’s literally impossible for transportation costs to be higher than desalination costs. Why?