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In some places such as the Los Angeles area, there are concerns about water shortages.
Conservation could help, as might desalination.
But what of using salt water?
One could imagine saltwater treatment plants purifying saltwater that would go to mains that would provide saltwater to the
citizens. Houses, particularly the new ones, could now have four taps.
Some might find uses for this plentiful form of water. They can shower in it, bathe in it--either completely or partially. Maybe with corrosion resistant machines, they could wash their clothes. It would have uses in swimming pools and jacuzzis. One might use for saltwater aquariums.
One might cook food insaltwater instead of adding salt.
What are they called--"haeleophytes": plants that grow in saltwater? Some garden possibilities.
Some might even experiment with home-desalination.
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Outside the house, there could be _three_ taps - one for regular water, one for saltwater and one for untreated city wastewater - this last would be used for watering the plants, as it would be chock full of nutrients. Don't drink from the hose! |
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Four taps, and a hose for watering and fertilizing the lawn and (likely) ornamental plants. I suppose tertiary treated sewage would have more industrial uses--such as car washes. |
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I want to like this idea but I can just see the lawn devistation caused by new home owners hooking their sprinklers up to the wrong tap. Or young vandals playing a prank. |
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However, the saltwater would likely be for indoor uses and the tertiary treated sewage for the lawns. At any rate there could be different sized taps and even locks. |
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How to ensure dry land salinity comes to your neighborhood, this summer. |
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Isn't this why God invented Reverse Osmosis Units? |
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Salt water solely for fire mains? |
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I don't see many household uses for saltwater, certainly not washing the car or watering the lawn. |
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This would work with unpotable fresh water. For instance, untreated out of a river, or partially treated sewage water. But that’s already baked for lawn irrigation. |
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Not sure you are all aware exactly how corrosive salt water is. Piping would have to be non-metallic if it were to last more than a year or two (or made from something exotic and arse-spankingly expensive like hastelloy or inconel). Valves would be a particular problem. |
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Compare this against the limited uses possible - firefighting and watering a few salt tolerant plants (and pre-salted water for boiling spuds). Who would really want to bathe in salt water, without showering in fresh water afterwards, or walk around in salt-encrusted clothes? |
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If you're going to use the salt water, desalinate it - it will be cheaper and more useful. |
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(Still...the smell of the sea in your sink might be appealing) |
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Piping could be plastic or ceramic--likely the former for households, the later for the main pipe.
Valves could be large plastic. |
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You'd do the main cleaning in salt water--or perhaps a combination salt and brackish with a rinse in fresh water to get ride of residues of soap, detergent, and salt. |
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Ditto with clothes washing. It would be washed in salt--or brackish water, rinsed in fresh. |
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One can boil in salt water, wash foods in it, wash hands in it during food preparation, wash dishes, etc. |
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Also, again there are swimming pools which use very large quantities of water. |
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One need no more smell the sea in saltwater than one smells the lake, pond, or river in fresh water. |
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[Great Satan] what about pumps? These would have to be exotic specials. And plastic valves are about as much use as chocolate teapots, especially at higher pressures. |
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Also, special household appliances would be needed (e.g. saltwater resistant washing machine), and possibly a change to detergent formulations to prevent excess foaming. |
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Oh...and the "smell of the sea" comment was ironic... |
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\\Maybe with corrosion resistant machines, they could wash their clothes.\\
What about clothes with metal, such as zippers? |
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By the way, did I quote that the right way? |
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[ff] The convention is generally //quote//, though I have no idea why. |
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Thanks for your thoughts people, |
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Why not pumps with platinum blades--or plated blades? Chances are such a pump is already expensive. |
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Isn't bleach pretty corrosive already? The zipper will be washed in salt water, not soaked for hours. Further, aren't zippers plated? |
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My pa tells a story about staying in a Spanish hotel where the showers (indoors) were salt water. I think they just lived with the corrosion. |
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I stayed in a hotel in Australia many years ago that used saltwater showers. The soap smelt just like vomit... shudder... |
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//saltwater showers// Inconcievable. Would you have to shower again, using a freshwater shower, when you're done showering? |
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I'd be up to the individual. |
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Some might perfer no seawater, some might be satisfied with seawater only, some might use brackish water (mixing such as one would mix hot and cold for warm), and some might wash in saltwater and rinse a little with freshwater. |
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I'm thinking four taps here. |
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