China's Water Battles

Economic growth, rampant industrialization and overutilization of agricultural soil has loaned China a prospective water dilemma. Here's some creative steps being taken to combat the problem:

With less water, Chinese cities are forced to get creative. Brewery capital Qingdao is using seawater to flush its toilets. A pilot project is underway to use Pacific waters in the city’s commodes, saving potable water for a thirsty population. Across the country, one-third of household water consumption goes down the drain every time a toilet goes flush.

Qingdao wouldn’t be the first Asian city to look to the sea to clean its pipes. In Hong Kong, 80% of the city’s population relies on seawater to take care of their flushing needs.

Already, China has some 20 desalination plants operating around the country to help alleviate water shortages in 400 of the country’s more than major 600 cities, according to China Daily.

- Brewskie

Dubai to Get Vertical Farm That Uses Seawater

Studiomobile has developed a vertical farm for Dubai that uses seawater. From Treehugger:

"

The seawater vertical farm uses seawater to cool and humidify greenhouses and to convert sufficient humidity back in to fresh water to irrigate the crops."

phase 01: The air going into the greenhouse is first cooled and humidified by seawater,which is trickled over the first evaporator. this provides a fresh and humid climate for the crops that in these conditions need very little water as they are not stressed by excessive transpiration.

phase 02: As the air leaves the growing area it passes through the second evaporator whichhas seawater flowing over it. during this phase the humid air mix with the warmdry air of the ceiling interspace. thus the air is made much hotter and more humid.

phase 03: The warm air is forced to flow upward by the stack effect that is temperature induced.in the central chimney the warm and humid air will condense when in contact withplastic tubes where cool sea water is pumped. in the surface of the condenser manydrops of fresh water will appear, ready to be recollected in a tank to water the cropsand for other uses.

- Brewskie