EXPLAINER: World Cup host Qatar relies on desalination

  • 📰 AP
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 59 sec. here
  • 2 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Quality Score:
  • News: 27%
  • Publisher: 51%

United States Headlines News

United States Latest News,United States Headlines

World Cup host Qatar is among the world’s most water-stressed countries — a problem the tiny, wealthy emirate has largely paid its way out of thanks to expensive technology known as desalination. Here’s a look at how it works.

There are other types of desalination but reverse osmosis is the most common. Inland brackish waters can also be desalinated.Desalination plants are scattered along coastlines across the world, but the highest-capacity plants are located in high-income, water-starved Middle Eastern countries with ample coastline, such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Israel. Saudi Arabia is home to the world’s largest plant.

Reverse osmosis technology has been around since the 1950s. Gulf Arab nations were among the first to embrace it. After soaring oil revenues in the 1970s and ’80s transformed them into some of the world’s wealthiest countries, they began investing heavily in the infrastructure. Israel got serious about desalination in the late 1990s following a severe drought.by researchers at the United Nations’ Water and Human Development Program.

“It simply takes a lot of energy to pull salt out of water,” said Peter Gleick, president emeritus of the California-based Pacific Institute, who has studied water resources for decades.The process has become more efficient in recent decades. But it still takes between 3.5 and 4.5 kilowatt hours of electricity to desalinate 264 gallons of water, according to an 2019of more than 70 large-scale facilities. A U.S. refrigerator uses about 4 kilowatt hours of electricity per day.

Then there’s the brine, or highly salty sludge left behind by the filtration. Some facilities dispose of it on land or inject it underground. But most desalination plants send it back into the ocean. Some dilute it before doing so.

 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.

Solar + Nuclear + Desalination = Fixed California

It was probably a mistake to host a major outdoor sports event in a literal desert with water supply problems During summer at the equator

Lots of poor and abused people died to build the stadiums in Qatar.

Qatar's human rights record is a horror. It can not be washed away by a football match

'Expensive' is a relative term. If they can afford it, they should do it. Why would a nation worry about spending money for providing clean water to their citizens? People in western countries spend way more on bottled water when clean water is available from city supply.

Yes. What's the problem? Reverse Osmosis is used in the US, as well.

My country is hosting it next

Worth every penny. Feels like science class...

Something california is too stupid to do 🙄

Yes, the combination of nuclear power and desalination is a big tool in confronting climate change. Why isn’t the U.S. (particularly the West Coast) embracing this? Answer that and you’ll know how serious we actually are

Something I can watch for when I can’t sleep at night.

We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 728. in US

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Dua Lipa Slammed Rumors That She Will Be Performing At The 2022 Qatar World Cup'I will not be performing and nor have I ever been involved in any negotiation to perform.'
Source: BuzzFeed - 🏆 730. / 51 Read more »

Favorites to Win the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Golden Boot in QatarThe 2022 World Cup is just over one week away. Let's dive into the odds to see who is favored to win the tournament.
Source: nbcchicago - 🏆 545. / 51 Read more »

BTS’ Jung Kook to Perform at 2022 FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony in QatarThe K-pop star will also contribute to tournament’s official soundtrack, the band tweeted. Proud of you jungkook🫶🏻 BTS_twt BTS JUNGKOOK 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜🤴😘😘😘 Yeah baby 💜 we proud of you 😘
Source: billboard - 🏆 112. / 63 Read more »

Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup: Technologically advanced stadiums will cater to the needs of specially-abledThe stadium is not only wheelchair-accessible. It also sees the inclusion of a quiet room for those suffering from autism and other cognitive disabilities.
Source: IntEngineering - 🏆 287. / 63 Read more »

US World Cup Team Starts Arriving in Qatar Ahead of TrainingThe first wave of U.S. players and staff arrived in Doha on Friday, greeted with flags and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The remaining 17 players will wrap up their last matchweek in Europe and then head to Qatar.
Source: nbcchicago - 🏆 545. / 51 Read more »