alt Hacker NewsMy immediate thought is at what point does desalination tech + clean energy reach the crossover where building a 60 mile tunnel over 60 years not make sense?
It feels like very soon, and coastal cities can stop relying on hinterland reservoirs for water.
Replies
patmorgan23 • today at 1:34 AM
Capital vs operating is a big factor here. The tunnels operations & maintenance cost is probably far lower than a desalinization plant that could produce an equivalent volume of potable water.
Ericson2314 • today at 2:09 AM
Desalination will be a West Coast thing. The East Coast has abundant fresh water.
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mattmaroon • today at 2:12 AM
It’s probably more likely AI will become sentient and kill us than it is desalination and clean energy are cheaper than this.
This was only a 60 year project because of politics.
Probably never. The tunnels cost a lot to build but, once built run almost for free - they're powered by gravity and will keep running for close to a century before major maintained is needed.