Open AccessAUGMENTATION OF URBAN WATER BY ANTARCTIC ICEBERGS
Author(s) -
John D. Lawson,
D. S. Russell-Head
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
proceedings of conference on coastal engineering/proceedings of ... conference on coastal engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2156-1028
pISSN - 0589-087X
DOI - 10.9753/icce.v18.158
Subject(s) - iceberg , submarine pipeline , towing , work (physics) , environmental science , oceanography , marine engineering , geology , engineering , sea ice , mechanical engineering
The indigenous water resources of the south west of Australia are under increasing stress. One solution to this problem may be water importation in the form of Antarctic icebergs. This possibility is discussed in this paper. To be cost effective, an iceberg water scheme needs to provide water at less than A$ 0.14 kl-* from the reservoir, and at yearly volumes of the order of 10° m . A number of analyses of the selection and towing of icebergs have been given in the past but the offshore processing of icebergs has been somewhat neglected. A conceptual solution to the processing problem is given in this paper and cost estimates for the acquisition and processing of icebergs are given. Our analysis indicates that iceberg water may be a feasible and economical urban water augmentation system for yearly volumes greater than 2 x 10 m^. Further work on iceberg water augmentation is warranted.