Floating Potable Water Treatment Systems

The idea isn't new. Reverse Osmosis water treatment plants on ships that sail the sea bringing potable water to people that need it.
Over the years I have heard this idea from various "visionary's" who really want to help people in areas of the world where potable is scarce or expensive. So why haven't we heard of any operating at the current time?

Sea water is everywhere, an unlimited source, so ships equipped with RO desalination systems could make water anywhere in the world. Surely such a ship could have been in place in Haiti these past few months.

The answer is economics. There must not be enough customers with the means to pay for the water that would support the enterprise. There should be plenty of prospective customers. Coastal countries in arid locations come to mind. Many of these are locations are Islands with remote sections that could be developed but for the lack of a potable water supply. Potable water is needed during the construction phase of hotels, resorts with golf courses and housing projects. The ships could be leased by governments. Cities and towns with inadequate water supplies, i.e. coastal California, could purchase water from "Water Ships" until land based Water Treatment Plant projects are completed.

One forward thinking engineer in Boston, USA has developed a plan with a slight twist on the aforementioned possible applications for a floating potable water treatment plant. The plan, developed by Kevin Crawford, Braintree Utilities, calls for the retrofitting of one or two cargo holds of a an unused oil tanker into 1-2 million gallon per day RO desalination systems. Complete water treatment plants with additional cargo holds being used for potable water storage. The initial "water ship" would be berthed adjacent to the retired General Dynamics Shipyard in the Boston MA area. Kevin's in-depth research indicates that such a ship could supply much needed potable water to the nearby towns of Hingham, Hull, and Cohasset at much lower costs than a land based facility.

The process equipment and the design of the WTP was developed by Water Treatment Systems, Inc of Boca Raton, FL. The systems can be supplied and installed relatively inexpensively and it would be a great use of ships that are not being used for their original intention. Such ships could be deployed where ever they are needed for commercial projects or for disaster relief.

".... now we just need an investor with insight and fairly deep pockets" Kevin told me just recently. If anyone is interested contact me by E-Mail.