[WMarshal]

For the life of me I cannot understand why the Egyptians don't use the Qattara Depression to desalinate seawater. All that they would need to do is run a large diameter pipe from the depression to the Mediterranean and down to about 3000 feet to where the water is below 40°F. The cold, deep seawater would flow with gravity to the depression and then pass through coils in plastic covered evaporation ponds where sun-heated seawater would be evaporating. The evaporated water would condense on the cold coils. Excess seawater not needed in the evaporation ponds could be used to support aquaculture.

The fresh water could be pumped to the rest of Egypt using electricity generated by turbines powered by the water flow in the pipes as it flowed by gravity in the depression.

A small village could be established (every home air-conditioned by cold seawater) where minimally skilled workers could maintain the plastic of the evaporation ponds and in return get water for their crops. No money needed. The amount of water could be allocated by number of hours worked and quality of work.

[MSF BU]

My guess is somehow the Egyptians would figure out a way to screw up the process. Were the country populated by Israeli’s, Koreans or Swedes it would be a different story.

[SunkenCiv]

regarding some Qattara Depression, proposals:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1787143/posts?page=11#11

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3096344/posts?page=16#16