Reply #38: Actually that sounds more reasonable then diverting the Great Lakes water. [View All]

A simple glass cover over a pool of water, the water will evaporate, collect on the glass, if the glass is slopped the water will trickle down the glass to any awaiting collection pipes to take the water where it is needed.

The big problem is the area of highest shortages is still a good 1/2 mile UP from the Ocean AND several hundred miles FROM the Ocean (i.e. New Mexico and Arizona). Furthermore the environmental impact on the Gulf of Cortex will be enormous (i.e. increase saltiness do to water removal). In fact on reading about the Rio Grande, the lower part of the Rio Grande gets very little water from the part in New Mexico, most comes from Tributaries that run from Mexico itself (and during the present drought, Mexico has been keeping excessive amounts of water, much like Americans are doing in the Colorado water shed). The cost to move the water UP the Rio Grande would be excessive, even if it is salt water.

Now to California, the situation is different, you are nearer the ocean, and NOT as high up. On the down side you do NOT get the solar power of Arizona and New Mexico (It does rain in Southern California).

As to Solar system, it can be done, but moving the water remains. Any Fresh Water derived from the solar system will still have to be pumped UPHILL. Solar power, via electricity, may be able to do the pumping, but the overall system will will still be costly to operate (Maintenance on the Glass panels and the Solar Panels).

The biggest problem for the SOuth West is that it is NOT in any regular weather pattern that brings water into the area. The Pacific Current heads straight for San Francisco, and then turns South and Westward, taking what ever water it has (Making Southern California drier than Northern California for example. On top of this the Sierra Mountains bloke any rain that does make it into Southern California from heading further east into Arizona and New Mexico (And even West Texas). East Texas and East, get water from rain coming NORTH from the Gulf of Mexico (and some via a Northern Route via Seattle and Canada). There is no way to change this. This is how the winds blow (and derived from the Gulf of Mexico which is one of the reasons Hurricanes are so common in the Gulf). The Rockies stop this water from going to far west (Through the main reason is the fact the prevailing weather pattern in the Northern Hemisphere is West to East).

Northern Mexico and the American South West is a desert do to its location and how the winds blow. Nothing being proposed will change that. Even Global Warming will NOT change that (Through increase the intensity, including the draw of moisture from the Southwest done by the Pacific Current).