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Michelle Rosenthal

social worker, Dr Susan Smith McKinney Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

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Will we utilize water captured in the ice caps by transporting small chunks before they melt and flood the coast lines around the world?

Before there were freezers and ice making machines, a creative business man established a wildly successful business cutting up large chunks of ice from the top of frozen lakes with chain saws, and transported the blocks of ice around the world in many, many ships. It was a massive undertaking. The ice was used to keep food cold and for water etc.

We can make better use of the water that is inside the breaking ice caps and massive ice sheets by bringing it for use in irrigation and drinking water around the world as needed in many ships.

If the ships transporting the water are powered by many massive sails and solar power receptors, regulated by the most advanced technology, to maximize the amount of energy utilized from the wind and the sun it, may be achievable at a net increase to benefit humanity. Many huge ships are now being powered this way, either fully or partially.

The fresh water ice may be transported other ways as well. We have to get smart and figure out how to deal with this situation. I realize this issue has to be fully studied since any changes made may have other unforeseen consequences.

The ships may be filled with the ice. The ice melts easily to water after the temperature rises and the water can be used to save lives.

I am seeking to inspire corporations or business entrepreneurs to take advantage of this great business opportunity available by transporting the chunks of ice small enough to be movable to areas where the melting ice is needed for drinking, for animals and to water crops and trees.

We also can return to old methods of getting fresh water by collecting water in rain barrels, conserving, harvesting water, purifying water, reduce toxic dumping into the waters and be more conscientious about protecting our water before it is too late.

Related Talks:
Topics: Potable water depletions Water Conservation Water scarcity clean drinking water peak-water science of water solution to water scarity
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  • Jillian Jack

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    Oct 28 2011: I agree with Steven. There is plenty of fresh drinking water around the world, and it is only a matter of making it potable. Moving large amounts of anything around costs not only a lot of energy, but also a lot of resources, and moving any amount of water is very costly. For example, you have to build these ships, solar panels, etc first. This would also take a vast amount of energy. Also, you have to take into account that melting ice helps to keep the water at the same temperature. It takes energy to melt it, and this energy comes primarily from the warming temperatures of the ocean. It is already being "put to use", just not at human hands. I'm not trying to bring you down, I'm just trying to show you how impractical it would be. However, your last paragraph really summed up what has to be done to try and preserve what easily accessible drinking water we do have.
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    Steven Dilloway

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    Oct 22 2011: ??? how much energy do you think would be need for that to happen?

    also... it is too late to protect 'our' water.
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      Michelle Rosenthal

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      Oct 22 2011: It may not have to take that much energy if they use ships with many sails to power the ship. There are many large ships even cruise ships that have added many sails to their ships to capture wind energy when ever possible. The sails can regulated by advanced technology to capture maximum wind energy. The ships may also be powered by solar energy. Why shouldn't we utilize the gift of fresh water to help humanity while we have this rather than just lose the opportunity when it all melts away. I guess if it melts into the water there will be some advantage of diluting the toxins and pollution that we threw in the water but it also may change the Ph balance of the water and may set off consequences that we are not yet aware of nor able to overcome.
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        Steven Dilloway

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        Oct 23 2011: this doesn't seem practical. I mean, that ice is there for a reason. don't you think we should focus on protecting it, rather than chopping it up and shipping it away?

        im all for making best use of a bad situation but c'mon
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          Michelle Rosenthal

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          Oct 23 2011: Of course, we have to protect the environment and try to reduce global warming if possible but if it is not working we may consider making a better plan for the ice than just having them melt and flood the coastlines. We have to be careful since maintaining the balance in nature is very important and difficult. Ice reflects the sun rays back out and the water absorbs it so we do not want to remove the ice too prematurely but if we do not remove it before it melts and flooding occurs we would have lost the opportunity to put the water to use for agriculture, people and animals. It is a tricky situation.
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