| Thinking about marine water makers? Here's a | | | | devices that can turn ocean water into fresh water by |
| question: let's say you're stranded somewhere in the | | | | desalinating it. There are three technologies to choose |
| ocean. You're all out of fresh water and the sun's rays | | | | from: reverse osmosis (the most common), vacuum |
| are bearing down on you. Soon, you will be dying of | | | | distillation and flash distillation. The process of |
| thirst. Wait a second...couldn't you just reach down into | | | | desalination is similar to filtering but a more involved |
| the ocean and scoop up some ocean water? Isn't all | | | | process that mainly eliminates dangerous inclusions like |
| water drinkable? | | | | high salt. These devices are powered by batteries, |
| The answer is yes and no. True, you do have the | | | | engines, AC generators or even a person's own |
| ability to drink ocean water. It's not going to set your | | | | hands. |
| insides on fire like acid would. However, the issue is | | | | These systems are not cheap, and for many years |
| that of long-term health. Ocean water contains very | | | | they were impractical to take aboard boats that were |
| high salt content, the likes of which your kidneys are | | | | not very large cruisers or tankers. However, |
| not made to naturally process. We'll get to marine | | | | technology has improved and now portable marine |
| water makers in just a moment, but first consider the | | | | water makers are being sold to leisure boaters and |
| truth about ocean water. | | | | yachters who want to drink their own fresh water |
| Contrary to what you might have heard already, | | | | straight from the ocean. In some cases, this water |
| drinking ocean water is not fatal in of itself. Some | | | | supply might be the only supply available. What if a |
| people have accidentally consumed small quantities of | | | | crew is miles and miles out to sea? What if a ship |
| ocean water and have not suffered any ill effects. | | | | lands in a country or island where clean water isn't |
| This is probably because they drank fresh water to | | | | available? You can see the advantages that marine |
| counteract the over-intake of salt. On the other hand, | | | | water makers offer. |
| people who drank lots of ocean water and did not | | | | Some marine water makers are sold at prices as high |
| drink more fresh water to go along with it probably felt | | | | as $4,000. Others are less expensive, perhaps falling |
| the effects of dehydration and diarrhea. This results | | | | into just a few hundred dollars. The quality of the |
| because drinking ocean water is counterproductive. | | | | reverse osmosis (or one of the other technologies) will |
| You need more water to be able to excrete the large | | | | dictate the price, as well as any extra features that |
| amount of salt in your body. If all you put in your body | | | | might be available. Stay hydrated and safe with a |
| is ocean water, you will quickly become dehydrated. | | | | marine water maker-the only safe way to drink water |
| This is why many boaters and yachters have invested | | | | right from the ocean. |
| in marine water makers. Marine water makers are | | | | |