A drama is presently unfolding in the coastal city of Cape Town, South Africa, and maritime technology could offer a solution here and in other cities around the world.
Maritime Water Tankers During such times, converted tanker ships could carry potable water from a region of generous rainfall to a drought-stricken region.
Airborne kite sails are one of the technologies being used to assist in providing ship propulsion along routes where trade winds blow parallel to sailing direction.
A desalination ship could include both reverse-osmosis-membrane technology as well as thermal desalination technology to provide potable water.
Either a short-distance water pipeline would connect the desalination ship to the shore, or a water tanker ship would shuttle potable water from offshore desalination ship to shore-based water tanks.
Wind energy ships could use rotary turbines or airborne sails to directly drive water pumps that could produce sufficient pressure to sustain operation of reverse-osmosis desalination technology.
Small-scale, ship-based nuclear power could also provide energy for seawater desalination.
Modern day drought reduces hydroelectric power generation.
During modern drought periods, maritime based technology can achieve much in terms of providing temporary relief to drought-stricken coastal regions.
Maritime based technology can provide electric power and potable water on a seasonal basis to many locations around the world, thereby making such technology viable.