Icebergs for the Desert

Over the years, the idea of using Antarctic icebergs as a source of fresh water has been widely ridiculed by scientists. Now, however, the scheme has won some prestigious support; a Government report describes it as "both technologically feasible and economically attractive."

The authors of the report are Wilford Weeks of the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research Laboratory and William Campbell of the U.S. Geological Survey. They envision "supertugs," perhaps nuclear-powered, hauling 20-mile-long islands of ice from the Antarctic* to parched coastal regions of South America and Australia. They calculate that as much as 60% to 70% of an iceberg would remain unmelted after a slow tow trip lasting as long as six months. Upon reaching port, the iceberg could be chopped up and melted. The estimated cost of iceberg water: only about 1% that of desalinated sea water.

* Arctic icebergs, normally far smaller, would probably melt away before reaching Northern Hemisphere processing points.

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