The berg controversy: Almost one year after the UAE announced its plan to import anAntarctic iceberg to the Fujairah coast — which sparked much debate and mockery in the international press — the discussion about whether icebergs can be a feasible solution for water scarcity is back once again, according to Nature. In his book “Chasing Icebergs: How Frozen Freshwater Can Save the Planet,” scientist Matthew Birkhold quotes a scientist as saying a “relatively small” iceberg weighing 113 mn tons can supply 20% of Cape Town’s water needs for a year.

So, can frozen freshwater save the planet? Well, “the planet” may be far-fetched, but Birkhold’s book breaks down the cost of the Cape Town plan to the tune of USD 150 mn, covering the cost of melting the ice and funneling the fresh water to land. While Birkhold spoke to a number of scientists, they all remain doubtful of the new venture, Nature writes in its book review.

Is it more economically feasible than current alternatives to freshwater production? Birkhold argues that desalination is expensive in many places, and using the 100k Arctic and Antarctic icebergs that melt into the ocean annually will pay off, especially as most desalination processes use conventional fuels and pollute the ocean with excess salt. Nature’s book review, however, criticizes Birkhold’s lack of comparison to more effective alternatives such as recycling municipal wastewater or tapping brackish water for crop irrigation. Birkhold also did not present data on sources like fog harvesting used by remote communities in Chile, Morocco, and South Africa.

Many unanswered questions remain: How icebergs can be moved effectively and efficiently without melting or falling apart remains a mystery. While there are currently only a handful of scientists working on iceberg towing research, Birkhold also warns that if some of the projects are realized without regulations, profitmaking groups may sweep in and exploit the new freshwater resource.

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