Theshortageofdrinkingwaterhaslongbeenathreattothedevelopmentandfutureofcountry'scapital, butarecentreportsuggeststurningseawaterintofreshwatercouldturnthetidetoanoldprobleminBeijing. Thecostofdesalinatingseawater - tomakeitsafetodrink - isexpensive, GuangzhouDailyreportedTuesday, andalongwiththeconstructionoftherequiredpipelinetheinvestmentwouldequatetoaminimumpriceofseventoeightyuan, roughlyoneUSdollar, perton. RuanGuoling, anexpertoftheNationalBureauofOceanography, suggeststhegovernmentshouldgivepricesubsidiestointroducedesalinatedwatertoresidentsinBeijing. Hesaiddesalinatedwatertastesnodifferenttonormalpurifiedwater.
