In the early 1970s, I was involved with personnel from The Rand Corporation (Santa Monica, California) and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to evaluate the iceberg-for-water concept. A series of discussions and working sessions were held regarding the capture, towing, and utilizing icebergs from the Antarctic in the Southern California area as a supplemental source of fresh water. The water would have been for the southwestern U. S. and northern Mexico region. Support for this initial effort was from a Saudi Arabian source.

All aspects of the venture were explored in the discussions, but neither iceberg computer models were developed nor towing tests conducted. Only conceptual models and estimates were developed.

Each aspect of the venture was evaluated: from capture and protection of the iceberg through towing routes and types of tugs – conventional diesel and atomic-powered – to the holding and harvesting the ice. One harvesting alternative considered was to utilize waste heat from the LADWP (and other utilities’) powerplants along the California coast to support the conversion from ice to water. And since the Environmental Protection Act of 1969 had recently been enacted, this aspect was included in the initial evaluation and discussions.

As I remember, the projected economics were positive. However, funding to support continuation of the effort did not come through.