AbstractIndustry uses water for two basic purposes; for cooling and for process. The volume used for cooling is far greater than that used for process and on that basis, water for cooling is the most important use of this resource by industry. Generally, the water used for cooling or process purposes ranges in character from fresh to brackish; that is, waters having a sodium chloride concentration ranging from a few ppm to less than 3000 ppm. Above a concentration of 3000 ppm, the water is generally classified as salt or saline and it is this water and its potential use by industry which is discussed in this paper.