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1 . I gallons per day will barely meet ,the water demands of the sailors who man these carriers. While shipboard supplies of water are vital to navies and the mari- time industry, the problem in which we are interested is quite different. Aboard ship the primary interest is a reliable supply of water, the cost of the water is of secondary consideration. Our interst is centered on land-based plants that can produce fresh water from the sea at low cost with the emphasis on cost. Unmistakenly we must continue to pursue with vigor and prudence the development of all of our available natural supplies of water. The record of achievement in the development of this vital natural resource established by the agencies represented here today is, one that you can look upon with justifiable pride, but you well know that you cannot rest upon your laurels, for more, much more, remains to be done if we are to develop our water resources at a pace that will enable us to meet the increasing demands of our growing population. The great dams of the Missouri River are splendid testimony of what has been accomplished, but men of vision, such as Secre- tary Seaton, Assistant Secretary for Water ' and Power Fred G. Aandahl, Governor John E. Davis, and many others, who are pushing for the develop- ment of the 250,OOO-acre Garrison Diversion irrigation development, and' other water programs as well, are providing the leadership that will permit the beneficial utilization of waters so vital to our future ,economy. , Failure to adequately develop all available natural supplies of fresh water is a luxury that not one of our 50 States can afford, for water prob- lems in one form or another touch all 50 States of the Union. In some areas it is a problem of availability, in others of salinity or quality, it may be a problem of maldistribution,or in,some cases a problem of excess. Regardless of the cause, as a Nation, we can no longer regard "ith indif- ference the increasing imbalance between the supply and demand for water in the, United States. Although there is a growing public awareness of the problems we must ,face to maintain adequate supplies of water, we have too long taken for granted the availability of water for our every need. Only in recent years have we realized that water suitable for man's use may be a..limited com- modity. At least one implication in our ever-increasing use of water is un- mistakable: we must find new sources of fresh water. And the most likely sources, obviously, are the great oceans, and the vast reserves of brackish inland waters. The United States Government's work in this field goes back to 1952, when Congress passed the Saline Water Act to provide for research and development of practical methods of producing fresh water from saline sources. The 1952 Act authorized $2 million for a five-year program. In 1955, the Act was amended by increasing the authorization to $10 million G-2 ~ r 1