The Hidden Cost of Turning Salt Water to Fresh

Desalination plants provide drinking water to millions, but their brine discharge and energy consumption raise serious environmental questions. Blue Ocean News examines the trade-offs of relying on the ocean to quench human thirst.

For every liter of fresh water produced, desalination creates 1.5 liters of concentrated brine, often dumped back into the ocean. This hyper-saline discharge can create dead zones and harm marine life.

As water scarcity increases globally, more coastal cities are considering desalination. This feature profiles communities weighing water security against marine ecosystem health, exploring innovations that might reduce the environmental footprint.