Desalination, also referred to as desal, is removing salt from saltwater to create freshwater.
The primary method of desalting water is reverse osmosis, which pushes water under high pressure through fine membranes that separate the salt from the water.
A thin film composite called a polyamide membrane is fundamental to the reverse osmosis processes used for desalination.
There are major concerns about the impact of desal:
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Getting the water is potentially dangerous for local wildlife, as even well-filtered suctions can still suck in small animals that are crucial the local aquatic ecosystem.
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Desal is an energy intensive process so any use of fossil fuels threatens to create a feedback loop.
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Only about half the water collected from desalination is drinkable, the other half of the water becomes a super salted brine water, improper disposal of this creates a toxic waste and local dead zones.
pathways:
Wikipedia / Desalination
