Food & Water Watch

Desalination

Desalination shouldn’t be used as a quick fix to water shortage problems.

Take action

Ocean desalination is a costly and energy intensive process that converts seawater into drinking water. Tell Congress to oppose federal subsidies for water extraction technologies like desalination.

power plant As cities face increasing water management problems, some companies and elected officials are pushing an expensive, energy-intensive technology called ocean water desalination. Desalination separates salt from seawater. It might sound like a good idea, but this technology’s cons far outweigh its potential benefits. Ocean water desalination plants harm marine ecosystems, promote unsound coastal zone management, waste energy, and impact human health.

Desalination shouldn’t be used as a quick fix to our water shortage problems. Conservation and recycling programs may be a much less expensive and less risky alternative to building desalination plants. Find out where some of these plants are being planned and what’s happening in the communities that are stuck with them already. And, if you’re from California, Florida, Massachusetts, or Texas, you’ll want to pay particular attention because desal companies want to make your state a national guinea pig.