Desalination in Par, St Austell Bay

Freshwater is a resource so much of life on Earth needs. Unfortunately, it's not an infinite resource, and so many people around the world struggle to have their basic needs met without access to it. As a way to remedy this problem, many may suggest desalination: removing salt from seawater and converting it to freshwater. 

On the surface, this seems like a wonderful idea. If it works, that means people around the world can have better access to freshwater and generally have a higher quality of life. It turns out that there are thousands of plants around the world where this already takes place. But how does desalination negatively impact the environment? Are there any downsides to this process?

According to a study published in Science of the Total Environment, yes, desalination does have a negative environmental impact. At the time the study was made public in 2018, there were almost 16,000 desalination plants around the world. Unfortunately, these facilities produce so much waste and toxic chemicals that they are ultimately harmful to the planet and wildlife.

Read the full World Economic Forum article here: