# The Promises—and Perils—of Ocean Desalination  ## Metadata - Author:: [[Molly Taft]] - Full Title:: The Promises—and Perils—of Ocean Desalination - Category: #articles - URL: https://gizmodo.com/why-cant-we-desalinate-ocean-water-drinking-1849556882 ## Highlights > It takes a *lot* of energy to suck ocean water through that almost-impermeable membrane, meaning that desal plants, if they’re connected to a fossil-fueled grid, can add to climate change-charged droughts like the one in the U.S. West ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gxet532s17650yv8hnmctkwh)) > A 2016 [analysis](https://pacinst.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/PI_TheCostofAlternativeWaterSupplyEfficiencyOptionsinCA.pdf) from the Pacific Institute found that ocean desalination plants like the Huntington Beach project would produce water at a median cost of $2,100 per acre-foot, making it one of the most expensive methods of providing freshwater. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gxet7bftet81qkq04fhzpxm0)) > Pacific Institute analysis found that stormwater capture projects could provide water for around $590 per acre-foot ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gxet6tx17yrx0rkdtvdm4hvq)) > Recycled water projects, meanwhile, are more expensive than stormwater capture but significantly cheaper than ocean desalination. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gxet7ka82vams6a4g48pkrfv)) > said. “Why should a company like Poseidon be pushing a rock up the hill, when they could be pushing it down the hill and be doing more cycling?” ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gxet82t2wnsj4nsf63c2xedz)) > producing [5 million gallons](https://www.epa.gov/wifia/doheny-ocean-desalination-project) of water per day versus 50 million) and would mainly serve a population that currently [pays](https://calmatters.org/environment/2022/10/desalination-plants-california/) high prices for water imported from other areas, whose supply lines are at risk from earthquakes or droughts ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gxeta20t1fmkzjptyk2bwasq)) # The Promises—and Perils—of Ocean Desalination  ## Metadata - Author:: [[Molly Taft]] - Full Title:: The Promises—and Perils—of Ocean Desalination - Category: #articles - URL: https://gizmodo.com/why-cant-we-desalinate-ocean-water-drinking-1849556882 ## Highlights > It takes a *lot* of energy to suck ocean water through that almost-impermeable membrane, meaning that desal plants, if they’re connected to a fossil-fueled grid, can add to climate change-charged droughts like the one in the U.S. West ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gxet532s17650yv8hnmctkwh)) > A 2016 [analysis](https://pacinst.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/PI_TheCostofAlternativeWaterSupplyEfficiencyOptionsinCA.pdf) from the Pacific Institute found that ocean desalination plants like the Huntington Beach project would produce water at a median cost of $2,100 per acre-foot, making it one of the most expensive methods of providing freshwater. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gxet7bftet81qkq04fhzpxm0)) > Pacific Institute analysis found that stormwater capture projects could provide water for around $590 per acre-foot ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gxet6tx17yrx0rkdtvdm4hvq)) > Recycled water projects, meanwhile, are more expensive than stormwater capture but significantly cheaper than ocean desalination. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gxet7ka82vams6a4g48pkrfv)) > said. “Why should a company like Poseidon be pushing a rock up the hill, when they could be pushing it down the hill and be doing more cycling?” ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gxet82t2wnsj4nsf63c2xedz)) > producing [5 million gallons](https://www.epa.gov/wifia/doheny-ocean-desalination-project) of water per day versus 50 million) and would mainly serve a population that currently [pays](https://calmatters.org/environment/2022/10/desalination-plants-california/) high prices for water imported from other areas, whose supply lines are at risk from earthquakes or droughts ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gxeta20t1fmkzjptyk2bwasq))