Now, we all know that in order to have a healthy life, people need to drink fresh water every single day. The same can be said about animals and even plants as well. And with a planet that is actually mostly composed of water (70%), you may think that this shouldn’t be much of an issue for anyone, right? Unfortunately, that is not always the case. You see, most of our planet’s water is actually salt water, and salt water is definitely not the same as fresh water. By the way, did you know that around 20% of our planet’s fresh water can be found in the Amazon basin alone? But with drought conditions experienced in many areas of the world, it is pretty much safe to say that the water supply is running short.
However, there is a solution to this problem. One particular solution that we have in mind is called desalination. So, what exactly is desalination? The answer is actually quite simple! Desalination is the a process of removing salt and other particles from salt water and non-consumable water. In other words, desalination is a process that converts salt water resources into consumable fresh water products. Desalination can help people meet some of their most basic needs, such as growing food and supporting their livelihood. However, the process of desalination can also have a devastating impact on the environment that we live in. With this in mind, there are some very important things that you should consider before using this technology. That being said, here are three advantages, as well as three disadvantages of using the seawater greenhouse technology!
Advantage – Desalination Is Very Effective
When performed correctly, the desalination process is a great way to create safe, usable water for large populations. This technology can also be used to create usable water for the times when running water is not available for one reason or another. Desalination always provides a good solution!
Advantage – Desalination Is Highly Understood
The desalination process is highly understood, and it is actually backed up by scientific data. This technology is so reliable that it allows people to create a large amount of usable water. What this means is that desalination could completely eliminate the water shortage crisis that we might come face-to-face in the future.
Advantage – Desalination Plants Are Located in Industrial Zones
Even though industrial zones are filled with large facilities, desalination plants have found their place there, too. That being said, desalination plants are located far enough from large residential areas, which means that they don’t put any civilians at risk. And did you know that a single desalination plant is able to produce more than 500 million liters of water that is drinkable? Well, now you do!
Disadvantage – Desalination Plants Consume a Lot of Energy
This one pretty much speaks for itself, doesn’t it? While using desalination can be beneficial in many different way, it still requires a significant amount of energy to create something usable. There are other, less demanding options that we can use to create drinkable water for our survival.
Disadvantage – Desalination Contributes To the World’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions
We all know that desalination causes absolutely no harm to human beings, right? Well, that might actually not be the case. Unfortunately, the desalination process can have a negative impact on the air that we breathe.
Disadvantage – Desalination Can Have a Dramatic Environmental Impact
When it comes to turning salt water into fresh, drinkable water, the salt needs to be removed from the water. This process produces brine that is so rich in salt that it can cause damage to pretty much any environment out there. Aside from salt, the salt-removal process usually produces brine that contains a whole lot of chlorine-removing chemicals and anti-scaling agents as well.
So, what do you think about all of this? By weighing all of the advantages and disadvantages that are listed above, each of us will be able to decide whether or not desalination is actually worth it. So, is it all worth it?