The desalination process gives us freshwater – at a huge environmental cost

The desalination process gives us freshwater – at a huge environmental cost
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Desalination plants dump brine into natural bodies of water, which is harmful to sea life. Image: Unsplash/Julia Goralski

Writer, GreenMatters

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A natural gas power generating plant with trees in-front of it.

In 2018 there were almost 16,000 desalination plants around the world. Image: REUTERS/Mike Blake

Multiple marine animals swimming in the ocean.

sea animals need to drink a lot of water to compensate for all the salt around them. Image: Unsplash/Sense Atelier.

A view shows a desalination plant with the ocean behind it.

Sharks expel excess salt from their bodies through a specific gland. Image: REUTERS
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