(68b) Turning the Tide: Policies to Advance Saltwater Desalination in the United States

Although water remains one of the world’s most abundant resources, most of the water resides in the ocean. With an already limited supply of freshwater, the increasing global population, changing climate, and worsening droughts are placing additional strains on the world’s water supply. Currently, several regions of the U.S. are experiencing some level of water shortage, and while the majority of the affected states reside in the West, the effects are felt nationwide. Although both water conservation and reuse remain key components of the national water portfolio, these practices alone will not sufficiently accommodate future water demands. Desalination, which removes salts and other suspended solids from seawater and brackish water, is a technique widely used around the world to convert high-salinity water into water suitable for human use. The unique benefits of seawater desalination remain to be recognized in the U.S., and since the options for augmenting the current water supply are limited, seawater desalination should hold a distinct place in the U.S. water portfolio.