In the last module, we explored ocean salinity. Throughout the world, access to fresh, drinkable water can be rare and hard to find. This is a major issue for the people of these regions and a battle they constantly face. They are often located near coastlines where seawater is plentiful. However, due to seawater’s incredibly high salinity, it is not drinkable and will lead to severe dehydration (see the table in your textbook comparing seawater to pure water). One proposed method for combating this issue is to create desalination plants.

1. Read the following article below explaining what desalination means: https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/towards-sustainable-desalination
2. You can also refer to “Diving Deeper 5.1” on page 152-153 of your textbooks for a description on desalination and the different methods used to remove the salinity from seawater in order to make it drinkable.
3. Now, do your research and look up some articles that discuss whether or not desalination plants are a good idea. What solutions do they offer? Are they sustainable? Do they solve the main issue of water shortages? Do they create any new problems, or do the positives outweigh the negatives? You will address this point in your personal replies.

(Links to an external site (Links to an external site.)

Personal Replies: 

Once you have completed your reading, post a reply to this discussion board answering the following questions:

1. Define the process of desalination.
2. What are some general potential pros of building desalination plants? (cite your own research here)
3. What are some general potential cons of building desalination plants? (cite your own research here)
4. Did you know they opened a desalination plant in Carlsbad to help reduce the threat of drought in Southern California? It has been in operation for a few years now. Here is a link to their website so you can review their operation and protocols: http://carlsbaddesal.sdcwa.org/overview/Links to an external site.
   • Is this plant a good idea when considering all environmental impacts, energy usage, and resources managed to keep the plant active? Should we build more of them?
   • This question is looking for your personal opinion that you support using data and scientific understanding now that you have explored the science behind these processes. There is no right or wrong answer here.
   • Be sure to explain why you have responded the way you have and support your answer with scientific evidence.