Grady from Practical Engineering breaks down the science and economics of desalination using hands-on garage demonstrations.
Key insights:
Two main methods exist — distillation and reverse osmosis (RO) — with modern RO plants being far more energy-efficient, using just 1–2 kilowatt-hours per cubic meter.
Over 18,000 desalination plants operate globally, yet supply less than 1% of world water needs.
Brine disposal remains a serious environmental challenge, as hyper-saline waste harms ocean floor ecosystems
Desalination is most viable as one element in a diversified water portfolio, particularly in drought-prone regions like the Middle East and California.