Donate

Water technology

Poseidon Water employees stand between rows of reverse osmosis filters at the Western Hemisphere's largest seawater desalination plant, currently under construction in Carlsbad, California.

Desalination is an expensive energy hog, but improvements are on the way

Environment

Desalination — taking the salt out of seawater so humans can drink it — is becoming more important as the Earth warms and drinking water gets more scarce, but it’s not a cheap or simple process. Here are some ways it might get more affordable and environmentally friendly.

An artist’'s rendering of a full-scale commercial low-input desert agriculture facility. Project’s designers say the concept should work in any low-altitude desert area near a large source of salt water.

Desert lunch: Coaxing climate-friendly food from the world’s driest places

Environment
The World

The Thirst for Safe Water: Part 2 – Water Quality and Disinfection