On: Why is desalination so difficult?

[eropple]

Is that true when we take into account environmental externalities? I am not an expert in this field; I know that many forms of mining are capital-B Bad for the environment but I don't know how salt mines impact the area around them.

[pas → eropple]

well, mines are bad on the short term. the long term damage is not of the actual digging, but of the separation processes. which all can be done as clean as we wish it just costs more.

[actionfromafar → pas]

Cost more energy

[Retric → actionfromafar]

Mining salt costs vastly less energy than using slightly brackish water. Which is why it’s so much cheaper.