Spain's Torrevieja desalination plant produces over 60 million gallons of fresh water daily, supporting 1.6 million people and agricultural needs.
Spain leads Europe in desalination, and global reliance on desalination is growing due to urban expansion and climate change-driven droughts.
Environmental concerns include the potential harm of high-salinity wastewater on marine life, though Spain has invested in plant expansion and environmental monitoring.
Key quote:
"We have a very high-quality water from a source of supply that is endless."
— Ana Boix, deputy manager of the Torrevieja plant
Why this matters:
As water scarcity intensifies, desalination offers a critical solution but raises environmental challenges. Desalination plants are energy-intensive, often relying on fossil fuels which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the process produces a byproduct known as brine, a highly concentrated salt solution, which if not properly managed, can severely damage marine ecosystems by altering salinity levels and degrading water quality.
The Delaware River, a major source of drinking water for Philadelphia, is facing an emerging threat as rising seas push saltwater farther upstream. It's a problem that other places, too.
