HOW DESALINATION WORKS

Membrane/reverse-osmosis method: Water travels through a membrane under extremely high pressure and the salt is left behind. Thermal desalination: Seawater is heated to evaporation point and when it condenses, you have pure water.

With both these methods minerals have to be added back to the pure product to make it completely safe for human consumption, Bosman explains.

Reverse osmosis is generally cheaper and more energy-efficient than thermal desalination, so it’s the popular choice.