Desalination pours more toxic brine into the ocean than previously thought

The supersalty water is a by-product in producing potable water

desalination plant in Saudi Arabia

BRINE PRODUCERS  Many desalination plants, such as this one in Saudi Arabia, lie close to the coast so they can easily take in seawater to purify and flush an extremely salty brine waste product back into the ocean.

Waleed Alzuhair/Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Technology meant to help solve the world’s growing water shortage is producing a salty environmental dilemma.