Desalination system could produce freshwater that is cheaper than tap water
> In the meantime, the leftover salt continues to circulate through and out of the device, rather than accumulating and clogging the system.<p>I don't want to detract from the innovation of this, however my understanding is that one of the largest unsolved problems with desalination is what to do with the waste product: usually incredibly salty brackish water. Dumping it back into the ocean can be disruptive to the local ecosystem.<p>A quick search turned up this Scientific American article about the issue: <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/slaking-the-worlds-thirst-with-seawater-dumps-toxic-brine-in-oceans" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/slaking-the-world...</a><p>"The excess salt decreases dissolved oxygen in the water, suffocating animals on the seafloor"<p>"In addition to harming sea life, extreme salinity also makes desalinating the water more difficult and expensive."