Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
Salt levels in our freshwater sources are on the rise, posing a significant global challenge. Rising sea levels push salt into coastal groundwaters. Human activities pollute surface waters. These actions create the problem of rising level of salt in freshwater. This issue is becoming more urgent. Researchers are exploring new ways to remove salt from water. They aim to make the process more efficient. They want to turn this problem into an opportunity.
Sujay Kaushal is a hydrologist. He works at the University of Maryland. A hydrologist studies water and its movement on Earth. Sujay describes this issue as the world’s oldest, most boring, yet serious problem. The problem can have very bad consequences. Ancient Mesopotamian societies faced this issue. They couldn’t remove salt from their irrigation water. Irrigation is when you give water to crops to help them grow. This problem led to the collapse of their society.
The issue of problematic waste brines, generated by various industries, is another related challenge. Menachem Elimelech is an environmental engineer at Yale University. He highlights the importance of finding ways to manage salty waste waters. These waters are expensive to get rid of.
Newer ways to Separate Salt from Water
Researchers are now looking into various ways to separate salt from water more efficiently. They are using electricity, new materials, and solvents. Shihong Lin is an environmental engineer at Vanderbilt University. He says this work is very complex. There are many types of salty water to treat. Each type needs a different approach. There are also different goals for each project.
The health impacts of drinking water with varying salinity levels are also a concern. We know that drinking seawater is dangerous. But we do not understand the long-term effects of drinking brackish groundwater. Brackish groundwater is water that has more salt than freshwater but less salt than seawater. We also do not fully understand the effects of drinking slightly saline water. Slightly saline water has a low amount of salt.
Lin says it’s not clear if drinking brackish groundwater is safe. Brackish groundwater is water that is saltier than freshwater but not as salty as seawater. It’s also not clear if drinking slightly salty water for 30 years is safe. It is uncertain whether this could cause problems or increase the risk of disease.
Closing Remarks
To tackle the global problem of freshwater salinization, we need to take several different steps. First, we should create new and innovative technology. Second, we need to make new rules and policies. Third, we must understand how this issue affects health.
Researchers and experts in the field are working hard on these steps. They want to solve this big problem to manage water better. Researchers also want to find new resources without harming the environment.
To stay updated on the latest developments in the field of freshwater salinization and related technologies, be sure to visit ENTECH, our digital magazine dedicated to STEM education and innovation. Here, you can discover the latest news, insights, and perspectives from leading experts in the industry.
