Can't we just solve dry conditions with ocean water?

A viewer asked this question, and we worked to get them an answer.

Spoiler alert: It's not exactly that simple.

00-06LL INTROat weatherwallASK FOX 4’s OUR WAY OFSAYINGWE’RE HERE FOR YOU.BY ANSWERING QUESTIONS YOU SENDDIRECTLY TO US.THIS ONE’S FROM TONY.

IT SAYS INPART..TAKE VO WITH QUESTION"Drought every year.

Some yearsworst than others.

Why with theabundance of ocean water arethere no desalination plants tohelp provide fresh water.

"GOOD QUESTION, TONY.FIRSTSO WE’RE ALLCLEAR..DESALINATIONSource: SFWMDIS A PROCESS THAT REMOVESDISSOLVED SALT FROM WATER.THAT MAKES IT OKAY FOR US TODRINK OR USE FOR OTHER PURPOSES*swish sound*SO TONY’S ASKINGWHY NOT JUSTTAKE WATER FROM THE OCEANREMOVETHE SALTAND FIX OUR DROUGHTPROBLEM THAT WAY?

WELL, TONYTHESOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENTDISTRICT SAYSTHERE ARE A FEWTHINGS TO KEEP IN MIND.FIRST.

DROUGHT’S HAPPEN DUE TO ALACK OF RAINFALL.RAIN’S THE ONLY SOURCE THAT CANREFILL CANALS AND SHALLOWAQUIFERS.THE DISTRICT ALSO SAYS SOUTHFLORIDA HAS 2 PLANTS THATDESALINATE SEAWATER.

THEY’RE INTHE KEYS.COMBINE THAT WITH 38 BRACKISHGROUNDWATER PLANTSAND THEY SAYTHEY PRODUCE NEARLY 300 MILLIONGALLONS OF drinkable WATERDAILY.BUT THEY TELL US THERE’S ADOWNSIDE.AND THAT’S THE COST.THE DISTRICT SAYS IT COSTS MORETO DESALINATE SEAWATERTHAN TOTREAT GROUNDWATER.

AND THAT’SWHY THAT PROCESS ISN’T WIDELYUSED IN OUR STATE.WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE DISTRICTTODAYTHEY SAID IT PRETTY PLAINAND SIMPLETHE SOLUTION’S NOT DRILLING MOREINTO OUR AQUIFERS.

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