There is public opposition to building desalination plants in part because a lot of people don't like that solution. For starters, it just sounds bad; it soun

There is public opposition to building desalination plants in part because a lot of people don't like that solution. For starters, it just sounds bad; it sounds like a company brushing aside pollution concerns by saying they'll spread it out where you can't see it. That characterization isn't fair; but fair or not, poor public perception still stalls land development. More significantly, it requires more infrastructure under the water where it will be difficult to inspect and repair. Furthermore there is a financial incentive for plants to neglect these pipes. Suppose there is a break in the pipe that discharges concentrated brine straight into the ocean. Slowing or ceasing production until the pipe could be repaired would be very expensive to the plant operator. On the other hand if they ignore the problem, they wouldn't have to slow production and it would cost them nothing (unless they got caught.)