The conclusion of the debate here is boring: yes, but only by extreme effort, i.e. redirection of 1-10% of economic and energy resources towards water acquisiti

The conclusion of the debate here is boring: yes, but only by extreme effort, i.e. redirection of 1-10% of economic and energy resources towards water acquisition. We're not all gonna die, but that's as comforting as it gets. Desalination is great for supplying coastal cities, bonkers everywhere else. The economic consequence is a drastic rise in the price of conventional agricultural products (especially land meats) and a corresponding relative fall in the price of unconventional products (nuts, seeds, beans, aquaculture) which drives investment in the latter to hopefully yield a less water-hungry agricultural system... but a very different palate. The general outcome of capitalist systems are heterodox (one of capitalism's advantages); we expect to see some compensation from desalination, tertiary sewage treatment, and more water-efficient farming practices. It would be less painful if we didn't fight reality with agricultural subsidies and water grants.