In order to supplement our tight supply of potable drinking water why don't we just desalinate ocean water?

Answer 1

We do especially in the middle east but that's very expensive. For the most part, the US has plenty of water to go around.

Answer 2

Many communities in the American Southwest are building desalination plants. There is a giant ocean under the desert and they just get the salt out of the water. It's expensive though.

Answer 3

This is done where drinking water is in fact in short supply. Most areas, however, have adequate potable water supplies and do not need to resort to such an extreme and costly process.