[rjv]

So this process re-introduces the brine back into the ocean, in turn making the ocean water more salty. What type of ecological ramifications does this have on the wildlife in that area?

[mikeyouse]

This is pretty much the most pressing concern in any desalination effort.. Intakes and discharges are expensive in general, but to adequately dilute a brine discharge is on the order of 5x the cost of the intake system. You basically need miles of pipe into the ocean that split off like a fan in order to not significantly disrupt nearby ecosystems.

[barneygumble742]

That caught my attention as well. Why not send some to the east coast to de-ice in the winter?!

[elektromekatron]

The volume of water being drawn from and the volume of evaporation, precipitation and runoff affecting that body of water, dwarf this desalination plant by an exceedingly long way.

[mikeyouse]

It's not the overall volume of slightly saltier water, it's the hot, concentrated brine that's damaging. Most systems are designed today such that the brine is only ~50% more salty than incoming water and only a few degrees warmer, but it's still a significant ecological issue.