What is a major disadvantage of desalinating sea water?

Desalinating seawater, while it provides a crucial source of freshwater in arid regions, has a significant drawback associated with energy consumption. The processes involved in desalination, such as reverse osmosis or distillation, require substantial amounts of energy to operate. This energy requirement can make desalination expensive and may lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions if fossil fuels are the primary energy source. The reliance on high energy inputs not only raises operational costs but also raises concerns about the environmental impact associated with energy production. Thus, the high energy demands of desalination systems are a major disadvantage of this water treatment method.