A city is deciding whether to invest in a desalination plant or expand its groundwater pumping system. Which factor should most influence the city’s decision?

Desalination is most practical when seawater is readily available, so being near the coast matters. It also requires substantial energy, making the city’s ability to afford those costs important when comparing it with groundwater pumping. Desalination does not necessarily remove every mineral, and reservoir land is not the main factor in choosing between these two systems.

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