Why do Desalination plants cost so much?

Desalination plants are expensive due to the high energy requirements for processes like reverse osmosis or thermal distillation, which are essential for removing salt from seawater. Additionally, the infrastructure needed for construction, maintenance, and distribution of desalinated water contributes significantly to costs. Environmental regulations and the need for advanced technology also add to the overall expenses. Finally, the relatively low scale of operation compared to traditional water sources can make per-unit costs higher.