Current inflows to the Sea are equal to the amount of water lost in evaporation and Sea levels are stable. But each year roughly 5 million tons of new salt are added to the Sea in those inflows. To stabilize salinity levels in the Sea, at least an amount equal to the new salt must be removed so that salinity levels don t go higher. If relatively freshwater now being used on farm fields and flowing to the Sea is conserved and transferred elsewhere, significantly more salt will have to be removed to lower the concentration of salt in the remaining water in the Sea. One option to be used to reduce salt is solar evaporation ponds.
Engineering analyses suggest that they can remove the most salt at the least cost.
They also offer several advantages in addition to removing salt. Their configuration could be used to displace water in the Sea and thus help maintain water elevation levels. The ponds themselves can offer new kinds of habitat for birds. And, if the ponds are placed on marginal farm fields, they could free up water that would not be used for farming. Loss of water and salt disposal will be true for just about any practical method used to remove salt.