The "Dead Sea" located in Jordan (about 1312 feet below sea level) is 40% salt. Can it be desalinated

Question

Meaning, can the salt be removed so the water would be drinkable? Is this a need for the people who live in that area?

Answer 1

Sure, but why would you want to do that?  More salt makes the process far more expensive.  Regular seawater is about 3.5%, most likely cheaper to pipe it in from Saudi Arabia.

Answer 2

It could could but whether it'd be economically viable compared to other sources of water is another matter.

Answer 3

I don't think it's possible.  Let's say you place a desalination plant on its shores, and you start treating the salt water to make fresh water.  Where would you put the fresh water?  

There's no place big enough to hold all that water.  Even if you did have a place to put that water, you'd still have to remove the salt, which would be a huge undertaking in itself.