Final answer:
Water not fit for drinking but otherwise safe, such as oversalinated water, can be used for non-potable purposes like irrigation and industrial processes. Desalination can provide potable water but is costly and energy-intensive, emphasizing fresh water conservation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Water that is not fit to drink but is not otherwise dangerous can have various uses. One common example includes water that is oversalinated, such as seawater. Even though this water is not suitable for drinking due to its high salt content, it can still serve many non-potable uses. These uses include washing cars, flushing toilets, providing cooling water for power plants, mixing with concrete, creating artificial lakes, irrigating golf courses and public parks, as well as hydraulic fracturing.
While desalination is a process that can turn saltwater into potable water, it is an energy-intensive and often expensive technology. Large-scale desalination plants are used in areas with little access to freshwater, such as the Middle East and southern California, to create a significant amount of the regions' freshwater supply. However, the cost and energy requirements of desalination highlight the importance of conserving and protecting our limited freshwater resources.