The author’s claim is that the desalination plant is causing a huge environmental concern because of the effect of the discharge water on the ocean. The evidence supports this claim because it clearly shows that there has been an increase in salt content because of the process. The discharge process will cause the salt level of the returned water to double and will result in large dead zones in the sea because the salt does not dissolve or dissipate. The author goes on to say that this increase in salt will kill some sea life, which then proves the negative environmental effects of this process.