distillation

Recently I read an article on distillation the process of separating mixtures based on their different substances.  One of the most common forms of distillation, that deeply interferes with our current status, is the separation of salt from water. To remove the salt from the water, it is repeatedly evaporated and condensed until the result is pure clean water.  The main reason it affects us is because of the lack of water here in California, so scientists are looking in to some ways to solve the problem. One way is distillation, the only problem is some argue that taking large amounts of seawater will destroy the ecosystem in the surrounding ocean. The question we must face though is who is more important the ecosystem under the sea or our survival. Although of course there are other options, this one would help substantially but maybe with a few costs.