Can You Drink Ocean Water?

While the ocean is one of the most vital elements of the earth’s ecosystem, it’s also one of the most dangerous. We’ve all seen or heard about the devastation it can wreak when hurricanes or tsunamis hit. 

Even on its best day, it still contains something else that’s quite dangerous for humans: saltwater. It’s perfectly fine to swim in saltwater and enjoy its relaxing waves. But, we must be careful never to drink ocean water for several reasons. 

The Real Dangers of Drinking Ocean Water

The main reason the answer to, ”Can you drink ocean water?” is a resounding no is because of its salt content. There are other concerns relating to dehydration and the ingestion of bacteria, as well. 

Many of us enjoy drinking natural spring water. In this article, we outline the difference between spring water and purified water. While spring water is perfectly drinkable (assuming it's been tested), ocean water is fundamentally different due to its high salinity levels.