eli5: If we have methods like desalination, why is the world suffering from a water shortage, when 70% of the Earth is water?

Question

Even though the water is saline, to the best of my understanding, you can convert saltwater into freshwater so why is there a water crisis?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Money.

People want water to be almost free, so they can pour it on the ground to make plants grow. That’s not compatible with high tech desalination.