Saline

Sea water

Written by the VitaWhat editorial team · Medically reviewed by Steve Davis · Last reviewed 19 July 2026 · Editorial policy

Ocean water — far too salty to drink without desalination.

Where it comes from

Water from seas and oceans, high in dissolved salt; made drinkable only by desalination.

What it contains

  • About 3.5% dissolved salts (mainly sodium chloride)
  • Many trace minerals

Benefits

  • The source for desalinated drinking water in dry regions

Cautions

  • Drinking sea water is dangerous — the salt dehydrates you
  • Must be desalinated (removing salt) before it is drinkable

Sources & references

  1. WHO — Drinking-water
  2. UK Drinking Water Inspectorate

Related entries

Alkaline waterArtesian waterDeionised waterDistilled waterFiltered waterGlacier / iceberg water
VitaWhat is an educational reference only. It is not medical advice and is not authoritative. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your diet, supplements or treatment. See how this content is produced in our editorial policy; report an error via the contact page.