While it covers most of the surface of the planet, only an extremely small percentage of Earth's water is drinkable. One area where efficient solar desalination could make a difference is in data centers. Since salt water would leave behind residue, leading to clogs and damage to equipment, the facilities eat into the already strained fresh water supply. A University of Rochester project found a way to use laser-treated solar panels to distill seawater without leaving behind brine – concentrated salt water, minerals, and (in most cases) chemicals used to pretreat the water. The University of Rochester's breakthrough allows leftover salt to be recovered in solid form, allowing it to be reused and prevent waste.