It has been brought up that the fuel requirements for starships
would impact the ecology of the planet by depleting the oceans but
then it was pointed out that it would be negligible.
However, I think another aspect has been over looked. Salts and
miscellaneous gasses. How is the fuel process performed? If it's
anything like electrolysis then there is going to be a large amount
of extra oxygen added to the atmosphere.
To get pure water to process for fuel what happens to all of the
salts, especially from ocean water. From the amounts being bandied
about there will be huge mountains of salt all over the place. How
is it disposed? Adding it back to the ocean would drastically alter
the local environment. And processing it for export would be redun-
dant since everyone else would be doing the same. And it's probably
more than the local chemical companies need.
BTW, is fuel liquid or compressed gas?
Mike