I believe the most efficient method to turn "ocean water into drinking water" is called "rain". We just need to better collect and transport the output of what is effectively the world's biggest solar-powered desalinator.
Slow it down from trickling down a slope and you have two things: more vegetation (which also retains water) and more time for that water to penetrate the ground for local wells.
You can completely "terraform" a desertic region https://youtube.com/shorts/cfhbtgon4Nk?is=oAExB5UeMAsShBux