Water is political and infrastructure is the arbiter of access. Human settlement has always relied on access to water and the ability to manipulate its distribution plays a significant role in shaping the social, political and spatial economies of cities. Today, rapid urbanization, increased consumption and anthropogenic climate change are causing drastic shifts in water cycles and flows. Coastal cities now face the paradox of potable water scarcity and increased flood risk. Large-scale desalination is heralded as the solution. However, just as it transforms the properties of water, large desalination facilities transform urban landscapes and shift relational norms or water; potentially exacerbating existing spatial and social inequalities through climate gentrification. A rethinking of scale, and a move from municipal to neighborhood scale facilities presents a unique opportunity to leverage the power and opportunity of desalination in a more ecologically and socially responsive approach.