As MDCs contain low electrical conductivity in the desalination chamber and additional energy is not applied to the system, electron conductive-resins are applied to improve conductivity, decrease internal resistance and increase the desalination process of brackish waters. Brackish waters are low in salinity with a high amount of total dissolved solids, which results in difficulties in maintaining strong electrical currents due to increased internal resistance in the cell. MDCs also experience problems with the saturation of ions in the anode chamber which can be combatted by utilizing a microbial capacitive desalination cell (MCDC). MCDCs are analogous to MDCs with the exception of modification to the cation membrane by the addition of activate carbon cloth, permitting the free exchange of protons across both chambers of the cell and increasing the efficiency of desalination.