Why Desalination?

The global demand for freshwater is outpacing supply. By 2025 global water usage is projected to increase by at least 50 per cent. With the world's population over 6 billion and expected to reach almost 8 billion by 2025 , the need to find and secure new fresh water sources is very apparent.

Many fresh water sources have been polluted to the point where they are too toxic for human use. Some 300-500 million tons of heavy metals, solvents, toxic sludge, and other waste accumulate in oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and groundwater each year from industry. Water pollution is a problem for about half of the world's population. Each year, water borne diseases affect over 250 million people and claim the lives of 1.4 million children. Water scarcity also threatens food security. Food production is the largest use of water worldwide, accounting for 70 per cent all water withdrawal. Water scarcity results in food shortages, price increases, and malnourishment among children and adults.

As water resources become more limited, people living in dry and arid regions as well as areas lacking proper water storage facilities will be hit the hardest. Countries in Africa, the Middle-East, Latin America, and Asia are all currently facing water scarcity. The western world is also no exception—western parts of the US such as California are also currently facing water shortages. Some of these regions have been forced to ration their water supplies and ban ground water licenses to protect their resources. Taiwan is one country that has commercial ground water bans in place due to water shortages. Water scarcity can stifle economic growth and cost businesses huge amounts of money. The overall cost of water scarcity due to pollution and depletion of fresh water sources in China is estimated at $21.4 billion a year.

Water management and conservation plans are being established worldwide as governments brace for the looming water crisis. Backed by the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and countless scientists and researchers, the threat of a global water crisis is a reality.

With 97.5 per cent of the world water in the oceans, seas and salt water aquifers, desalination has the potential to address the global water crisis. In conjunction with water conservation, re-use and watershed protection, desalination is viable option towards a drought resistant water supply. However, desalination is not without its challenges. It consumes considerable energy and the waste saltwater discharge that may contain chemicals from cleaning processes can have impacts on marine ecosystems.