Introduction

Water desalination plants are facilities designed to extract salt and other minerals from seawater, making it suitable for consumption and agricultural use. These plants are essential in regions where access to fresh water is limited or scarce. In this article, we will explore where water desalination plants are built and why.

Countries Without Adequate Freshwater Supply

Water scarcity is a critical issue affecting more than 2 billion people globally. Countries with arid and semi-arid climates, such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, have long relied on water desalination plants to meet their freshwater needs. These countries typically build desalination plants near their coastlines as they have access to abundant seawater sources.

Coastal Cities Experiencing Water Shortages

Coastal cities experiencing water shortages due to excessive population growth, climate change, and pollution are increasingly turning to water desalination plants. According to the Global Water Intelligence Report, almost 50% of desalination plants are based in the Middle East and North Africa regions, while the remaining are located in Asia (22%), Europe (17%), America (9%), and the rest of the world (2%). Countries such as Spain, Australia, and Israel have built extensive water desalination plants to address water scarcity.

Geography and Distance from Freshwater Sources

Desalination plants are typically built near coastlines, where the seawater is of high salinity, and freshwater sources are several kilometers away. Inland areas that experience a shortage of water due to droughts, depletion of aquifers, or contamination often use desalination plants to provide drinking water. For instance, the largest desalination plant in the United States, the Carlsbad Desalination Plant, is located in California, where access to freshwater is limited.

Portability of Desalination Plants

Desalination plants come in different sizes and capacities, making them portable and easily transportable. In disaster-stricken areas or developing countries where access to freshwater is limited, portable desalination plants are deployed. For example, the WaterSeer project launched by VICI Labs aims to provide access to clean water in developing countries by extracting water from the air through an innovative wind turbine system. The extracted water is then treated through a desalination process before consumption.

Conclusion

Water desalination plants are essential in providing access to freshwater in regions where traditional sources are not available or cannot meet the demands of a growing population. Countries with arid and semi-arid climates, coastal cities experiencing water shortages, and inland areas far from freshwater sources rely on desalination plants. Additionally, portable desalination plants are deployed in disaster-stricken areas and developing countries facing water scarcity. As technology evolves, desalination processes may become more efficient, and desalination plants may become more widely adopted globally.