From Iran To Australia, Desaltinization Aims to Go Mainstream

Drink a splash of seawater? More and more countries are turning to desalinization to supply their water needs, even though the process is expensive and can also come with an environmental price to pay.

On April 16, the Iranian government announced the construction of a desalinization plant that would supply the northeast city of Semnan, whose 200,000 inhabitants live at the edge of the desert.

The water will be taken from the Caspian Sea, then treated and transported to Semnan via a 150-kilometers pipeline, across Mount Elbrus. The process is expected to cost one billion dollars.

The number of countries that have plunged into desalinization currently stands at 150, as severe droughts multiply, population continues to expand, and technology in the field expands. But according to Miguel Angel Sanz, innovation and development director at Degrémont, a Suez Environnement’s subsidiary company: “Desalinization is a useful process in case of shortage but it is not a panacea.” Still, he concedes, his business is booming.

Currently, 66.5 million cubic meters of soft water are produced in the world, from sea or brackish water, that is to say 8.8% more than in 2010. Global Water Intelligence and the International Desalination Association (IDA) listed 16.000 desalinization plants worldwide, 5% more than last year.

Veolia is one of the giants of the sector, with 800 factories around the world and a daily production of more than nine million cubic meters. Degrémont is another giant: it has already built 250 plants, which can supply water for more than 10 million people.