Water Wheel May/June 2021: Desalination

Abstract

Re-thinking desalination: The value proposition of water as an infinitely scalable, renewable economic commodity But for a mature technology with such a compelling value proposition, desalination is still a rarity outside of its established market of the Middle East, North Africa (MENA) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. And where desalination has been adopted outside of these markets, it has frequently been relegated to a role of contingency infrastructure, used ad-hoc or even politicised as an opposition folly, but seldom given its rightful place as a highly assured, climate-independent, infinitely scalable water resource. A strategic technology misunderstood? Tentative and haphazard implementation strategies have not helped; examples abound of small-scale, short-term contracts that defy sound business principles, which inevitably result in poor economics and exorbitant water prices. Similarly, Day Zero emergency situations that require the design and build of a small plant in less than ten weeks will probably result in poor value for the public funds expended.

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