Desalination is a technological process that removes salt and other minerals from water sources, transforming highly saline water into a freshwater supply suitable for human consumption, agriculture, or industry. The process, most commonly performed on seawater or brackish groundwater, is a solution to growing global freshwater scarcity as traditional sources face pressure from population growth and environmental change. Many nations are turning to desalination to secure a reliable water future.
Global Scale and Capacity
The worldwide reliance on desalination is substantial, with approximately 16,000 plants operating across 177 nations globally, providing a significant portion of potable water to coastal and arid populations. These facilities collectively produce an estimated 95 million cubic meters of clean water daily, serving at least 300 million people. The industry is experiencing a rapid expansion, projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 8.6% to 9.61% over the next decade.
The World’s Largest Users
The Middle East and North Africa region accounts for the majority of the world’s installed desalination capacity, often exceeding 50% of the global total. This dominance is driven by the region’s extreme aridity and the near-total absence of significant, renewable freshwater resources. Saudi Arabia maintains the largest operational desalination capacity globally, using massive facilities like the Ras Al Khair plant to supply water to major cities far inland, such as the capital, Riyadh.
The United Arab Emirates is also a major user, with complexes like Jebel Ali. Its reliance stems from scarce natural water, high coastal population density, and the necessary energy resources to power the process. Israel, another leader, relies on desalination as a geopolitical necessity. Facilities like the Sorek plant provide a significant percentage of the country’s domestic water supply, making Israel largely independent of natural rainfall fluctuations.
Spain is a leading European nation in desalination capacity, particularly in its Mediterranean regions and islands, where seasonal tourism places a heavy demand on limited water supplies. In the United States, states with arid climates and large coastal populations, such as California and Florida, utilize desalination to supplement municipal supplies. California’s Carlsbad Desalination Plant provides a safeguard against drought for San Diego County.
Regions with Rapidly Expanding Desalination Use
Beyond the established hubs in the Gulf, the Asia-Pacific region is currently the fastest-growing market for desalination adoption, driven by rapid industrialization and urbanization. Several countries are significantly increasing their investment in large-scale plants:
- China and India are securing water for their burgeoning metropolitan areas. India has announced plans for Asia’s largest desalination plant near Chennai to combat saline groundwater intrusion.
- North Africa is expanding its capacity, with countries like Algeria turning to desalination as a primary solution for municipal water supply along its coastlines.
- In South America, Chile is adopting the technology primarily to serve its massive copper mining industry, which requires vast amounts of high-quality water in a naturally dry environment.
- Australia, a continent prone to severe drought cycles, has constructed large facilities like the Victorian Desalination Plant to provide a strategic water reserve for major cities.
Primary Drivers of Global Desalination Adoption
The fundamental reason countries adopt desalination is the growing disparity between freshwater demand and natural supply. Rapid population growth, particularly in coastal megacities, places an unsustainable burden on local rivers and groundwater reserves. This pressure is compounded by the effects of climate change, which is altering precipitation patterns and leading to more frequent and intense droughts in many regions.
Contamination of existing freshwater sources is another significant driver, as industrial pollution and agricultural runoff can render surface and groundwater unusable without extensive and costly treatment. Desalination offers a reliable, drought-proof water source that is insulated from these environmental pressures. Technological improvements, particularly in Reverse Osmosis (RO) membranes and energy recovery devices, have substantially lowered the cost and energy consumption, making the process viable for a wider range of economies.