As prolonged drought conditions and shifting rainfall patterns affect more locations around the globe, growing numbers of governments are choosing to address the issue of water scarcity with innovative solutions that rely on an abundant source of potential water right at their doorsteps. In the past, the technical challenges and expense of desalination have limited the degree to which it has been considered as a resource for increasing the supply of fresh water for domestic and agricultural use. However, ongoing climate changes, decline in groundwater supplies, and increasing populations have demanded more capacity than conservation or existing water sources can provide on their own. In addition, advances in technology have made desalination a more viable option.
While the many facilities recently approved for construction will take years to be completed, tested, and commissioned, the investment to provide potable water is timely, as there is no indication that the need will decrease in the intervening time. Here is a snapshot of actions that are being taken in diverse locations to increase the water supply via desalination:
| Location | Action | Capacity | Cost |
| Cyprus | •Approval of up to 10 new desalination plants •4 mobile units already approved, with additional locations under consideration | • Limassol’s Garyllis riverbed: 10,000 cubic meters/day • Limassol port: 5,000–10,000 cubic meters/day • EAC Moni power station: 10,000 cubic meters/day • Paphos Marina: 5,000–10,000 cubic meters/day | • €3.4 million • €4.2 million • €6.7 million • €4.5 million |
| St. Kitts and Nevis | Breaking ground on a seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant at the C.A. Paul Southwell Industrial Site in Basseterre | 7,570 cubic meters/day | EC$50 million |
| Senegal | Construction of Mamelles desalination plant in Dakar | 100,000 cubic meters/day | $23 million |
| Texas | Approval of mult-year financing to fund the Inner Harbor Seawater Desalination Treatment Plant in Corpus Christi | 114,000 cubic meters/day | $535 million |
| California | Amending ocean protection standards for desalination plants to streamline the process to approve construction of new facilities | n/a | n/a |
The Economic Impact of Water Scarcity
The fate of a sugar mill in Santa Rosa, Texas, provides a sobering view of the economic impact caused by dwindling supplies of fresh water. The plant closed in February of this year due to lack of sufficient water to irrigate the plants, throwing 500 people out of work. Among the reasons for a lack of water in Texas is Mexico’s water debt according to a 1944 international treaty, which makes the country for delivering 1.75 million acre-feet of water over a five-year cycle. But as with the renegotiated Colorado River agreement among states, it is clear that expectations formed decades ago for ground water deliveries may not be sustainable. Finding solutions that are not dependent on fickle rainfall totals is key to avoiding future shocks to industries that rely on consistent supplies of water.
Applying Marine Experience to the Challenges of Desalination
One of the technical challenges in making desalination financially feasible is preserving the service life of the equipment necessary to produce fresh water. Constant contact with salt water can quickly corrode components like valves, reducing the efficiency of the system and driving up the frequency of outages and repairs. Fortunately, there is already a considerable body of knowledge available in the form of marine applications for similar equipment.
For example, some ships already employ desalination technology to ensure a reliable supply of fresh water for vessels that remain at sea for considerable periods of time. In addition, other systems aboard may use seawater in applications where scarce freshwater is not strictly needed. The understanding of the materials and engineering required to make such systems efficient and reliable is directly relevant to making future generations of desalination plants more effective at reliably meeting the world’s water needs.
U.S.-Made Custom Valves for Saltwater Applications
For over 60 years, Metrex Valves has been designing and manufacturing valves to produce superior performance under the most demanding conditions. We have experience in meeting the most rigorous standards for saltwater applications, including producing valves for the U.S. Navy. To learn more about why our clients depend on our “set-and-forget” reliability, contact our friendly customer service team here.