As cities continue to grow, and the world population seems to be increasing at an explosive pace, there is obviously going to be the huge pressure built on limited resources. Not just to manage development but also for survival, yes for survival. With drinking water being such a scarce commodity and with a global CPG CEO making a call for every bit of water to be priced, how is new technology going to impact this development? The only source that seems to be a viable and real alternative to ground and sustained water is sea water which is abundantly available. Desalination, seems to be the new mantra that a lot of water utilities and bodies would need to start focusing on over the next few years.
According to Veolia, a leading water company headquartered in France and with operations in North America, 71% of the earth’s surface is composed of seawater, which makes up nearly 97% of the world’s water. This is a significant amount of an untapped potential and technology and focus of countries and their governments needs to be in this area.
With major water companies investing in this technique, what does it really entail? The process essentially removes mineral and sale from seawater. Yet, it’s expensive and can take years to build the adequate infrastructure towards developing desalination plants, technology and the operational horsepower to make this happen.
The two economies that have invested in desalination plants are Singapore and US.
Starting with Singapore, it has done remarkable work in shaping their water resources and it’s one of the few countries in Southeast Asia where you can drink water directly from the tap. Over the years, they have invested in desalination, which is a huge achievement for a small island nation. Although over the last few decades we have seen the rise of Singapore as a great nation this too is another feather in the cap.
In the US, there are currently a few plans to develop desalination plants in California. The state has experienced drastic weather and prolonged periods of drought over many years now so the sooner they get there the better it is. The estimated target completion of the new desalination developments is 2020 but we hope several other states are able to invest more and more over the next few years.
However, there is research that is thought provoking and does not suggest Desalination to be a long term solution. Our point of view is that when there are potential problems, there could also be tangible solutions some of which are given below:
Overall, even though alternative water sources are needed, more research, technology and mini models need to be explored. The technology is costly and there is an impact on our environment, but as we move forward and take the next leap for our generations to follow they will need a water source that is easily replenishable and that source exists only at the oceans.
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About the Author: Adi G is an industry veteran with several years of experience in dealing with Energy, Utility and Resources industry clients and likes to present his views on topics that impact not just the industry but our communities and society in general. He can be reached @ady@luxconsultingservices.com
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