Desalination for long-term water security

Following the release of the National Water Commission's report, 'Emerging trends in desalination', Ken Matthews, CEO of the National Water Commission, said, “The commission believes that all water supply options should be on the table. The public needs to be clear about the potential of desalination, especially in providing more secure water supplies. At the same time, the costs and risks need also to be made clear. This publication does just that.

“Australian governments have, to date, committed to investing over $7.5 billion in desalination plants to supplement bulk drinking water supplies and further investments are being considered.

“This Waterlines report indicates that desalination technology is becoming an increasingly competitive water treatment option. It also shows there are good prospects to further reduce environmental impacts and improve energy efficiencies. The commission encourages research and development in these areas.”

Mr Matthews also welcomed the Australian government’s $20 million investment to establish a National Centre of Excellence in Water Desalination in Perth, which will develop and commercialise new water technologies.

“It is important to understand that desalination technology is used for much wider purposes than just removing salt from seawater. Other water treatment applications include recycling wastewater for urban irrigation schemes, treatment of bulk drinking supplies, industrial re-use of water and in-land treatment of brackish waters.”

The technical publication was commissioned by the National Water Commission in collaboration with the UNESCO Centre for Membrane Technology. The report reviews the latest research and emerging trends in desalination, including energy minimisation and environmental protection, the economics of desalination and the merits of various desalination technologies.

A review of the report can be found here.