From Morocco to Singapore, the UAE and Southern California, desalination projects continue to gear up to help meet future water demands as populations rise…
Desalination developments continue to meet future water demand
With the summer and ‘holiday season’ in full swing, it can be a quiet time for desalination project announcements and developments.
Yet the renewed pace of the global desalination market continues to accelerate, with over 20,000 desalination plants now operating in 150 countries.
Here we’ve tracked down four top international stories so you can find out the latest desalination developments in one place.
Africa’s largest desalination plant set for 2021 completion
Construction continues apace in Morocco’s southern city of Agadir to deliver what will eventually become one of the largest desalination plants in Africa.
Being developed by Spanish engineering company Abengoa, the €309 million project is being designed to provide potable water to 2.3 million people expected to live in the region by 2030. A date of 2021 has been slated for commercial operations to start.
Initially being designed with a capacity of 275,000 m3/day Abengoa said the contract also allows for a possible expansion up to 450,000 m3/day.
Desalinated water will be provided to two clients: Office National de l’Electricite et de l’Eau (ONEE) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Sea Fisheries and Rural Development and Ministry of Waters and Forests or Morocco.
Water purchase agreement sealed in the UAE
A water purchase agreement has been agreed for the new desalination development in Umm Al Quwain, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
A consortium of ACWA Power and subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Co, together with the Federal Electricity & Water Authority (FEWA) signed the deal, according to Reuters.
The 150,000 m3/day development will see FEWA holding a 20 per cent stake, with ACWA and Mubadala each owning 40 per cent.
The project is expected to be commercially operational by the first quarter of 2021 and forms part of a wider FEWA strategy to be “totally independent” in meeting water demand by 2022.
Jurong Island ties together international tech in Singapore
Singapore’s fifth desalination plant is being developed on Jurong Island by The Tuas Power – Singapore Technologies Marine Consortium (TP-STEML).
The 135,000 m3/day seawater reverse osmosis (RO) development was secured on a first-year price of $0.91 per cubic metre, with desalinated water being provided to water agency PUB over a 25-year period, from 2020 to 2045.
In a recent update to the project, Israeli engineering company IDE Technologies will provide the RO system – the company’s first desalination project secured in Singapore.
“Singapore has identified the benefits of seawater desalination and these alternative solutions will help meet water demand and positively impact the country’s water security,” said Guy Sagie, CEO of IDE Projects.
Earlier this year US firm Evoqua announced it had been selected by TP-STEML to provide its ultrafiltration membranes for the pre-treatment on the Jurong Island project.
Singapore had set out plans to meet 30 percent of its future water needs with desalination by 2060.
Making the undrinkable drinkable in Southern California
To help reduce reliance on imported water, the 200,000 m3/day Perris II Desalination Facility is being developed in the City of Menifee, California.
The development will remove high salinity levels in the Perris and Menifee brackish groundwater basins which have previously rendered the water undrinkable.
British water engineering company Biwater recently secured a design, supply and supervise agreement for the installation of a brackish reverse osmosis (RO) system at the site.
Part of the wider Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) groundwater desalination program, the final project will eventually provide water for 30,000 households annually.
Construction is slated for completion in 2021 following a recent ground-breaking ceremony.
US company Kiewit will act as the main contractor, with design engineering being undertaken by consultancy Black & Veatch.
