Desalinating water is becoming increasingly affordable, according to a recent article on Human Progress. The process of desalination, which involves removing salt and other chemicals from water, is critical for agriculture, energy production, and drinking water supply. Despite the Earth being 70% water, much of it is not drinkable due to its salt content. However, desalination is making it possible to convert this abundant resource into a usable form.
The cost of desalination has significantly decreased over the years. In 2012, the cost to desalinate was $0.75 per cubic meter. By 2022, this cost had dropped to about a penny per 6.4 gallons. This reduction in cost has made desalination a viable solution for water scarcity in many parts of the world.
In Israel, around 25% of the country’s drinking water is desalinated. The Sorek B plant, one of Israel’s five desalination plants, has the capacity to desalinate 52.8 billion gallons a year. Similarly, in the United Arab Emirates, 100% of the municipal water supply is desalinated.
The article also highlights the rapid growth of desalination technology. There are currently 186 desalination facilities under construction or in the pre-construction phase worldwide. The abundance of water from desalination is growing at a compound annual rate of 10.22%, doubling every seven years.
Despite the population growing at a rate of 1.14% annually, desalination is growing almost nine times faster. This growth is a testament to human innovation and adaptability, turning a once daunting challenge into a manageable task. As long as we continue to discover valuable knowledge and share it in open markets, we can adapt and thrive.
Read more: humanprogress.org