{"id":119016,"date":"2023-11-17T14:08:30","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T19:08:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/savethewater.org\/?p=119016"},"modified":"2023-11-21T10:21:27","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T15:21:27","slug":"floating-desalination-machines-offer-promising-results-for-increasing-fresh-water-supply","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savethewater.org\/floating-desalination-machines-offer-promising-results-for-increasing-fresh-water-supply\/","title":{"rendered":"Floating Desalination Machines Offer Promising Results To Increase Fresh Water Supply"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Samhar Almomani, Publishing Associate<\/span>: Researcher and Writer<\/span> at Save the Water\u2122 | November 17, 2023<\/span><\/p>\n

Oneka Technologies is developing floating desalination machines <\/span>with the goal of turning seawater into fresh water<\/span><\/a>. The Quebec-based company aims to increase <\/span>resilience to climate change while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and water costs<\/span><\/a>. Oneka Technologies casts a wide net. It states that it\u00a0 can provide fresh water to different entities, such as cities and communities, industries, and irrigation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fresh water sources are scarce, as <\/span>only 3% of Earth\u2019s water is freshwater.<\/span><\/a> That number falls to 1% <\/span>when you exclude water that is locked up in icy glaciers.<\/span><\/a> Therefore, this technology can make a big difference.<\/span> \u00a0We\u2019re sure to need more desalination facilities in the near future, which makes Oneka Technologies\u2019 technology valuable.<\/span><\/p>\n

Current Desalination Efforts\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are currently two methods for desalination: thermal desalination (distillation) and reverse osmosis. <\/span>Thermal desalination, which has been around for longer, is the process of evaporating saltwater and then condensing the vapor water. This leaves the salt behind, providing us with freshwater<\/span><\/a>. Most of these facilities use waste heat from power plants to evaporate the water. Although this method is becoming less popular, many Arab countries still use it, such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.<\/span><\/p>\n

The second method, reverse osmosis, <\/span>is done by taking water from the sea and treating it. This gets rid of seaweed, oil, and other impurities<\/span><\/a>. Once the water is filtered from those substances, it passes through a remineralization and chlorination process. <\/span>Afterwards, it\u2019s sent to water distribution facilities<\/span><\/a>. Finally,\u00a0 brine water that resulted from reverse osmosis is diluted and returned to the sea.<\/span><\/p>\n

Disadvantages of Current Desalination Methods<\/span><\/h2>\n

Unfortunately, these desalination processes are not sustainable or efficient. <\/span>Worldwide, desalination requires more than 200 million kilowatt-hours every day<\/span><\/a>. This has a <\/span>high economic cost. Furthermore, it gets even more complex due to frequent fluctuations in the energy market and increased CO2 emissions<\/span><\/a>. Therefore, the need to find a new, more sustainable technology is evident and urgent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If we\u2019re unable to get enough water, we may face a lot of hardships<\/span><\/a>:<\/span><\/p>\n