PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Background Information
Desalinization refers to any of several processes that remove some amount of salt and other minerals from saline water. More generally, desalination may also refer to the removal of salts and minerals. Salt water is desalinated to produce fresh water suitable for human consumption or irrigation. One potential byproduct of desalination is salt. Desalination is used on many seagoing ships and submarines. Most of the modern interest in desalination is focused on developing cost-effective ways of providing fresh water for human use.
Asia
China operates the Beijing Desalination Plant in Tianjin, a combination desalination and coal-fired power plant designed to alleviate Tianjin's critical water shortage. Though the facility has the capacity to produce 200,000 cubic meters of potable water per day, it has never operated at more than one-quarter capacity due to difficulties with local utility companies and an inadequate local infrastructure
Australia
The Millenium Drought (1997-2009) led to a water supply crisis across much of the country. As a result many desalination plants were built for the first time.
A combination of increased water usage and lower rainfall/drought in Australia caused state governments to turn to desalination, including the recently commissioned Kurnell Desalination Plant serving the Sydney area. While desalination helped secure water supplies, it is energy intensive and has a high carbon footprint due to Australia's coal-based energy supply.[citation needed] In 2010, a Seawater Greenhouse went into operation in Port Augusta.
Africa
Richards Bay Desalination Plant 100,000 m3/day
North America
The Charles Meyer Desalination Facility was constructed in North America in 1991–92 as a temporary emergency water supply in response to severe drought. While it has a high operating cost, the facility only needs to operate infrequently, allowing Santa Barbara to use its other supplies more extensively.
South America
Copiapó Desalination Plant in Chile. This supplies water to places with low rainfall
Europe
A plant operates in Cyprus near the town of Larnaca. The Dhekelia Desalination Plant uses the reverse osmosis system. The Thames River desalination plant in the U.K. serves London.
