{"id":1120,"date":"2019-03-26T08:31:18","date_gmt":"2019-03-26T08:31:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/?p=1120"},"modified":"2026-07-16T21:09:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T21:09:17","slug":"facts-about-seawater-desalination-you-did-not-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/facts-about-seawater-desalination-you-did-not-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Facts About Seawater Desalination You Did Not Know!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Seawater desalination has been around for centuries and started off even before the two world wars. The idea was to use seawater to produce fresh drinking water. For centuries, however, freshwater sources all around the world were being used excessively for household purposes in countries all around the world. It was not until recently that in the past decade or two, the use of seawater is being considered to fulfill our freshwater needs. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The concept of desalination on a larger scale hasn\u2019t struck a chord with many countries due to its higher costs however many countries have already begun using it as a solution for their water problems. Here are some facts about seawater desalination you probably don\u2019t know!<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Seawater desalination is not just about Reverse Osmosis. It loosely means turning water from the oceans into freshwater and it can be done through the process of distillation too.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For around 200 years from 1748, when reverse osmosis was discovered, seawater was distilled through thermal purification for pure water supply. It was in 1950 when the University of California tested <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/products\/residential\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reverse Osmosis<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> for the desalination process.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">According to the International Desalination Association, in June 2015, 18,426 desalination plants operated worldwide, producing 86.8 million cubic meters per day, providing water for 300 million people.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">More and more desalination facilities are in the process of installation for meeting the demands of fresh water.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As of 2013, Dubai was sourcing over 98% of its potable water supply from seawater desalination.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Military, Navy, Marines, Army and Airforce, everyone uses RO desalination units for production of fresh water during their missions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The top three desalination countries are Saudi Arabia with 17 percent of global output, the United Arab Emirates with 13.4 percent, and the United States with 13 percent.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Almost every industry in the world uses reverse osmosis and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/products\/seawater-desalination\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">desalination<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> for helping them with certain profiles of water used for the manufacturing of products.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Desalinated water typically costs about $2,000 an acre-foot \u2014 roughly the amount of water a family of five uses in a year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Energy is the largest single expense for desalination plants, accounting for as much as half of the costs to make drinking water from the sea.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Desalination is looked at now for relieving the plight of millions of people suffering due to drought in Arid Regions. Desalination plants operate in more than 100 countries. Israel, California, parts of Australia Kuwait, Egypt, Qatar are a few countries who have achieved efficiency in providing water for their populations with just desalination.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It takes about 2 gallons (8 liters) of seawater to make 1 gallon (4 liters) of freshwater.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A thousand gallons of freshwater from a desalination plant cost the average US consumer $2.50 to $5, compared to $2 for conventional freshwater.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Because of its cost and energy requirements, this process was largely ignored for centuries. However, desalination has seen tremendous changes and improvement in its technology which has resulted in the world accepting it as a solution to solve the water crisis everywhere.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">How many of these facts about desalination did you know?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>About The Author:<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ampac USA is a leader for 22 years in producing water treatment and desalination systems for industries, desalination plants and commercial businesses all over the world. The expert team and customized support are what makes our services the best in the field. Know more about reverse osmosis, water desalination, and equipment through our site and blogs.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sources:<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2015-04-08\/california-sees-salvation-in-seawater-as-drought-drags-on<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<li><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-water-technology-factbox-sb\/factbox-key-facts-about-water-desalination-idUSTRE52B07J20090312<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<li><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2013-09-23\/desalination-plants-supply-98-8-of-dubai-s-water-forum-is-told<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<li><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">https:\/\/www.mercurynews.com\/2014\/05\/29\/nations-largest-ocean-desalination-plant-goes-up-near-san-diego-future-of-the-california-coast\/<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/i><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- Phase 2: FAQ Section --><\/p>\n<div class=\"faq-section\">\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<div>\n<h3>How quickly can an emergency water purification unit be deployed?<\/h3>\n<div>\n<p>AMPAC USA&#039;s EPRO and mobile RO units can be operational within 30\u201360 minutes of arrival on-site. Trailer-mounted and skid-mounted systems are pre-plumbed and pre-wired, requiring only connection to a power source and water source. Units treat river water, lake water, or brackish groundwater.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h3>What flow rates are available for emergency water treatment?<\/h3>\n<div>\n<p>AMPAC USA&#039;s emergency systems range from 1,500 GPD portable units to 50,000+ GPD trailer-mounted systems. Military-specification units are available for forward operating base deployment, producing potable water meeting EPA and WHO drinking water standards from virtually any source.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h3>Are emergency RO systems suitable for disaster relief operations?<\/h3>\n<div>\n<p>Yes. AMPAC USA&#039;s emergency systems are used by FEMA, the U.S. military, and international NGOs for disaster relief. They treat flood water, contaminated groundwater, and brackish sources, removing bacteria, viruses, and chemical contaminants to produce safe drinking water on-site.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h3>What power sources can emergency water purification systems use?<\/h3>\n<div>\n<p>AMPAC USA&#039;s emergency systems can run on generator power (120\/240V or 480V 3-phase), solar panels with battery backup, or vehicle power take-off (PTO). Low-power models consume as little as 0.5 kW, making them viable for off-grid deployment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h3>How durable are military-grade water purification systems?<\/h3>\n<div>\n<p>AMPAC USA&#039;s military systems are built to MIL-SPEC standards with stainless steel frames, powder-coated components, and UV-resistant materials. They are designed to operate in temperatures from -20\u00b0F to 120\u00b0F and are vibration-tested for transport in military vehicles.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Related Articles<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/desalination-things-you-must-know\/\">Seawater Desalination &#8211; Things You Must Know<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/seawater-desalination-systems-cost-guide-2026\/\">Seawater Desalination System Cost Guide 2026: From Portable to Industrial Scale<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/seawater-desalination-system-buyers-guide-2026\/\">How to Choose the Right Seawater Desalination System: Complete Buyer&#039;s Guide 2026<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/seawater-desalination-systems-2025\/\">Seawater Desalination in 2026: Technologies, Costs, and the Future of Fresh Water<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><!-- Phase 2: Conclusion Section --><\/p>\n<div class=\"conclusion-section\">\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>This post highlighted how emergency and military-grade water purification systems provide safe drinking water rapidly in the most challenging field conditions. For organizations requiring deployable water treatment capability, AMPAC USA engineers portable and trailer-mounted systems built to perform wherever they are needed. Contact our team at info@ampac1.com or (909) 548-4900 to discuss your emergency water treatment requirements.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Seawater desalination has been around for centuries and started off even before the two world wars. The idea was to use seawater to produce fresh drinking water. #SEAWATERDEALINATION<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2363,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[45,29],"tags":[185,186,19,18],"class_list":["post-1120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-seawater-desalination","category-water-treatment","tag-desalination-systems","tag-process-of-distillation","tag-reverse-osmosis","tag-seawater-desalination"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1120","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1120"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1120\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2363"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1120"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1120"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ampac1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1120"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}