{"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":"2026-05-03T20:22:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T03:22:10","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":"

People have been turning seawater into fresh drinking water for centuries, even before the two world wars. For a long time, we mostly used freshwater sources for homes worldwide. But in the last decade or two, we’ve really started looking at seawater to meet our freshwater needs.<\/span>\\\\n\\\\nSome countries hesitated to build large-scale desalination plants because of the cost, but many are already using it to solve their water problems. Here are some surprising facts about seawater desalination you might not know!<\/span>\\\\n<\/p>\n

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  1. Seawater desalination isn’t just about Reverse Osmosis. It simply means making fresh water from ocean water, and you can do it through distillation too.<\/span><\/li>\n

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  2. For about 200 years, starting in 1748 when reverse osmosis was discovered, people distilled seawater using heat to get pure water. Then, in 1950, the University of California tested <\/span>Reverse Osmosis<\/span><\/a> for desalination.<\/span><\/li>\n

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  3. According to the International Desalination Association, in June 2015, there were 18,426 desalination plants running globally. They produced 86.8 million cubic meters of water daily, providing water for 300 million people.<\/span><\/li>\n

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  4. More and more desalination facilities are being built to meet the demand for fresh water.<\/span><\/li>\n

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  5. Back in 2013, Dubai got over 98% of its drinking water from seawater desalination.<\/span><\/li>\n

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  6. The Military, Navy, Marines, Army, and Airforce all use RO desalination units to make fresh water during their missions.<\/span><\/li>\n

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  7. The top three countries for desalination are Saudi Arabia, producing 17 percent of the world’s output, the United Arab Emirates with 13.4 percent, and the United States with 13 percent.<\/span><\/li>\n

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  8. Almost every industry uses reverse osmosis and <\/span>desalination<\/span><\/a> to get specific water types for manufacturing products.<\/span><\/li>\n

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  9. Desalinated water typically costs about $2,000 per acre-foot- that’s roughly how much water a family of five uses in a year.<\/span><\/li>\n

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  10. Energy is the biggest expense for desalination plants. It can account for as much as half the cost of turning sea into drinking water.<\/span><\/li>\n

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  11. Desalination is now seen as a way to help millions suffering from drought in dry regions. Desalination plants operate in over 100 countries. Israel, California, parts of Australia, Kuwait, Egypt, and Qatar are just a few places that have successfully provided water for their people using desalination alone.<\/span><\/li>\n

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  12. It takes about 2 gallons (8 liters) of seawater to make 1 gallon (4 liters) of freshwater.<\/span><\/li>\n

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  13. A thousand gallons of freshwater from a desalination plant costs the average US consumer $2.50 to $5, compared to $2 for regular freshwater.<\/span><\/li>\n

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    \\\\nBecause of its cost and energy needs, people mostly ignored this process for centuries. But desalination technology has improved so much that the world now accepts it as a real solution to the water crisis everywhere.<\/span>\\\\n\\\\nHow many of these desalination facts were new to you?<\/span>\\\\n\\\\nAbout The Author:<\/i><\/b>\\\\n<\/span><\/i>Ampac USA has been a leader for 22 years, building water treatment and desalination systems for industries, desalination plants, and commercial businesses worldwide. Our expert team and custom support make our services the best in the field. Learn more about reverse osmosis, water desalination, and equipment on our site and blog.<\/span><\/i>\\\\n\\\\n \\\\n\\\\nSources:<\/span><\/i>\\\\n<\/p>\n