The market for producing potable water from the desalination of seawater and brackish water grew by 43% in 2007, measured in terms of processing capacity, according to recent data published by the International Desalination Association (IDA).
Total desalination capacity was 6.8 million cu meters per day (m3/d) as of the end of 2007, up from 4.7 million m3/d in 2006. For the first six months of 2008, newly contracted desalination capacity increased by an additional 39%.
IDA also said that newer plants are achieving massive scale, with one operating facility in the United Arab Emirates processing 456,000 m3/d. Another five plants with capacities in excess of 500,000 m3/d are currently under construction in the Middle East.
Source: Environmental Business Journal; International Desalination Assocation
