Why Use Reverse Osmosis?
Commercial seawater desalination technologies are generally categorised into two main types:
- Thermal Distillation: This process involves boiling saline water and condensing the vapour to produce fresh water. Methods such as Multi-Stage Flash (MSF) and Multi-Effect Distillation (MED) fall into this category.
- Membrane Separation: This includes Reverse Osmosis (RO), which uses a semi-permeable membrane to filter out dissolved solids. Due to its lower capital and energy costs and its modular nature, Reverse Osmosis is the most widely used desalination method.
By 2010, Reverse Osmosis accounted for 60% of the world’s installed desalination capacity. Thermal distillation is typically only practical when waste heat is available, such as from a power plant—a scenario that is relatively rare. This makes Reverse Osmosis the more preferred option.
What are the benefits of NO Chemicals seawater desalination?
By eliminating the need for chemical additives, the system simplifies maintenance, avoids harmful discharge, and ensures compliance with strict environmental standards—making it a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable solution.
Why and Where is Desalination Used?
The need for additional water supplies is critical in many arid regions and will become increasingly important as freshwater resources become scarcer. Many of these areas lack surface water sources like rivers and lakes and have limited underground water reserves.
These underground reserves are often becoming more brackish due to ongoing extraction and depletion. Solar-powered desalination provides an effective solution for accessing fresh water in these conditions.
Seawater desalination is ideal for arid coastal regions that need to supplement their freshwater supplies. Brackish water desalination is beneficial for inland communities that have water sources too saline for conventional treatment methods. There are over 15,000 desalination facilities worldwide, along with numerous small-scale systems.
As freshwater scarcity grows, desalination is becoming a vital complement to traditional water supply methods around the world.
Do You Collaborate with NGOs, Governments, Research Institutes, or Individuals?
Yes, we highly value local knowledge and collaboration. We maintain strong working relationships with local partners throughout the planning, preparation, and implementation of each project.
Governments often have legal responsibilities for freshwater supply and distribution. Given the importance of local expertise, we are always interested in connecting with partners or individuals who understand this niche market.
Additionally, while we use state-of-the-art, proven technology, we are also keen to explore new developments and research in our field. Please contact us to discuss potential opportunities.
Are Water Kiosks or Water Shops Feasible for Developing Markets?
Yes, they are. Many regions around the world experience severe freshwater shortages. According to 2010 data from WHO and UNICEF, approximately 2.1 billion people lacked access to safe water, with 900 million lacking access to an improved water source and 1.2 billion having access to an improved source, but with unsafe water quality.
The disparities are particularly stark between urban and rural areas, with over 1.6 billion people in rural regions lacking safe water, while urban coverage struggles to keep pace with population growth.
Water kiosks provide a sustainable solution by offering affordable, safe water to millions living in areas with contaminated water sources.
Many successful projects have implemented various operating models, and the sector is vibrant with innovations in governance, operations management, and marketing. Stakeholders in the water kiosk model include NGOs, government organisations, and local entrepreneurs. If you are interested in developing a local business model for a water kiosk using our renewable-driven desalination solution, please contact us.
What Kind of Guarantees Are Provided?
We ensure that all health, safety, and labour regulations are met, and we guarantee the specified water production quantity and quality. Since installations are customised, we ensure the system operates as intended and that the operational phase meets your satisfaction.
Specific guarantees depend on factors such as the intended use of the water, location, and production scale.
These details will be discussed during the proposal phase, once we fully understand your goals and requirements for the freshwater supply at your site.
What Are the Operational Costs?
The operational costs of reverse osmosis systems typically include electricity, membrane replacements, consumables such as pre-filters, spare parts, and labour.
Electricity costs usually account for more than 50% of these expenses.
Because renewable energy powers our solution, we eliminate these electricity costs, significantly reducing other operational costs.
The system’s production size, the quality of the source water, and the specifics of water intake will determine the exact operational costs, which we will detail in your quote. We design our long-term sustainable solutions to ensure minimal maintenance.
What About Maintenance?
Depending on your preferences, location, and available in-house staff, we can either provide professional training for system operation or offer maintenance services.
Most components require minimal to no maintenance.
PV panels have a long lifespan and only need occasional rinsing with water, depending on the environment. We design pipes and water tanks to be durable and long-lasting, while we ensure the pump can withstand saline water and remain maintenance-free for years.
The water treatment process includes pre-treatment, reverse osmosis, and post-treatment. Maintenance tasks, depending on source water quality and intended use, may involve periodic cleaning or replacing pre-filters and reverse osmosis membranes, and after several years, replacing parts of the energy recovery device and feed pump.
We ensure that spare parts are readily available through our spare parts package, partnerships with local suppliers, and by keeping a stock.
Is There Any Risk of Pipe Failures?
We ensure that all pipes meet the required pressure and temperature specifications to prevent failures. Manufacturers prefer HDPE pipes, which are both strong and flexible, for outdoor sections due to their durability.
We usually bury these pipes underground to minimise the risk of damage from human activity. In the rare event of a pipe leak, it will be evident from the system’s performance, and the leak can be quickly located and repaired.
Is Remote Monitoring of the System Possible?
Yes, most of our solar-powered desalination systems come with remote monitoring as a standard feature to help reduce on-site labour costs and provide real-time performance data.
This includes information on water quality, quantity produced, solar panel efficiency, and battery or elevated buffer levels. The system can also send alerts via text messages or emails for any issues that require attention. Remote monitoring enables quicker and more precise troubleshooting, helping schedule preventive maintenance, ensuring water quality, and minimising downtime.
How much time does it take to make a system operational at the location?
The time from order to commissioning depends on factors like location and water demand.
For urgent needs, we can dispatch highly efficient units that can be operational within a week of arrival on site, producing water within three days.
Solar-powered desalination systems typically require 1-2 months for shipment. Including sea transport and time for preparatory civil work, this extends to an additional 3-4 weeks. Local installation usually takes 1-3 weeks, resulting in a total timeframe of 2-3.5 months for solar-powered units. Alternatively, a hybrid approach can be used where local energy supports immediate system deployment and water production, with the solar component installed later.
How Do You Organise the Water Source Intake?
We will configure your source water intake through a beach well, open ocean intake, or borehole. During the design phase, we prioritise minimising visual impact and avoiding disturbances to the marine environment. The specific arrangement depends on the location and the quality of the source water.
For brackish water, often found underground, the team will drill a borehole to house a submersible pump or install a pipe with a check valve for suction from a surface pump.
For seawater, the intake method depends on the shoreline and local regulations. Seawater can be drawn using a beach well, where the sand provides natural pre-filtration, or through an open seawater intake with a pipe extending into the sea. The length of the pipe depends on local conditions.
Does the System Require an Electricity Supply for Operation?
No, our solar-powered seawater desalination units generate all necessary energy from the sun, eliminating the need for expensive electricity bills or diesel fuel.
This makes the solution ideal for stand-alone, off-grid, and remote locations. However, we offer the option to use local power sources (grid, generator, or mini-grid) to increase production capacity when needed or as a backup. Systems that rely on local energy will require an electricity supply.
Do I Need a Permit?
Authorities typically require permits depending on the project’s location, daily production capacity, and end-user. Usually, the authorities require permits for construction and source water intake. We are happy to assist with identifying and arranging the necessary documentation.
Does the Process of Seawater Desalination Involve any Waste?
The reverse osmosis process produces three flows: one feed flow and two outlet flows, which include fresh water and salty water, also known as concentrate or brine.
We carefully study the most suitable disposal options for the brine to minimise environmental impact and ensure the longevity of the reverse osmosis membranes.
Our seawater desalination systems operate with a low recovery ratio, resulting in a concentrated flow with salinity levels similar to the original source water, which limits impact on marine life. We ensure proper mixing of the brine with seawater and adhere to local regulations to mitigate any potential local impact.
From a global perspective, seawater is a virtually limitless resource, much like the renewable energy used.
How Much Water Can You Provide Daily?
Our smallest units produce 840 litres (220 gallons) per day. We offer customised solutions for any water production capacity beyond this minimum, focusing on systems up to 1,000 m³ per day.
Linking multiple units can expand these capacities. Whether you need fresh water for a village, a small community, or a large town, our modular approach allows for a tailored design that meets your needs.
To learn more about Elemental Water Makers solar powered seawater desalination get in touch with us. We are exclusive wholesalers of EWM Systems in New Zealand. You can also call us on +64 (9) 872 2622 or email info@bluemont.nz.
