The global population is expected to reach eight billion in 2023. With more than half of the world’s people living in urban areas, supplying fresh water to these populations has become a pressing problem. We need innovative solutions to make sure that humans thrive, no matter where they live.
Currently, stress on existing water supplies is continuously increasing, with many parts of the globe experiencing a prolonged period of drought. In addition, much of the water in these areas is not fit for consumption. Unsafe drinking water can lead to disease and preventable deaths, and a lack of water can also lead to decreased food production. In order to support the world’s growing population, alternative sources of water are needed, and quickly. Deep ocean water desalination is a sustainable solution that can deliver potable water worldwide.
An Ongoing Global Water Crisis
Water is essential to all life on Earth, so when people cannot access water in the quantity or quality that’s necessary for survival, they may become trapped in a cycle of poor health and poverty. Urban centres are currently booming worldwide, which puts pressure on freshwater supplies, like groundwater, rivers, and lakes. Population growth, water consumption habits, and changes in climate all lead to worldwide water issues. And as the population nears eight billion, we can only expect this crisis to get worse unless we find a solution that works.
While it’s a smart idea to focus on topics like water conservation looking towards the future, advancements in technology can provide many of the most valuable solutions to the global water crisis. Plenty of methods of purifying freshwater sources have been developed, but the time has come to focus on making saltwater potable. The fact is, the planet has plenty of water, but much of it is locked in the world’s salty oceans and seas, making it difficult for humans to access and put to use.
The ocean is a nearly endless resource, and when the salt is removed, it can be used to provide clean drinking water to remote populations around the globe.
How Can Deep Ocean Water Desalination Help?
The ocean is a nearly endless resource, and when the salt is removed, it can be used to provide clean drinking water to remote populations around the globe. Deep ocean water desalination can provide a huge source of drinking water that can be harvested offshore and shipped to any port around the world. Ships can quickly bring millions of litres of water to locations in need, which makes it easy to respond to crises with life-sustaining resources.
With initial research into desalination beginning in the 1950s, new advancements in technology have made water desalination increasingly efficient. However, over the years, ocean water desalination has been seen as a less-than-optimal solution for the water crisis. It’s developed a reputation as contributing to pollution and requiring more energy than it’s worth. When most people picture the water desalination process, they imagine huge industrial plants that produce a large number of harmful byproducts.
HSBC ‘In The Future’ Campaign
The Deep Water Ocean Company uses state-of-the-art desalination equipment onboard their ships. Water is pumped directly from 600 metres below the surface of the ocean and put through a reverse osmosis desalination process, creating pure mineral water as a final product. The salt is removed from the water and returned to the sea, but other minerals and essential electrolytes remain intact. The water is then stored in food-grade containers onboard and can then be transported worldwide.
This entire process is environmentally-friendly and creates superior, healthy drinking water. Deep ocean water is the most sustainable solution to the global water crisis, and as technology improves even further, it will likely be embraced as a life-saving tool. If you’d like to learn more about deep ocean water desalination as a sustainable resource, contact us.