How Seawater Is Converted to Drinking Water

Desalination removes salts and minerals from seawater to produce fresh water. The most widely used method is reverse osmosis (RO).

Reverse Osmosis Process

1. Pretreatment: Filtration, coagulation, and flocculation remove suspended solids, organics, and impurities.
2. Reverse Osmosis: Pretreated water is forced under high pressure through semi-permeable membranes that allow water molecules through but block salts and minerals.
3. Post-treatment: The desalinated water is adjusted for pH and remineralized to ensure safety and palatability.

While energy-intensive, desalination is increasingly vital as global freshwater demand grows. Plants now operate worldwide, and technology continues to improve efficiency.