Global Water scarcity
and Desalination policy

Water scarcity is an escalating global crisis, currently affecting over four billion individuals—more than half of the world's population. This crisis transcends geographical boundaries, placing both urban and rural populations at significant risk. Both major metropolitan areas and remote regions, are increasingly vulnerable to the depletion of potable water resources. The causes of this crisis are multifaceted, driven by factors such as pollution, unsustainable water consumption, inadequate urban and rural planning, aging infrastructure, and the unpredictable climatic shifts brought on by global climate change. These interrelated challenges threaten the availability of an essential resource—drinking water—critical to sustaining human life. While a range of solutions have been proposed, including enhanced public education on water conservation, stronger regulatory frameworks to combat pollution, and large-scale infrastructural upgrades, political inertia and conflicting priorities often undermine progress. Amidst these challenges, the most immediate and effective response lies in supporting technological innovation, particularly through partnerships between dynamic entrepreneurs and public officials committed to addressing the water crisis with the urgency it demands.

As the global climate continues to warm, increased water evaporation leads to higher levels of rainfall. However, this precipitation is increasingly unevenly distributed, disrupting established hydrological patterns. Regions already suffering from water shortages, such as sub-Saharan Africa, California, and the Middle East, are expected to experience even greater levels of drought, placing further strain on agricultural systems and water infrastructure. Conversely, areas like India may experience intense seasonal rainfall, particularly during the monsoon period, while facing extended dry periods, complicating water management efforts. The case of Cape Town in South Africa, which narrowly avoided ‘Day Zero’—the projected date when the city would run out of water—serves as a forewarning of the vulnerability of even major urban centers. Without timely intervention, cities such as Jakarta, London, Beijing, and Tokyo face similar risks of widespread water shortages.

The paradox of global water scarcity is underscored by Earth’s abundant water resources. Known as the "blue planet," Earth is home to approximately 326 million trillion gallons of water, covering 70% of its surface. Yet, despite rising sea levels, the vast majority of this water is unusable. Oceans account for 97.2% of Earth’s water, with an additional 2.15% frozen in polar ice caps and glaciers, leaving only 0.65% of the planet's water accessible in lakes, rivers, and groundwater for human use. Desalination—the process of removing salt from seawater—presents a potential solution to this disparity. However, the process is highly energy-intensive, rendering large-scale desalination projects economically and environmentally challenging. Despite this, over 21,000 desalination plants currently operate across 150 countries, producing 21.1 billion gallons of potable water daily—enough to meet the needs of 300 million people. While this is a significant achievement, it remains insufficient given the global demand of 2.8 trillion gallons of water per day.

A notable success story in desalination technology is Israel, which meets approximately 50% of its freshwater needs through reverse osmosis (RO). Israel’s success is due not only to technological advancements but also to a comprehensive national strategy that integrates centralized resource management, advanced infrastructure, and progressive water-saving initiatives. These include the widespread installation of low-flow toilets and showerheads, which began in 2007, and the recycling of over 80% of sewage water for agricultural irrigation through advanced water treatment systems. In addition, Israel's tiered pricing model for water use incentivizes conservation by charging higher rates for consumption beyond essential needs. As Avraham Tenne, head of Israel’s Water Authority, notes, “When you pay the full price, you value water; you conserve water.”

While Israel’s approach offers a model of success, global water demand continues to rise, necessitating further innovation in desalination technology. Among the most promising advances are membrane-based techniques, which are less costly and environmentally damaging than traditional fossil-fuel-based thermal desalination processes. Efforts by startups and academic institutions are pushing the boundaries of membrane efficiency, exploring alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power to reduce the energy demands of desalination. For instance, Australia has successfully integrated wind energy into its desalination operations. Although renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are inherently variable, solutions are emerging to mitigate these challenges. For example, energy storage systems that pump water to elevated reservoirs during periods of excess energy generation can create pressure reserves to power desalination plants when wind or sunlight are insufficient. Wave energy is also emerging as a viable alternative, with initial studies indicating that it could generate between 24 and 70 kW of power. The annual wave energy potential off the coast of the United States alone is estimated at 2,640 terawatt-hours, which could meet 65% of the nation’s energy needs. However, wave energy technology is still in its developmental phase and requires significant investment and research to achieve its full potential in desalination.

The growing global population exacerbates the pressures on freshwater resources. The United Nations has projected that by 2030, global water demand will increase by 30% compared to 2012 levels, further intensifying the need for scalable solutions. Investment in desalination technology presents a high return on investment, both in terms of improving public health outcomes and reducing the human and economic toll of water scarcity. Emerging technologies such as forward osmosis, which uses higher osmotic pressures to improve desalination efficiency, and batch reverse osmosis, which extends the lifespan of equipment while enhancing energy efficiency, are showing promise. Additionally, advances in graphene-based membranes offer the potential for greater filtration efficiency compared to traditional materials, suggesting a path forward for the next generation of desalination technologies.

To address the global water crisis effectively, governments must adopt a unified, multi-pronged approach, as exemplified by Israel’s national water strategy. Public-private partnerships are also critical to accelerating technological innovation and scaling up desalination efforts. Entrepreneurs such as David Binns, whose company Epicuro is developing low-cost, solar-powered desalination units for rural communities, represent the kind of innovative leadership needed to solve this crisis. Given the severity of the situation, governments must prioritize action over rhetoric, directing resources and policy efforts toward the development and deployment of the most efficient and sustainable desalination technologies. Only through such concerted efforts can the global community hope to avert a future defined by chronic water shortages and the social, economic, and environmental instability that accompanies them.