An overview of existing and emerging technology solutions for cost-efficient and low-energy desalination in South and Southeast Asia

Asia is one of the hardest hit areas in the world in terms of intrusion of salinecgroundwater. In the near future, sea-level rise will cause further saltwater intrusion into water resources, while an increasing number of water control structures will increase river salinity – threatening fresh water supplies for drinking and livelihoods, irreversibly impacting people’s lives and livelihoods. Desalination technologies typically require high energy inputs, as well as specialized maintenance procedures, to function sustainably – rendering them inappropriate for water production in low-income areas. The focus of this paper is the development of a ‘Road Map’ for scalable, low energy-input solutions for small-scale desalination.