WE are in a state of paradox when it comes to water. Although our country is blessed with high rainfall intensity, a growing area of concern is freshwater scarcity.
This paradox is the end result of a growing population, extensive forest deforestation, rapid industrialisation, urbanisation and climate change.
The recent water rationing in the Klang Valley is a stark reminder of the urgency to find a sustainable solution.
The health and wellbeing of people hinge on access to optimal quantities of water for drinking and domestic usage.
We live in an age of technological advancement and should use state-of-the-art expertise in desalination to face this challenge.
All types of water can be produced by a desalination plant — from drinking water to irrigation water, boiler feed water, cooling water and ultrapure water.
All types of natural seawater like shallow surface seawater, deep seawater, brackish river water to beach-well seawater can be converted to usable water.
Desalination has become very affordable. Seawater is also rich in minerals which can be marketed as a byproduct of desalination.
Saudi Arabia is the largest producer of desalinated water in the world. Most recently, it has taken desalination technology a notch higher by implementing desalination powered by renewable, solar energy — a resource that is abundant in the desert nation.
It boasts of the world’s largest solar photovoltaic desalination plant in the city of Al-Khafji.
We must move with the times and start desalination.
DR A. SOORIAN
Seremban, Negri Sembilan