Desalination offers a transformative solution to water-scarce communities in the Pacific, especially during droughts or emergencies. The ability to convert seawater into potable water via reverse osmosis technology can ensure a steady supply of safe drinking water in remote and geographically isolated areas.

While desalination can present a climate-resilient water source, water utilities and governments must consider critical factors such as energy requirement and consumption, operational cost, technical capacity, training, and technical specifications when selecting the most appropriate options for their water security.

This webinar delved into two key aspects of desalination in the Pacific. Mat Francis from Moerk Water presented the fundamental principles of emergency desalination and key considerations when installing and commissioning desalination units. Mark Hiram from Nauru Utilities Corporation discussed the key operation and maintenance aspects of remote desalination, offering practical insights into the maintenance needs and challenges faced by operators tasked with delivering continuous and efficient operation of these systems.

This webinar was the fourth in the 2024 Pacific WASH Webinar series, organized by the Asian Development Bank and the Pacific Water and Wastewater Association.