Water supply case study: Israel's Desalination Plant

Desalination plants provide an effective way of removing the salt from seawater to produce clean safe drinking water. The process is both financially expensive and energy extensive.

The source of salt water for Israel's desalination plants is the Mediterranean Sea.

• By 2013, Israel had five fully functioning desalination plants.
• By 2020, Israel aims to supply 70% of its domestic water supplies from desalination plants.

• Desalination plants provide a supply of water that is both reliable and predictable.
• The desalination plants are able to produce up to 600 tonnes of clean drinking water an hour.

• Desalination plants are so energy exhaustive that each plant needs its own power station.
• The by-product of the salt water is brine (a very salty liquid), which can be extremely damaging to the environment.