Desalination Industry Thriving in Hormozgan, But Worries Linger
EghtesadOnline: The number desalination plants in southern Hormozgan Province has increased threefold in the past six years, but such development projects should be given higher priority as water scarcity looms in the province, managing director of the Hormozgan Water and Wastewater Company said.
“There are 45 units in the region which supply 250,000 cubic meters of seawater a day, up 525% compared to 2013,” Amin Qasmi was quoted as saying by IRNA.
In 2013, only 15 units were operating with daily capacity of 40,000 cubic meters, he said.
“After development plans in Bandar Abbas and Sirik County desalination units are complete [desalination] capacity will increase to 373,000 cubic meters a day by April 2021,” he said, adding that the rise will gradually help end water transfer from Esteqlal Minab Dam, the main source of potable water in the provincial capital Bandar Abbas.
"Desalination plants in the province, which annually produce 90 mcm of potable water, meet 26% of the region’s demand. Wells and dams account for 74%.”
Referring to low levels of precipitation since the beginning of the current water year in September, 2020, he asserted that desalination projects should take center stage in the dry province as the water situation worsens.
To help address the water deficits where underground resources are drying up fast, producing water from saline water sources is unavoidable although the process produces large quantities of brine that is denser than seawater and therefore sinks to the seabed and damages the marine ecosystem.
Villages in the area have been abandoned and expanding Bandar Abbas water desalination infrastructure can help curb migration and contribute to sustainable rural development in the dry regions.
Experts say the fledgling domestic desalination industry can and should meet the need for potable water in the Persian Gulf littoral provinces.
Tapping into the sea to produce clean water is high on the Energy Ministry agenda as it is seen as more viable for maintaining sustainable supplies rather than depleting the fast dwindling underground water tables, most of which are drying up.