Beyond the Headlines: can desalination solve the world's water worries?

Technology used by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, other Gulf states and Israel could be the answer as water sources begin to dry up

Desalination used to be the preserve of money-rich but water-poor Middle Eastern countries. It was expensive and caused pollution, but in the arid desert, where rain is scarce, there was little choice. Without desalination, taps across the Gulf would run dry and crops would wither and die. Experts have issued warnings about possible water wars of the future as one of the world’s most precious resources begins to dry up.

This week on Beyond the Headlines, host James Haines-Young looks at how Saudi Arabia, the UAE, other Gulf states and Israel led a water revolution and how desalination could solve the world's water worries.

At a water desalination plant on the sea near the northern Israeli town of Hadera, water pumped in from the Mediterranean is pushed through rows of multi-layered plastic membranes, and through a process called reverse osmosis, emerges after 90 minutes as tasty drinking water. Quique Kierszenbaum / Tribune News Service via Getty Images

A worker walks between giant transfer pipes at Britain's desalination plant, the Thames Gateway Water Treatment Works, in Beckton, England. Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

This picture taken on December 11, 2019 shows a view of Jubail Desalination Plant at the Jubail Industrial City, about 95 kilometres north of Dammam in Saudi Arabia's eastern province overlooking the Gulf. AFP

Concept art for the Solar Dome being planned for Saudi Arabia's new city at Neom. Solar Water PLC

A view of the AES Huntington Beach Power Station and the proposed site of the Poseidon Desalination Plant in Huntington Beach, California in February, 2021. Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The Carlsbad Desalination plant stands under construction in this aerial photograph taken over Carlsbad, California on August 2015. Patrick T Fallon / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Water desalination plant in Antofagasta, Chile. Oliver Llaneza Hesse / Getty Images

A view of the European Union and Unicef funded huge seawater desalination plant opening in Deir al Balah, Gaza on January 19, 2017. Ali Jadallah / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images

Saltwater flows into the pre-treatment hall at the Kurnell desalination plant, in Sydney, Australia. Bloomberg via Getty Images