Australia is on track for significant desalination capacity expansion -converting seawater into freshwater- to meet the needs of a growing population at a time of declining average rainfall. From a report: The world’s driest inhabited continent is expected to build or expand 11 desalination plants worth more than A$23 billion ($15 billion) over the next 10 years, according to a research report by Oxford Economics’ Dominic McNally.
“Our population growth forecasts imply an additional 190 GL/year of household water demand in major cities by 2035, while the burgeoning data center industry also threatens to rapidly expand urban water use,” he said. “This increasing demand coincides with falling average rainfall in major population centers, increasing the vulnerability of existing infrastructure.” Water construction activity slowed after 2010 as a severe drought receded. However, recent dry spells have revived interest in water security and coincide with a new boom in investment in water infrastructure, including desalination, McNally said.
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