Is the solution to produce drinking water from sea water, risk?

Belmont Desalination Plant, built in the province of New South Wales, is one of the most up-to-date examples of how climate crisis change water policies. The giant concrete structures placed in the depths of the ocean will carry to the purification system, pulling the sea water at about 800 meters open from the coast. It is aimed to produce about 30 million litres of drinking water per day, planned to work with full capacity in 2028. This amount can meet about 15 percent of the daily water requirement of the region.
The desalination technology, which is only reflected in the Gulf countries, is now spreading quickly in Australia, Spain, USA and Mediterranean countries. Because climate change not only increases temperatures; changing precipitation regimes, extending drought times and makes the water safety of cities more fragile.
According to the United Nations, about half of the world’s population lives severe water stress in at least one part of the year. Due to population growth, urbanization and increased consumption printing, many countries are no longer able to rely only on dams and underground waters. The seawater, especially for coastal cities, began to be seen as a strategic alternative source.
[[T]]] [Why to re-day?]
] Desalination is not a new technology to make it drinkable by desalination from salt of seawater. But for many years it was limited to high energy costs. In particular, oil revenues were widespread this method of the high Gulf countries.
] Today, the table changes. The developments in membrane technologies are becoming more accessible thanks to the increase in energy efficiency and renewable energy investments. At the same time, the water pressure generated by the climate crisis push governments to the search for alternative source.
Belmont project is one of the important examples of this transformation. The facility is planned not only as a “acil solution” that will be activated in drought periods, but as an infrastructure system that works continuously without precipitation.
Similar investments gain speed across the world. The large part of Israel drinking water is provided without desalination. Saudi Arabia is one of the largest seawater treatment capacity in the world. Spain operates one of the largest desalination networks in Europe. California takes new projects again due to drought printing.

The cost of not visible to the desalination
It is technically possible to convert sea water to drinking water. But this process requires serious amount of energy. In particular, in reverse osmosis systems, water needs to be made of special membranes with high pressure. This makes desalination one of the most energy intensive water production methods.
According to the International Energy Agency, the important part of the desalination plants in the world is still connected to energy systems working with fossil fuels. This situation creates a significant contradiction. The infrastructures developed to adapt to climate crisis also continue to produce carbon emissions.
Therefore, experts emphasize that desalination can become more sustainable when used with renewable energy. In recent years, the number of solar and wind-powered facilities is not yet enough.
Another important problem is the excessive salty waste water called “brine”. High density salted water separated during the treatment is left again on the sea. This waste temperature and chemical content can print on sea ecosystems. In particular, living in the sea base, planktons and delicate types can be affected by this process.
Research reveals that in areas where intensive desalination activities can be seen in oxygen levels and changes in ecosystem balance. That’s why it’s not just “we produce” but how we produce water.
]
[Do water safety, an expensive adaptation?]
Desalination investments are growing because many country alternatives are found. Kuraklik makes new solutions for freshwater sources and growing cities contaminated. Especially for coastal cities, seawater theoretically offers an unlimited source.
However, experts emphasize that desalination is not a solution alone. Because on the basis of the water crisis there is not only the problem of “free water”. It also has structural problems such as excessive consumption, agricultural inefficient, leakage water infrastructures and incorrect urbanization.
Today, about 70 percent of the use of global sweet water is realized in agriculture. The important part of drinking water due to network losses in some countries is lost without reaching the user. Therefore, many researchers evaluate the desalination as “one of final options”.
Priority:
] • water saving,
• Use of recycled water,
• rainwater collection,
] • agricultural efficiency,
• infrastructure modernization
it should be noted. [
Still speeding the climate crisis, some regions push to turn to this expensive technology. The desalination in coastal cities, especially long-term drought is now seen as a strategic infrastructure investment.

What does it mean for Turkey?]
Turkey is not a rich country. The amount of water can be used per person is reduced in recent years. With climate change, the growth of the risk of drought, population growth and urbanization make water safety discussions more visible.
Today, large-scale desalination facilities in Turkey are not common. But in particular coastal cities and tourism regions, it seems likely to discuss more of this technology in the future.
Despite this, experts note that the priority for Turkey is still using existing water resources more efficiently. Because desalination is a high-cost method and energy dependence.
The main question in the coming years can be: Can cities continue to trust rain, or the water will now produce from the sea?

Main solution efficient consumption
Projects such as Belmont Desalination Plant show that the climate crisis is no longer only environmental, but also becoming an infrastructureal issue.
Converting sea water into drinking water is no longer science fiction. Technology is working, investments are growing, and cities are developing new water models. But these systems are not a miracle solution. [
Desalination can contribute to water safety when planned correctly. But high energy needs, ecological effects and cost problems have to be managed carefully.
The water policies of the future will not only produce more water, but also have to withstand less consumption. [


Sources:
UN Water 2025
International Energy Agency (IEA) 2025[[
Hunter Water 2026
] Infrastructure Australia 2026
World Resources Institute
IPCC AR6
Nature Water 2025
ScienceDirect 2024