New reverse-osmosis (RO) desalination plants use much less power than their previous incarnations, the Middle East Water & Wastewater Conference was told on 27 November. Electricity consumption is now to 4-5 kilowatt hours (kWh) for each cubic metre of water produced.

“Saving energy is now a top priority for the water industry,” said Leon Awerbuch, former president of the International Desalination Association (IDA).