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AWWA M61-2026
Desalination of Seawater, Second Edition
As global populations continue to grow and traditional water supplies become increasingly stressed, many municipalities have been considering the ocean as a potential source of sustainable and long-term water supply. Continuing technological advancements in water treatment, water quality monitoring, energy recovery, and renewable energy supply have been transforming seawater desalination from a niche water supply for wealthy desert regions into a realistic and competitive alternative for many coastal areas facing supply challenges in their futures. In the United States, most desalination facilities have historically treated brackish groundwater, with an increasing number treating municipal wastewater for potable reuse; however, seawater desalination plants globally outnumber brackish water plants by nearly 3 to 1. Desalination facilities treating ocean water are currently operated in the United States in Florida, California, Massachusetts, and Washington, among other locations, with moderate- and large-scale facilities being planned or evaluated in coastal areas across the country.
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AWWA: American Water Works Association [awwa]