How Turning Seawater Into Freshwater Could Protect Us From Drought

Could Seawater Be the Answer to the South West’s Future Water Shortage?

Government projections warn that within the next quarter-century, water demand in England could exceed available supply. With the South West already experiencing pressure on its water network, some are asking whether seawater could provide a sustainable answer.

Desalination — the process of removing salt from seawater to make it drinkable — is already critical in many parts of the world. Yet in the British Isles, only Jersey and the Isles of Scilly currently operate full-scale plants.

Proposals to build more facilities across England have faced pushback, with critics raising concerns over high costs and the environmental impact of discharging concentrated brine back into the sea.

Despite this, the government says development is under way for nine potential desalination sites in England, including one in the South West. The Environment Agency insists the technology will play a role in strengthening the UK’s long-term water security as part of a wider mix of solutions.

Mark Manton, chief water operations officer at Jersey Water, described desalination as the island’s “lifeboat” — a safety net for periods when natural supplies fall short. Jersey has relied on the method since 1968 due to limited reservoir capacity and growing demand.

Globally, more than 22,000 desalination plants serve 170 countries, with places like the Middle East, Malta and the Maldives depending heavily on the technology. Corrado Sommariva, former head of the International Desalination Association, says that in arid regions, desalination is essential for survival.

While the UK’s climate and water-storage systems mean there is no immediate emergency, Sommariva argues that preparing now could protect communities from the long-term effects of climate change — especially as rainfall becomes less reliable.

For the South West, the debate continues: is desalination a costly last resort or a necessary investment in a drier future?