As the water crisis deepens, seawater desalination is gaining ground in many parts of the world. Long confined to wealthy Gulf countries or islands without groundwater reserves, it is now being promoted as a solution for the future. But one major question remains: what kind of desalination model do we want?
Most current projects follow a centralized industrial logic imported from the previous century. This model – rooted in the era of large-scale infrastructure – is now showing its limits: ecological, energy-related, and social. At Seawards, we believe it’s time to shift paradigms: to see desalination as a local, resilient, and regenerative response. In other words: it’s time to move beyond the centralized model.
The centralized model: outdated and unsustainable
The dominant model of desalination relies on very large facilities, typically located on coastlines, powered by fossil energy sources, and integrated into vast distribution systems. These plants mainly use reverse osmosis – a proven technology, but one that is highly demanding in terms of energy, maintenance, and imported components.
This model presents three major limitations:
- High energy and ecological cost: the carbon footprint of reverse osmosis remains difficult to reconcile with climate targets.
- Governance disconnected from local realities: decisions are made at state or industrial levels, with little or no involvement from local users.
- Low resilience: a breakdown, energy crisis, or membrane supply disruption can compromise the entire system.
In a context of climate uncertainty, geopolitical fragmentation, and growing resource scarcity, this model reveals its weaknesses. It’s time to pave the way for more agile systems, adapted to the realities of each territory.
A new generation of locally rooted solutions
Decentralized solutions are gradually emerging as a credible alternative. They are based on smaller-scale desalination units, designed to meet local needs, with shared governance and a reduced environmental footprint. These systems can be integrated into micro water networks, powered by renewable energy, and managed by municipalities, cooperatives, or social economy actors.
At Seawards, this is precisely what we’re building: an agile, low-impact, environmentally respectful, and territory-driven approach. Our units are designed to be rapidly deployed, locally maintained, and tailored to island, rural, or peri-urban contexts – wherever access to fresh water is a matter of resilience.
Toward a just and regenerative water transition
Changing the model doesn’t just mean adopting new technology. It’s a cultural shift: seeing water as a common good, empowering local communities, and valuing local knowledge. In this light, desalination becomes a tool for autonomy and water justice.
It also means thinking systemically: connecting water production with soil management, biodiversity, agriculture, and local development. And repairing what previous models have damaged – especially marine ecosystems harmed by brine discharge.
Scaling up without losing purpose
The challenge of the 21st century isn’t simply to produce more water, but to do it differently. In a fragmented world, robust solutions are those that build on territorial intelligence, energy sobriety, and circularity.
Moving beyond the centralized model means betting on territorial innovation. It means rejecting technocratic shortcuts in favor of a deliberate, grounded water transition in service of life.
At Seawards, we firmly believe the future of desalination will be shaped by the territories.
