Connecting People and Ideas to Water Sustainability Solutions for Over 50 Years

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Connecting People and Ideas to Water Sustainability Solutions for Over 50 Years

Learn More About Us

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A Trusted Partner of the United Nations

The world needs water. Hear what it has to say:

“Most people will first experience the impact of climate change through water. Two billion people already lack access to safely managed drinking water, and this problem is only going to get worse due to the climate crisis. The world is changing.”

“We know that water security is literally a matter of life and death.”

“Each generation has its own challenges, but no generation has faced such an urgent and formidable challenge as climate change and global warming….This is the battle for our lifetime.”

From the White House, President Kennedy remotely turns on the first Seawater Conversion Plant in Freeport Texas.

Global Newsroom

IDRA represents the global desalination and water reuse community in media worldwide. Check out our resource for stories on desalination, water reuse, integrated water management, and related topics.

IDRA Global Connections

Summer-Fall 2024
Issue

Read the Latest Issue

Corporate and Industry News

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $9 Million from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda for Drought Mitigation in Kansas [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Materials of the future can be extracted from wastewater [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Sustainable Desalination – How Maturing Solar Tech is Changing Our Approach to Water Crises [...]

Corporate and Industry News

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Selects Jacobs to Design and Build Critical New Mexico Water Project [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Badajoz combats the effects of droughts by expanding its drinking water supply network [...]

Corporate and Industry News

GS Inima and Aquapor sign the contract for the Design, Construction and Operation of the First Desalination Plant in Portugal [...]

Corporate and Industry News

ORANGE COUNTY WATER DISTRICT RECEIVES STATEWIDE RECOGNITIONFOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNANCE [...]

Corporate and Industry News

The appointment of Jean-Luc Desire as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of WATERLEAU [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Abu Dhabi Department of Energy concludes Safety in Heat campaign for energy sector companies [...]

Corporate and Industry News

ACWA Power Expands Its Renewable Footprint in Africa and reaffirms as leading investor in the Continent [...]

Corporate and Industry News

DEWA Engages in Strategic Knowledge Exchange with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power on Sustainable Energy and Water Management [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Membrion announces stellar pilot results for novel wastewater reuse solution at 100+ Accelerator Demo Day and Sustainable Innovation Expo [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Jacobs Appointed to Plan and Design Northern Ireland Water’s Assets [...]

Corporate and Industry News

SUEZ strengthens its presence in Morocco with four water and waste management new agreements [...]

Corporate and Industry News

The Kingdom of Morocco and Veolia join forces for the largest seawater desalination project in Africa [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Saudi’s NWC likely to award Riyadh sewerage network extension project in Q1 2025 [...]

Corporate and Industry News

TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024: Gradiant’s ForeverGone for PFAS Removal and Destruction [...]

Corporate and Industry News

NX Filtration supplies membrane modules to PT. Grinviro Biotekno Indonesia for advanced water treatment [...]

Corporate and Industry News

ANDRITZ to perform major uprating of Malaysian hydropower plant [...]

Corporate and Industry News

EWEC Receives Three Proposals for the Development of Khazna Solar Photovoltaic Independent Power Project [...]

Corporate and Industry News

AECOM selected for a $90 million single-award task order for the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment [...]

Corporate and Industry News

ADNOC, Masdar and Microsoft Release Powering Possible: AI and Energy for a Sustainable Future [...]

Corporate and Industry News

New booster pump for desalination plants based on reverse osmosis [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Build started on plant recovering energy from wastewater of 4 million inhabitants from 2027 [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Toray Supplies Reverse Osmosis Membranes and Ultrafiltration Membranes to Indonesia Strategic Project [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Sacyr and Ferrovial will expand the Aguilas desalination plant (Murcia) for €51 million [...]

Corporate and Industry News

‘Sin City could be called Solar City’: How Las Vegas is going green [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Southern Water unveils plans for new water recycling plant on Isle of Wight [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Amazon Web Services Plans To Go Water Positive by 2030: This Is How [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Arizona nears approval for advanced water purification [...]

Corporate and Industry News

ENGIE reaches 500 MW of battery storage capacity in Europe, either installed, under construction or under development. [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Climate Technology Company Partanna Oasis Joins the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Declaration [...]

IDRA Essentials

Issue 4.0: Energy Recovery Devices in Desalination [...]

Read More... from IDRA Essentials

IDRA Essentials

Issue 3.0: Renewable Energy and Desalination – Solar Energy [...]

Read More... from IDRA Essentials

IDRA Essentials

Issue 2.0: Environmental Assessments, Discharge Technologies and RO Brine Treatment Technologies [...]

Read More... from IDRA Essentials

IDRA Essentials

Issue 1.0: Impact of Algae Blooms on the Design and Operation of Water Treatment System [...]

Read More... from IDRA Essentials

Corporate and Industry News

From salt to solution: desalination technology paves the way for sustainable water management [...]

Corporate and Industry News

European Council adopts new rules to enhance urban wastewater treatment efficiency [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Industrial Wastewater Treatment: A Remedy To Freshwater Scarcity? [...]

IDRA Press Releases

2024-2026 Board of Directors Election [...]

Read More... from IDRA Press Releases

IDRA Press Releases

Announcement of the IDRA World Congress 2024: Addressing Water Scarcity Preliminary Program [...]

Read More... from IDRA Press Releases

IDRA Press Releases

IDRA and AWS Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Enhance Water Resilience and Sustainability [...]

Read More... from IDRA Press Releases

IDRA In The News

ADNEC Group, Department of Energy partner to organise IDRA World Congress in Abu Dhabi 8-12 December [...]

Read More... from IDRA In The News

IDRA In The News

IDRA 2023 Seville Summit: Addressing climate change impact on water security [...]

Read More... from IDRA In The News

IDRA In The News

Canada Ocean Racing Announces New Team Name & Purpose: Be Water Positive Sailing Team [...]

Read More... from IDRA In The News

IDRA Talks

Hon. Minister Tanya Plibersek, Minister for the Environment & Water, Australia – Special Remarks at IDRA 2022 World Congress [...]

Read More... from IDRA Talks

Watch Video

IDRA Talks

Hon. Sebastian Piñera, Former Chilean President – Special Remarks at IDRA 2022 World Congress [...]

Read More... from IDRA Talks

Watch Video

IDRA Talks

Gradiant, the Most Innovative Company at IDRA 2022 World Congress Awards [...]

Read More... from IDRA Talks

Watch Video

White Papers

Forward Osmosis – A Brief Introduction [...]

White Paper

Forward Osmosis – A Brief Introduction [...]

Read More... from White Paper

Read White Paper

White Paper

Treating A Moving Target: Harmful Algal Blooms [...]

Read More... from White Paper

White Paper

Sustainable Management of Desalination Plant Concentrate [...]

Read More... from White Paper

Read White Paper

View All

Global Newsroom

IDRA represents the global desalination and water reuse community in media worldwide. Check out our resource for stories on desalination, water reuse, integrated water management, and related topics.

Corporate and Industry News

Biden-Harris Administration Announces $9 Million from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda for Drought Mitigation in Kansas [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Materials of the future can be extracted from wastewater [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Sustainable Desalination – How Maturing Solar Tech is Changing Our Approach to Water Crises [...]

Corporate and Industry News

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Selects Jacobs to Design and Build Critical New Mexico Water Project [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Badajoz combats the effects of droughts by expanding its drinking water supply network [...]

Corporate and Industry News

GS Inima and Aquapor sign the contract for the Design, Construction and Operation of the First Desalination Plant in Portugal [...]

Corporate and Industry News

ORANGE COUNTY WATER DISTRICT RECEIVES STATEWIDE RECOGNITIONFOR EXCELLENCE IN GOVERNANCE [...]

Corporate and Industry News

The appointment of Jean-Luc Desire as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of WATERLEAU [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Abu Dhabi Department of Energy concludes Safety in Heat campaign for energy sector companies [...]

Corporate and Industry News

ACWA Power Expands Its Renewable Footprint in Africa and reaffirms as leading investor in the Continent [...]

Corporate and Industry News

DEWA Engages in Strategic Knowledge Exchange with Los Angeles Department of Water and Power on Sustainable Energy and Water Management [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Membrion announces stellar pilot results for novel wastewater reuse solution at 100+ Accelerator Demo Day and Sustainable Innovation Expo [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Jacobs Appointed to Plan and Design Northern Ireland Water’s Assets [...]

Corporate and Industry News

SUEZ strengthens its presence in Morocco with four water and waste management new agreements [...]

Corporate and Industry News

The Kingdom of Morocco and Veolia join forces for the largest seawater desalination project in Africa [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Saudi’s NWC likely to award Riyadh sewerage network extension project in Q1 2025 [...]

Corporate and Industry News

TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024: Gradiant’s ForeverGone for PFAS Removal and Destruction [...]

Corporate and Industry News

NX Filtration supplies membrane modules to PT. Grinviro Biotekno Indonesia for advanced water treatment [...]

Corporate and Industry News

ANDRITZ to perform major uprating of Malaysian hydropower plant [...]

Corporate and Industry News

EWEC Receives Three Proposals for the Development of Khazna Solar Photovoltaic Independent Power Project [...]

Corporate and Industry News

AECOM selected for a $90 million single-award task order for the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment [...]

Corporate and Industry News

ADNOC, Masdar and Microsoft Release Powering Possible: AI and Energy for a Sustainable Future [...]

Corporate and Industry News

New booster pump for desalination plants based on reverse osmosis [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Build started on plant recovering energy from wastewater of 4 million inhabitants from 2027 [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Toray Supplies Reverse Osmosis Membranes and Ultrafiltration Membranes to Indonesia Strategic Project [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Sacyr and Ferrovial will expand the Aguilas desalination plant (Murcia) for €51 million [...]

Corporate and Industry News

‘Sin City could be called Solar City’: How Las Vegas is going green [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Southern Water unveils plans for new water recycling plant on Isle of Wight [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Amazon Web Services Plans To Go Water Positive by 2030: This Is How [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Arizona nears approval for advanced water purification [...]

Corporate and Industry News

ENGIE reaches 500 MW of battery storage capacity in Europe, either installed, under construction or under development. [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Climate Technology Company Partanna Oasis Joins the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Declaration [...]

IDRA Essentials

Issue 4.0: Energy Recovery Devices in Desalination [...]

Read More... from IDRA Essentials

IDRA Essentials

Issue 3.0: Renewable Energy and Desalination – Solar Energy [...]

Read More... from IDRA Essentials

IDRA Essentials

Issue 2.0: Environmental Assessments, Discharge Technologies and RO Brine Treatment Technologies [...]

Read More... from IDRA Essentials

IDRA Essentials

Issue 1.0: Impact of Algae Blooms on the Design and Operation of Water Treatment System [...]

Read More... from IDRA Essentials

Corporate and Industry News

From salt to solution: desalination technology paves the way for sustainable water management [...]

Corporate and Industry News

European Council adopts new rules to enhance urban wastewater treatment efficiency [...]

Corporate and Industry News

Industrial Wastewater Treatment: A Remedy To Freshwater Scarcity? [...]

IDRA Press Releases

2024-2026 Board of Directors Election [...]

Read More... from IDRA Press Releases

IDRA Press Releases

Announcement of the IDRA World Congress 2024: Addressing Water Scarcity Preliminary Program [...]

Read More... from IDRA Press Releases

IDRA Press Releases

IDRA and AWS Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Enhance Water Resilience and Sustainability [...]

Read More... from IDRA Press Releases

IDRA In The News

ADNEC Group, Department of Energy partner to organise IDRA World Congress in Abu Dhabi 8-12 December [...]

Read More... from IDRA In The News

IDRA In The News

IDRA 2023 Seville Summit: Addressing climate change impact on water security [...]

Read More... from IDRA In The News

IDRA In The News

Canada Ocean Racing Announces New Team Name & Purpose: Be Water Positive Sailing Team [...]

Read More... from IDRA In The News

IDRA Talks

Hon. Minister Tanya Plibersek, Minister for the Environment & Water, Australia – Special Remarks at IDRA 2022 World Congress [...]

Read More... from IDRA Talks

Watch Video

IDRA Talks

Hon. Sebastian Piñera, Former Chilean President – Special Remarks at IDRA 2022 World Congress [...]

Read More... from IDRA Talks

Watch Video

IDRA Talks

Gradiant, the Most Innovative Company at IDRA 2022 World Congress Awards [...]

Read More... from IDRA Talks

Watch Video

White Papers

Forward Osmosis – A Brief Introduction [...]

White Paper

Forward Osmosis – A Brief Introduction [...]

Read More... from White Paper

Read White Paper

White Paper

Treating A Moving Target: Harmful Algal Blooms [...]

Read More... from White Paper

White Paper

Sustainable Management of Desalination Plant Concentrate [...]

Read More... from White Paper

Read White Paper

View All

IDRA Global Connections

Summer-Fall 2024
Issue

Read the Latest Issue

IDRA Global Connections

Summer-Fall 2024
Issue

Read the Latest Issue

Honoring 50 Years of Innovation in Desalination and Water Reuse

We believe in impactful growth. Desalination and Reuse technologies have been changing drastically over the last fifty-few years, and we want to showcase the instrumental role of IDRA and its members in driving this development. Explore the history of change here.

Read our 50th Anniversary Book

Honoring 50 Years of Innovation in Desalination and Water Reuse

Read our 50th Anniversary Book

Impact in numbers created
through Desalination and
Water Reuse

Climate change is intensifying droughts. Water reuse offers a sustainable solution to meet rising water demands and replenish resources. Around 22,000 desalination plants globally provide clean water to over 300 million people.

The global desalination capacity has grown exponentially in recent decades, from 14.5 million cubic meters per day in 2000 to 95 million cubic meters per day in 2019.  

Desalination continues to be a pivotal method for securing clean water, particularly in regions experiencing water scarcity. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region leads in desalination capacity, with countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE relying heavily on desalinated water to meet their freshwater needs. In the United States, particularly Florida, California, and Texas, desalination helps supplement water supplies in drought-prone areas. Similarly, Western Australia uses significant desalination plants to combat water scarcity, providing a substantial portion of the region’s drinking water.

As of 2023, the global desalination contracted capacity reached 109.22 million cubic meters per day, facilitated by approximately 22,000 desalination plants worldwide. The capital expenditure (CAPEX) for desalination in 2023 amounted to USD 5,971 million, with a significant increase in new capacity—4.4 million cubic meters per day—contracted in 2022.

Additionally, 356 new desalination plants were awarded between 2022 and 2023, emphasizing the continuous expansion of this vital infrastructure, which now caters to over 300 million individuals globally.

Source: Desal Data and IDRA Desalination & Reuse Handbook 2023-2024

Water reuse is emerging as a critical solution to address growing global water demands, particularly in the face of intensifying droughts due to climate change.

In 2023, the global contracted water reuse capacity reached an impressive 259.33 million cubic meters per day, underscoring the scale of this growing practice. In 2022 alone, 12 million cubic meters per day of new water reuse capacity were contracted, with 89 new water reuse plants awarded.

The substantial investments in operational expenditures (OPEX) for water reuse, which amounted to USD 10,759 million in 2023, demonstrate the financial commitment towards ensuring sustainable and dependable water supplies while conserving natural resources.

Source: Desal Data and IDRA Desalination & Reuse Handbook 2023-2024

Follow IDRA
on Social Media

Explore what’s happening in IDRA and the global advanced water treatment community

Follow IDRA
on Social Media

Explore what’s happening in IDRA and the global advanced water treatment community

Join Us

Membership in IDRA is your connection to the global desalination and water reuse community. IDRA offers memberships for individuals and corporations, as well as special rates for full-time students, non-profit libraries and individuals from developing countries following the UN list of LDC’s.

Join as an Individual

Joining IDRA offers unmatched opportunities to build valuable connections, grow your network, and enhance your professional expertise.

Join as a Corporate Member

Corporate membership helps your company make business-building connections, gain visibility among industry decision-makers, and enhance the professional development of your staff.

Join Us

View Our Membership