Energy
Desalination Behind the Scenes
Malta relies on reverse osmosis to provide 40% of their fresh water, and this is how it works
21 Sep 2010
As water shortages become more frequent, more countries are considering desalination as an option. On the island of Malta, the technology has a long history: the country was home to the world's first commercial desalination plant in 1881. IEEE Spectrum visited the Pembroke Reverse Osmosis Plant to see how the Mediterranean becomes drinking water, and how engineers are working to make the process more energy efficient and affordable.
Joshua J. Romero is a software developer and journalist. A former IEEE Spectrum senior editor, he holds a bachelor’s degree in astronomy and physics from the University of Arizona and a master’s in journalism from New York University.